December is mostly a season of harvest protection, soil care, and planning, though frost-free areas can grow vegetables continuously. Use your own USDA zone and local frost patterns to decide what can remain outdoors.

Start indoors in December

Start herbs, lettuce, spinach, and other compact greens indoors only if you have adequate light and a plan for protected growing. Most outdoor vegetable seedlings should wait until their correct lead time before your local spring frost date.

Plant outdoors: cool & northern regions (zones 3–6)

In zones 3 to 6, harvest protected greens and roots as conditions allow, and keep mulch or low tunnels in place over overwintering crops. When the ground is frozen, avoid working beds and use the time to plan rotations, order seed, and check stored vegetables.

Plant outdoors: warm & southern regions (zones 7–10)

In zones 7 to 10, sow or transplant cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, peas, carrots, beets, radishes, kale, broccoli, cabbage, onions, and garlic as local weather permits. Protect crops during unusual freezes and choose successions based on local winter temperatures.

Garden tasks for December

Inspect stored squash, potatoes, onions, and other crops regularly, removing any that show rot. Maintain winter mulch and cover crops, clean pots and tools, and make a seed order based on the coming season's local planting calendar.

Regional guidance for US home gardens; always adjust to your own last and first frost dates. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.