What to plant in December — zone 11b
Zone 11b averages its last spring frost around January 1 and its first fall frost around December 31. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Garden care
- Harden off early transplantsaround Dec 4
Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.
Start indoors
- Lettucearound Dec 4
4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-01). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
- Cucumberaround Dec 11
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-01). Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
- Zucchiniaround Dec 11
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-01). One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
- Winter squasharound Dec 11
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-01). Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
- Watermelonaround Dec 11
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-01). Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Dec 11
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-01). Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Direct sow
- Lettucearound Dec 4
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Spinacharound Dec 4
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Radisharound Dec 4
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Carrotaround Dec 11
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Kalearound Dec 11
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Beetaround Dec 11
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Onionaround Dec 11
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Broccoliaround Dec 11
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Chivesaround Dec 11
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Potatoaround Dec 18
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Cilantroaround Dec 18
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Parsleyaround Dec 18
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
Transplant out
- Kalearound Dec 11
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Broccoliaround Dec 11
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Chivesaround Dec 11
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Dec 11
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Lettucearound Dec 18
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Onionaround Dec 18
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Dec 18
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Parsleyaround Dec 18
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Mintaround Dec 18
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Sow cover crop
- Cover crop (cereal rye + crimson clover)around Dec 1
Sown a month before frost it germinates, holds your soil all winter, and feeds it in spring.
Direct sow for fall
Plant to overwinter
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