December Planting Guide
Zone 9
Start Indoor
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Angelonia
12/24 - 1/21
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before last frost; Likes 70-75 degree soil temp; Plant 18” apart; When 6” pinch tips to encourage branching.
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Aster
3/11 - 3/25
Plant in full sun; Plant 18-36 inches apart; Only use a mild fertilizer; Late summer bloom; Great cut flower plant.
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Artichoke
12/17 - 1/14
Better germination with cold stratification; Likes full sun; Keep moist plants need about an inch of water a week.
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Arugula
12/24 - 1/7
Best flavor if grown in the winter; Full sun to partial shade; Keep well water likes 1 inch of rain a week.
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Basil
12/31 - 1/14
6-8 weeks before the frost; Warm weather crop; Plant outside once soil is 50 degrees but prefers 70 degree soil.
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Begonia
12/17 - 12/31
Part sun to full shade; Great potted plant otherwise start indoor early then transplant outside; Like 70-75 degree soil.
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Broccoli
12/24 - 1/14
Start 8 weeks before frost. Likes soil temps between 40 & 70 degrees; Direct sow in the fall & start indoor in the spring;
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Brussels Sprouts
12/10 - 12/24
Can be grown in the spring but does best in the fall; likes 70 degree soil temps; sow indoor 8 weeks before transplanting; harden off for one week before planting.
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Cabbage
12/24 - 1/7
Start indoors 8 weeks before frost & transplant 3-5 weeks before the last frost. Harden off before planting; Likes to be 70 degrees.
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Cauliflower
12/24 - 1/14
Needs temps to be constant temperatures around 60 degrees; Likes consistent care; Difficult to grow.
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Celery
12/3 - 12/17
Temperatures reach 50 F; Will bolt if temps drop below 40 degrees; Must be started early indoors; Cold season crop; Harden off before planting.
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Chamomile
12/24 - 1/21
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before last frost date, or direct sow after frost; Like 70 degree soil; Needs full sun with good drainage.
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Chives
12/17 - 12/24
Must be started indoors and then transplanted after frost; Start indoor 8-10 weeks before frost date; Likes 70 degree soil.
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Cilantro
12/24 - 1/28
Sow indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost; Likes 70 degree soil; Can also be direct sown after frost.
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Eggplant
12/17 - 1/14
Start 8 weeks before the last frost; Likes 75 degree soil temp; Not recommended for direct sow.
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Fennel
12/31 - 1/28
Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost or direct sow after frost; Like soil 70 degrees; Keep well watered.
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Kale
12/17 - 12/31
Can be direct sown; Sow 3-5 weeks before the last frost; Spring or fall crop; Tastes better in the fall.Description goes here
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Lavender
12/10 - 12/31
Sow indoor 6-10 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 70-80 degree soil; Harden off before moving outside; Harvest in the morning.
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Lemon Balm
12/24 - 1/14
Sow indoor 6-8 weeks before spring frost; likes 70 degree soil temps; After bloom cut back by 2/3.
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Lemongrass
12/24 - 1/28
Plant in full sun; Harvest when leafy top is 10-12 inches; Repels mosquitoes; Not cold hardy.
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Lettuce
12/24 - 1/7
4-6 weeks before the last frost; Once soil temps are 40 degrees; Cold season crop; Can be transplanted but best directly sown; Succession-plant weekly.
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Marjoram
12/10 - 12/31
Plant in full sun; Best sown indoor 8-10 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 70 degree soil temps; Pinch stems to encourage bushy growth.
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Mint
12/17 - 1/14
Alway plant in containers, very invasive; Likes to be moist; Full sun or partial shade.
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Onion
12/10 - 12/24
Best started indoors; Likes soil temps 50+ degrees; Protect from frost; Light sensitive check variety for duration requirements.
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Oregano
12/24 - 1/14
Start 8-10 weeks before the last frost date; Must be kept over 45 degrees; Likes 70 degree moist soil.
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Pepper
12/2 - 1/14
Start indoor 8-10 weeks before transplanting; Likes 75 degree soil.
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Rosemary
12/17 - 12/31
Started indoor 10 weeks before last spring frost or propagated; Likes 70 degree soil temp; Best harvested in the morning.
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Sage
12/10 - 12/31
Sow indoor 8-10 weeks before last spring frost; Likes soil 70 degrees; Prune 1/3 of the plant back in the spring.
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Stevia
12/10 - 12/31
Can be a container plant; Plant in full sun; Harvest 40 days after transplanting; Leaves are sweeter than the stem.
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Thyme
12/17 - 12/31
Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost; Hard to start from seed; Likes 70 degree soil temp; Lasts about 5-6 years, prune back hard to add life.
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Tomato
12/31 - 1/14
6-8 weeks before the last frost; Likes 75 degree soil; Best started indoor and then transplanted.
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Tomatillo
12/31 - 1/14
6-8 weeks before last spring frost; Likes 75 degree soil; Likes full sun.
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Zinnia
12/31 - 1/14
Start indoors 5-7 weeks before transplanting, or direct sow after frost; Likes soil 70-75 degrees; Full sun.
 
“The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination.”
Terri Guillemets