What to Plant in December for Your Kitchen Garden
Here in the DMV area, we have a fairly mild winter. We have a chance of frost all winter, but our average highs reliably rise above 32°F. So even though December marks the start of winter, we are still in a cool growing season (when the average high temperature is between 35-64°F). This means, if you planted a cool season garden, you should still have plenty of cold hardy vegetables, herbs, and flowers to harvest this month.
What Can Grow in December
FROST TOLERANT
These plants can tolerate light frosts and short periods of freezing temperatures without trouble. They will need protection to withstand longer periods of freezing temperatures. Frost tolerant veggies include beets, carrots, parsnips, lettuce, chard, peas (before flowering), Chinese cabbage, endive, radicchio, cauliflower, parsley and celery. For beets, carrots and parsnips, the tops will die but the roots will tolerate lower temperatures. Pansies are a frost tolerant flower that adds beautiful color to the cool season garden. Cilantro, dill, lavender, peppermint, and sage are a few frost tolerant herbs.
COLD HARDY
These plants can survive freezing weather and frosts, and can even poke blooms through snow. Some examples include spinach, onions, garlic, leeks, rhubarb, rutabaga, broccoli, kohlrabi, kale, cabbage, collards, brussel sprouts, arugula, mustard greens, and turnip. Some herbs that can be cold hardy include chives, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme.
What to Plant in December
As for what you can plant in the kitchen garden in December, there are a few things to consider. This month has the shortest days of the year. That signals to plants that it’s time to slow down. Anything you plant is going to grow a little slower this month. There are still a few things you can plant in December.
Winter Sowing
Winter sowing is planting seeds directly into your garden and allowing them to over winter in the soil, just as they would in nature. Some plant families like the cold and their seeds will germinate right away. Other plant families with more tender cool season plants will lay dormant and germinate in February when the days are longer and soil temperatures start rising. In December, you can direct sow these plants from the following plant families:
Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family): Beets, spinach, swiss chard
Apiaceae (Carrot family): Carrots, cilantro, parsnips
Asteraceae (Aster family): Lettuce, radicchio
Lamiaceae (Mint family): Oregano
Brassicaceae (Mustard family): Arugula, cabbage, collards, kale, mustard greens, radishes, turnips
Plant Indoors
Most plants can be started indoors in January, but if you’re looking to grow your own herbs start them in December. Perennial and annual herbs take longer to germinate and establish. Onions also need the extra time indoors.
Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family): Onions
Apiaceae (Carrot family): Dill, parsley
Lamiaceae (Mint family): Oregano, Sage, Thyme
You may know our frost dates, but did you know we have three growing seasons in the DMV?
Download this guide to our local growing seasons so you can save time and money by planting the right plants at the right time.
