What to Plant in December
Orlando, FL · Zone 9b
Last frost: Feb 5
Frost-free days: 313
Winter gardening continues — harvest cool-season greens and root vegetables. Plan next year's layout and order seeds early for the best selection.
December at a Glance
Indoor
Transplant
Direct Sow
1
5
10
15
20
25
Chives
Cilantro
Dill
Lavender
Mint
Oregano
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Artichoke
Beans (Bush)
Beet
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn
Eggplant
Garlic
Kale
Leek
Lettuce
Onion
Peas
Potato
Pumpkin
Radish
Spinach
Squash
Strawberry
Sunflower
Sweet Potato
Swiss Chard
Turnip
Zucchini
Start Indoors 27
Start these seeds indoors under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill.
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
60–90 days
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–90 days
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–120 days
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
75–90 days
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Pumpkin
Jan 1 – Dec 31
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Tomato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Parsley
Jun 16 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Kale
Jul 9 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Celery
Jul 17 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Swiss Chard
Jul 24 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Broccoli
Aug 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Cabbage
Aug 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Aug 17 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Lettuce
Oct 9 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Spinach
Nov 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Eggplant
Nov 24 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–90 days
Pepper
Nov 24 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Growing guide
Transplant 26
Move these seedlings from indoors to your garden beds.
Chives
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
60–90 days
Lavender
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Mint
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Oregano
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–90 days
Rosemary
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–120 days
Sage
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
75–90 days
Thyme
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Artichoke
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
85–100 days
Leek
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
90–150 days
Onion
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
100–120 days
Pumpkin
Jan 1 – Dec 31
¼ per sq ft
85–120 days
Squash
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
45–65 days
Strawberry
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
60–90 days
Sunflower
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Tomato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
65–80 days
Growing guide
Zucchini
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
45–60 days
Parsley
Aug 24 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
70–90 days
Kale
Aug 24 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
50–65 days
Swiss Chard
Aug 24 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
50–60 days
Broccoli
Oct 9 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Brussels Sprouts
Oct 9 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
80–110 days
Cabbage
Oct 9 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–100 days
Cauliflower
Oct 9 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
55–100 days
Celery
Oct 9 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
80–120 days
Lettuce
Nov 9 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
45–60 days
Spinach
Dec 1–16
9 per sq ft
35–50 days
Direct Sow 12
Plant these seeds directly into the soil outdoors.
Dill
Jan 1 – Dec 31
4 per sq ft
40–60 days
Beans (Bush)
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
50–60 days
Carrot
Jan 1 – Dec 31
16 per sq ft
70–80 days
Corn
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
60–100 days
Garlic
Jan 1 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
180–240 days
Potato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
70–150 days
Sweet Potato
Jan 1 – Dec 31
1 per sq ft
90–120 days
Beet
Aug 24 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
50–70 days
Turnip
Aug 24 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
30–60 days
Peas
Oct 17 – Dec 31
8 per sq ft
55–70 days
Cilantro
Nov 9 – Dec 31
9 per sq ft
30–45 days
Radish
Nov 9 – Dec 31
16 per sq ft
22–30 days
December Gardening Tips
- Start Tomato, Pepper, Squash indoors now to give them a head start before transplanting outside.
- Tomato, Squash, Zucchini can be transplanted outside this month. Harden off seedlings over 5–7 days before planting out.
- Direct sow Corn, Beans (Bush), Carrot straight into the garden — no transplanting needed.
- Get a soil test now — results come back fast in the off-season and you can amend before spring.
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