My Planting Calendar

What to plant in December in zone 9

USDA zone 9 has winter lows of 20 to 30°F, a typical last spring frost around Feb 20 and first fall frost around Nov 30, roughly 280 frost-free days. December is the "after the first frost" there.

25 crops have a sowing or planting window this month, including shallot, garlic - and 1 of those windows close during December.

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 9 (last frost Feb 20, first frost Nov 30). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

After the first frostSow or plant: 25Start indoors: 24Harvesting: 34

Zone 9: planting activity through the year

70
83
63
9
9
9
4
9
28
20
2
25
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Feb 20 – Nov 30
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 25 have one in December; the busiest month is February (83).

Last chance in December

Celeriac (start seeds indoors, by Dec 12)

For fall and winter harvests (2)

Sowings counted back from zone 9's first fall frost, so the crop matures before the cold - or, for garlic and similar, planted after it.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
ShallotPlant in fall (after first frost)Dec 4 – Dec 21Dec 4 – Dec 21
GarlicPlant in fall (after first frost)Dec 11 – Dec 28Dec 11 – Dec 28

Start seeds indoors in December (24)

Indoor sowings for transplants later. Six to eight weeks under lights is typical for tomatoes and peppers; onions and leeks need longer.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
CeleriacStart seeds indoorsNov 28 – Dec 12Last chance - ends Dec 12
CeleryStart seeds indoorsDec 5 – Dec 19Dec 5 – Dec 19
LeekStart seeds indoorsDec 5 – Dec 19Dec 5 – Dec 19
OnionStart seeds indoorsDec 5 – Dec 19Dec 5 – Dec 19
RosemaryStart seeds indoorsDec 5 – Dec 19Dec 5 – Dec 19
EggplantStart seeds indoorsDec 12 – Dec 26Dec 12 – Dec 26
ParsleyStart seeds indoorsDec 12 – Dec 26Dec 12 – Dec 26
ShallotStart seeds indoorsDec 12 – Dec 26Dec 12 – Dec 26
Bell PepperStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
Chili PepperStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
GingerStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
Green Onion / ScallionStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
MintStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
OreganoStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
SageStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
TarragonStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
ThymeStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
TurmericStart seeds indoorsDec 19 – Jan 2Opens Dec 19
Ground CherryStart seeds indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Opens Dec 26
Lemon BalmStart seeds indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Opens Dec 26
Shiso (Perilla)Start seeds indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Opens Dec 26
Sweet MarjoramStart seeds indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Opens Dec 26
TomatilloStart seeds indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Opens Dec 26
TomatoStart seeds indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Opens Dec 26

Harvesting in December

First harvests expected this month from crops sown or planted on time earlier in the season.

Broccoli · Oct 20 – Dec 1Cauliflower · Oct 20 – Dec 6Cabbage · Oct 20 – Dec 16Lettuce · Oct 25 – Dec 11Brussels Sprouts · Oct 29 – Dec 15Bok Choy / Pak Choi · Oct 30 – Dec 1Napa Cabbage · Oct 31 – Dec 12Mustard Greens · Nov 1 – Dec 3Fennel (Bulb) · Nov 1 – Dec 13Cilantro / Coriander · Nov 2 – Dec 14Carrot · Nov 3 – Dec 10Radicchio · Nov 3 – Dec 30Dill · Nov 4 – Dec 11Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Nov 4 – Dec 11Pea · Nov 5 – Dec 7Collard Greens · Nov 5 – Dec 12Tatsoi · Nov 6 – Dec 8Beet · Nov 7 – Dec 14Radish · Nov 7 – Dec 2Spinach · Nov 8 – Dec 3Arugula · Nov 8 – Dec 5Ginger · Nov 8 – Jan 7Turmeric · Nov 8 – Jan 7Kohlrabi · Nov 9 – Dec 11Mache (Corn Salad) · Nov 9 – Dec 11Turnip · Nov 11 – Dec 18Chervil · Nov 11 – Dec 18Rutabaga · Nov 12 – Dec 9Borage · Nov 19 – Dec 26Parsley · Nov 20 – Dec 27Green Onion / Scallion · Nov 24 – Dec 31Watercress · Nov 28 – Dec 25Endive & Escarole · Dec 5 – Jan 6Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · Dec 9 – Jan 10

After the first frost: December garden jobs in zone 9

  1. The average first frost (November 30) has passed - pull frost-killed tender plants and compost the healthy ones; bin or burn anything that had blight or mildew.
  2. Plant garlic now (Dec 11 – Dec 28): single cloves, pointy end up, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart, then mulch.
  3. Leave cold-hardy roots (carrots, parsnips, leeks) in the ground under a thick mulch and dig them as needed.
  4. Clean and oil tools, drain hoses, and note what worked this year while you still remember - it makes next year's plan far easier.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 9 in December?

25 crops have a window in December: shallot, garlic, celeriac, celery, leek, onion, rosemary, eggplant, parsley, bell pepper and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

When are the last and first frost in zone 9?

The typical last spring frost is around Feb 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 30. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.

What should I start indoors in zone 9 in December?

Celeriac (Nov 28 – Dec 12), Celery (Dec 5 – Dec 19), Leek (Dec 5 – Dec 19), Onion (Dec 5 – Dec 19), Rosemary (Dec 5 – Dec 19), Eggplant (Dec 12 – Dec 26), Parsley (Dec 12 – Dec 26), Shallot (Dec 12 – Dec 26), Bell Pepper (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Chili Pepper (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Ginger (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Green Onion / Scallion (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Mint (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Oregano (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Sage (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Tarragon (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Thyme (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Turmeric (Dec 19 – Jan 2), Ground Cherry (Dec 26 – Jan 9), Lemon Balm (Dec 26 – Jan 9), Shiso (Perilla) (Dec 26 – Jan 9), Sweet Marjoram (Dec 26 – Jan 9), Tomatillo (Dec 26 – Jan 9), Tomato (Dec 26 – Jan 9).

December in states with land in zone 9

AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaFloridaGeorgiaLouisianaMississippiOregonSouth CarolinaTexasWashington

Zone 9 in other months

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberZone 9 overview →

What to plant in December in other zones

Zone 8Zone 10All states →

Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.