What to Plant in December in Zone 10
119 crops you can start in zone 10a & 10b during December. The dates are worked out from zone 10's typical frosts: last spring frost around Jan 30, first fall frost around Dec 20. Each crop links to its full dates for zone 10.
Start indoors in December
Seeds to start under lights or on a sunny sill this month. Dates are the indoor-start window for zone 10.
Vegetables & herbs
- AchiraDec 5–Dec 12
- ArtichokeAug–DecFall
- BeetAug–JanFall
- Bok ChoyDec 26–Jan 2
- BroccoliAug–DecFall
- BroccoliniDec 26–Jan 2
- CabbageAug–DecFall
- CardoonDec 12–Dec 19
- CauliflowerAug–DecFall
- Chamomile (German)Aug–JanFall
- ChervilDec 5–Dec 12
- ChivesAug–FebFall
- Collard GreensDec 12–Dec 19
- Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery)Dec 5–Dec 12
- EggplantDec–Feb
- Flower SproutsDec 19–Dec 26
- Ground Cherry (Husk Cherry)Dec 12–Dec 19
- JicamaDec 19–Dec 26
- KaleAug–DecFall
- KalettesDec 19–Dec 26
- KohlrabiDec 26–Jan 2
- LettuceAug–DecFall
- Malabar SpinachDec 19–Dec 26
- MaukaDec 19–Dec 26
- Mexican Mint MarigoldDec 12–Dec 19
- ParsleyJul–MarFall
- PotatoAug–DecFall
- RoselleDec 5–Dec 12
- SpinachAug–DecFall
- Summer SavoryDec 19–Dec 26
- Swiss ChardAug–JanFall
- TobaccoDec 5–Dec 12
- TomatilloDec 12–Dec 19
- TomatoDec–Feb
- YaconDec 5–Dec 12
- Za'atar OreganoDec 5–Dec 12
Peppers
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Dec–Feb
- Bell PepperDec–Feb
- Cayenne PepperDec–Feb
- Chile de Árbol PepperDec–Feb
- Cubanelle PepperDec–Feb
- Fresno PepperDec–Feb
- Guajillo Pepper (Mirasol)Dec–Feb
- Hungarian Wax PepperDec–Feb
- Italian Frying Pepper (Corno di Toro, Marconi)Dec–Feb
- Jalapeño PepperDec–Feb
- Mini Sweet Pepper (Snacking)Dec–Feb
- Padrón PepperDec–Feb
- Pasilla Pepper (Chilaca)Dec–Feb
- Pimento PepperDec–Feb
- Poblano Pepper (Ancho)Dec–Feb
- Serrano PepperDec–Feb
- Shishito PepperDec–Feb
- Sweet Banana PepperDec–Feb
- Sweet Cherry PepperDec–Feb
- Thai Chili Pepper (Bird's Eye)Dec–Feb
Flowers
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Dec 12–Dec 19
- Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)Dec 26–Jan 2
- Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)Dec 26–Jan 2
- Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)Dec 19–Dec 26
- Bells of IrelandDec 12–Dec 19
- Black-Eyed SusanAug–JanFall
- Black-Eyed Susan VineDec 19–Dec 26
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Dec 12–Dec 19
- Campanula (Bellflower)Dec 12–Dec 19
- Cerinthe (Honeywort)Dec 19–Dec 26
- China AsterDec 12–Dec 19
- Cleome (Spider Flower)Dec 12–Dec 19
- Craspedia (Drumstick Flower)Dec 12–Dec 19
- Euphorbia (Snow-on-the-Mountain)Dec 26–Jan 2
- GazaniaDec 19–Dec 26
- Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)Dec 12–Dec 19
- Helipterum (Paper Daisy)Dec 12–Dec 19
- HollyhockAug–JanFall
- MoonflowerDec 26–Jan 2
- Nicotiana (Flowering Tobacco)Dec 19–Dec 26
- Orlaya (Laceflower)Dec 26–Jan 2
- OsteospermumDec 5–Dec 12
- PetuniaJul–JanFall
- Phlox (Annual)Dec 26–Jan 2
- Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)Dec 12–Dec 19
- SnapdragonJul–DecFall
- Spilanthes (Toothache Plant)Dec 19–Dec 26
- StaticeDec 19–Dec 26
- StockDec 19–Dec 26
- StrawflowerAug–DecFall
- Sweet AlyssumAug–JanFall
- Sweet Annie (Artemisia)Dec 19–Dec 26
- Tithonia (Mexican Sunflower)Dec 19–Dec 26
- Xeranthemum (Immortelle)Dec 19–Dec 26
Sow or plant outside in December
What goes in the ground this month, either as seed or as a transplant. Dates are the planting-out window for zone 10.
Vegetables & herbs
- ArtichokeTransplantOct–FebFall
- ArugulaDirect sowDec 26–Jan 2
- BeetTransplantSep–FebFall
- BroccoliTransplantSep–JanFall
- CabbageTransplantSep–JanFall
- CarrotDirect sowSep–MarFall
- CauliflowerTransplantSep–JanFall
- Chamomile (German)TransplantOct–MarFall
- ChivesTransplantOct–AprFall
- CilantroDirect sowOct–JanFall
- DillTransplantOct–JanFall
- KaleTransplantSep–JanFall
- LettuceTransplantSep–JanFall
- OnionTransplantOct–JanFall
- ParsleyTransplantOct–AprFall
- PeaDirect sowSep–JanFall
- PotatoTransplantSep–JanFall
- RadishDirect sowSep–MarFall
- SpinachTransplantSep–JanFall
- Swiss ChardTransplantSep–FebFall
Flowers
- Black-Eyed SusanTransplantOct–MarFall
- GladiolusPlant bulbsNov–JanFall
- HollyhockTransplantOct–MarFall
- LarkspurDirect sowSep–JanFall
- Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella)Direct sowOct–MarFall
- NasturtiumDirect sowOct–JanFall
- Pansy / ViolaTransplantOct–JanFall
- PetuniaTransplantSep–MarFall
- SnapdragonTransplantSep–FebFall
- StrawflowerTransplantOct–FebFall
- Sweet AlyssumTransplantOct–MarFall
- Sweet PeaDirect sowOct–FebFall
Still time to start indoors
The usual indoor-start date for these has passed, but planting-out hasn't come yet. Seed started now still makes a transplant, just a smaller one. Buying starts is the easy alternative. Dates are when they go outside.
Peppers
- Aji Amarillo PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Datil PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Habanero PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Lemon Drop PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Rocoto PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Scotch Bonnet PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Tabasco PepperPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
Flowers
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Plant outFeb 6–Feb 13
- ColeusPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Dusty MillerPlant outFeb 6–Feb 13
- EucalyptusPlant outFeb 6–Feb 13
- ImpatiensPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- LisianthusPlant outFeb 6–Feb 13
- LobeliaPlant outFeb 6–Feb 13
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)Plant outFeb 13–Feb 20
- Wax BegoniaPlant outFeb 13–Feb 20
← November in zone 10 · January in zone 10 →
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December in other zones: zone 8, zone 9, zone 11
Worth having in December
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What to plant in December in zone 10: 119 crops to start indoors or plant outside, including lettuce, pea, carrot, spinach, with exact dates for zone 10a and 10b.
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