What to Plant in December in Zone 9
117 crops you can start in zone 9a & 9b during December. The dates are worked out from zone 9's typical frosts: last spring frost around Feb 15, first fall frost around Dec 5. Each crop links to its full dates for zone 9.
Start indoors in December
Seeds to start under lights or on a sunny sill this month. Dates are the indoor-start window for zone 9.
Vegetables & herbs
- AchiraDec 21–Dec 28
- ArtichokeDec 7–Dec 14
- CardoonDec 28–Jan 4
- CatnipDec 28–Jan 4
- Celeriac (Celery Root)Dec 7–Dec 14
- CeleryDec 7–Dec 14
- ChervilDec 21–Dec 28
- ChivesDec 21–Dec 28
- Collard GreensDec 28–Jan 4
- Cutting Celery (Leaf Celery)Dec 21–Dec 28
- EggplantDec 21–Dec 28
- Garlic Chives (Chinese Leeks)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Ground Cherry (Husk Cherry)Dec 28–Jan 4
- HyssopDec 21–Dec 28
- LeekDec 7–Dec 14
- Marjoram (Sweet)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Mexican Mint MarigoldDec 28–Jan 4
- OnionDec 21–Dec 28
- OreganoDec 21–Dec 28
- ParsleyDec 21–Dec 28
- RoselleDec 21–Dec 28
- RosemaryDec 7–Dec 14
- RueDec 28–Jan 4
- SkirretDec 21–Dec 28
- Sweet PotatoDec 21–Dec 28
- ThymeDec 21–Dec 28
- TobaccoDec 21–Dec 28
- TomatilloDec 28–Jan 4
- White SageDec 21–Dec 28
- YaconDec 21–Dec 28
- Za'atar OreganoDec 21–Dec 28
Peppers
- Aji Amarillo PepperDec 7–Dec 14
- Anaheim Pepper (New Mexico, Hatch)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Bell PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Cayenne PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Chile de Árbol PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Cubanelle PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Datil PepperDec 7–Dec 14
- Fresno PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Guajillo Pepper (Mirasol)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Habanero PepperDec 7–Dec 14
- Hungarian Wax PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Italian Frying Pepper (Corno di Toro, Marconi)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Jalapeño PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Lemon Drop PepperDec 7–Dec 14
- Mini Sweet Pepper (Snacking)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Padrón PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Pasilla Pepper (Chilaca)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Pimento PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Poblano Pepper (Ancho)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Scotch Bonnet PepperDec 7–Dec 14
- Serrano PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Shishito PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Sweet Banana PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Sweet Cherry PepperDec 21–Dec 28
- Tabasco PepperDec 7–Dec 14
- Thai Chili Pepper (Bird's Eye)Dec 21–Dec 28
Flowers
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Dec 14–Dec 21
- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Bells of IrelandDec 28–Jan 4
- Black-Eyed SusanDec 28–Jan 4
- Bupleurum (Thoroughwax)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)Dec 21–Dec 28
- CalendulaDec 28–Jan 4
- Campanula (Bellflower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- CarnationDec 28–Jan 4
- CelosiaDec 28–Jan 4
- China AsterDec 28–Jan 4
- Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Cleome (Spider Flower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- ColeusDec 7–Dec 14
- ColumbineDec 14–Dec 21
- Coreopsis (Tickseed)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Cranberry HibiscusDec 28–Jan 4
- Craspedia (Drumstick Flower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Dusty MillerDec 14–Dec 21
- Echinops (Globe Thistle)Dec 28–Jan 4
- EucalyptusDec 14–Dec 21
- Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Gypsophila (Baby's Breath)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Helipterum (Paper Daisy)Dec 28–Jan 4
- ImpatiensDec 7–Dec 14
- Johnny Jump UpDec 7–Dec 14
- LobeliaDec 14–Dec 21
- OsteospermumDec 21–Dec 28
- PetuniaDec 14–Dec 21
- Portulaca (Moss Rose)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Salvia (Scarlet Sage)Dec 21–Dec 28
- Scabiosa (Pincushion Flower)Dec 28–Jan 4
- Shasta DaisyDec 28–Jan 4
- SnapdragonAug–DecFall
- StrawflowerDec 28–Jan 4
- Sweet AlyssumDec 28–Jan 4
- Sweet WilliamDec 28–Jan 4
- Torenia (Wishbone Flower)Dec 7–Dec 14
- VerbenaDec 7–Dec 14
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)Dec 7–Dec 14
- YarrowDec 14–Dec 21
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 9.
Vegetables & herbs
- GarlicPlant clovesOct–DecFall
Flowers
- RanunculusPlant bulbsOct–DecFall
- SnapdragonTransplantOct–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
- 7 Pot Douglah Pepper (Chocolate 7 Pot)Plant outMar 1–Mar 8
- 7 Pot Primo PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Carolina Reaper PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Dorset Naga PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)Plant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Komodo Dragon PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Naga Viper PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Rocoto PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Superhot Pepper (Ghost, Reaper, Scorpion)Plant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Trinidad Moruga Scorpion PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
- Trinidad Scorpion Butch T PepperPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
Flowers
- LisianthusPlant outFeb 22–Mar 1
- Pansy / ViolaPlant outFeb 1–Feb 8
- Wax BegoniaPlant outMar 1–Mar 8
← November in zone 9 · January in zone 9 →
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December in other zones: zone 8, zone 10, zone 11
Worth having in December
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What to plant in December in zone 9: 117 crops to start indoors or plant outside, including bell pepper, garlic, onion, celery, with exact dates for zone 9a and 9b.
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