If you’re questioning what to plant in December in Arizona, you could have extra choices than you may assume. December within the low desert is a superb time to tuck in cool-season greens, herbs, flowers, and even just a few perennials exterior, and to start out warm-season seeds indoors for an early leap on spring.
Cooler days and chilly nights sluggish progress a bit, however vegetation are much less burdened and simpler to take care of. As you harvest fall crops, you’ll be able to preserve beds productive by filling open areas with the crops on this listing. Beginning seeds like tomatoes, peppers, and flowers inside now additionally means you’ll have sturdy transplants able to go when the soil warms in late winter.
The low desert consists of areas under about 3,500 ft in elevation within the Southwest, together with the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. This information is written for these low desert situations, so you’ll be able to plant with confidence in December.
What you’ll discover on this December planting information for Arizona:
If you’re on the lookout for duties and care ideas, you’ll want to additionally learn my “Arizona Backyard in December” submit for a full listing of jobs to maintain your backyard thriving this month.
At a look: What to plant in December in Arizona (low desert)
In December, concentrate on cool-season crops that like gentle days and chilly nights, plus just a few long-season perennials.
Greatest bets to plant exterior in December:
Greens: lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, onions, turnips, rutabagas, fava beans, lentils, potatoes
Herbs: cilantro, parsley, dill, chives, chamomile, fennel, garlic chives
Fruits and perennials: strawberries, artichokes, asparagus crowns, comfrey
Flowers: candy peas, snapdragons, inventory, alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, violas, pansies, poppies, calendula or rudbeckia
The detailed lists later on this information break down which crops to develop from seed, which to plant as transplants, and which is able to do properly both manner.
December backyard overview for the low desert
What is going on within the backyard in December
Cool-season crops shine in December within the low desert. You might be harvesting:
Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and arugula
Root crops resembling carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips
Brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi
Peas, herbs, and citrus
As you harvest, search for open spots and tuck in additional seeds and transplants from the lists under. That retains beds full and productive into late winter and spring.
Do you have to plant now or wait till January?
December isn’t too late to plant, however it’s good to assume forward. Our spring arrives shortly, and warm-season crops want house by late February and March.
If in case you have open house, plant from the December lists and prioritize fast growers resembling lettuce, radishes, and child greens, plus transplants for slower brassicas.
December planting movies
Generally it helps to see what planting seems like in an actual low desert backyard. Watch these movies to see what I’m planting, harvesting, and specializing in in December:
You will note how the backyard seems this time of yr, plus extra concepts for filling in gaps and defending vegetation from the chilly.
To make planning simpler, I created calendars and guides so you’ll be able to shortly see what to plant every month within the low desert. There are variations for:
All the calendars and guides can be found in my store. They’re designed that can assist you backyard with confidence in Arizona’s low desert.
If you want extra step-by-step assist, my gardening lessons go deeper into tips on how to plan, plant and care on your backyard in Arizona, whether or not you’re a model new gardener or have been gardening right here for years.
Greens, Herbs & Fruit to plant in Arizona in December
December is an effective time to plant some cool-season crops outdoor. Development is perhaps a bit slower because of the cooler climate, so don’t fear if issues appear to be taking their time. Take a look at the planting lists and fill any empty spots in your backyard beds.
(Click on the hyperlink to learn “Learn how to Develop” articles on my web site.)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start out indoors throughout December
December is the start of the window for beginning warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers indoors. If you wish to get a leap on the spring gardening season, now’s the right time to start out these seeds. Our spring is fairly brief, so having transplants able to go will assist make sure you get harvest earlier than the warmth units in.
It’s also possible to begin extra cool-season crops inside for those who desire to transplant them out later.
(Click on the hyperlink for seed sources.)
Prepared to start out planting? These are my favourite seeds and the businesses I order from yr after yr.
Perennials, fruit timber, and roses to plant in December
December can be the start of planting season for some longer-lived vegetation within the low desert.
Fruit timber: Plant container fruit timber from fall via early spring. Naked-root timber are finest planted in January and early February, when they’re totally dormant.
Roses: Mid-December via January is the perfect window to plant bare-root roses within the Phoenix space. Container-grown roses can go within the floor via winter and early spring, avoiding the warmth of summer time.
Plant container-grown roses this month. I get my roses from Heirloom Roses. Use Code GARDENAZ20 for 20% off any rose order via December 31, 2025.
Flowers to plant in Arizona in December
December is a lovely time to plant flowers within the low desert. Cool-season annuals thrive in our gentle winters, and they’re a straightforward manner so as to add coloration to beds and containers whereas attracting pollinators.
If in case you have empty containers, fill them with winter flowers and place them close to entries or exterior home windows the place you’ll be able to take pleasure in them. In raised beds, tuck flowers into corners and alongside edges to usher in useful bugs and soften the look of trellises and helps.
(Click on the hyperlink to learn “Learn how to Develop” articles on my web site.)
Ageratum (T)
Alyssum (ST)
Child’s Breath (ST)
Bee Balm (ST)
Carnation (T)
Chamomile (T)
Dianthus (T)
English Daisy (T)
Feverfew (T)
Overlook-Me-Not (S)
Geranium (T)
Gladiolus (corm)
Lobelia (T)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Flower seeds to start out indoors within the low desert in December
December is the beginning of the season for planting warm-weather flower seeds indoors within the low desert. Getting a head begin inside means you’ll have sturdy flower transplants prepared to maneuver out because the climate warms.
(Click on the hyperlink for seed sources.)
December planting in Arizona: Ceaselessly requested questions
Sure, December remains to be planting month within the low desert of Arizona. Cool-season greens, herbs, flowers, and strawberries can all go in now. Development is slower as a result of days are brief and nights are cool, however vegetation can be able to take off as days lengthen in late winter.
Concentrate on cool-season crops that like gentle climate and light-weight frosts. Lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, onions, turnips, and fava beans all do properly in low desert winters.
You can begin tomato seeds indoors in December within the low desert, so transplants are able to set out in late February or March. It’s too early to plant tomatoes exterior. Wait till after the hazard of exhausting frost, and as soon as the soil begins to heat.
Cool-season annuals resembling candy peas, snapdragons, inventory, alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, violas, and pansies do properly in winter. Plant them in beds or containers, and shield tender blooms if a tough freeze is forecast.
This information is written for the low desert of Arizona, together with Phoenix, Tucson, and related areas under about 3,500 ft in elevation. Gardeners at greater elevations have colder winters and shorter planting home windows, so examine together with your native Cooperative Extension workplace for region-specific dates.
Easy reward concepts for Arizona gardeners
If you’re on the lookout for the right reward for the gardener in your life, or a deal with for your self, go to my gardening reward information assortment. You will see that:
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