12 Best Things to Plant and Grow in December

December is not the most thrilling time of the year for planting and growing things… but, it is far from being void of plant life and gardening-related activities that you can do.

Read on below and discover our 13 picks for the best plants to grow this December (including veggies, fruits, herbs, and flowers)!

3 Best Vegetables to Plants and Grow in December

1. Swiss Chard

Swiss chard is the number one vegetable that many gardeners choose to grow in the wintertime. This hardy green leafy veggie can withstand, and even thrive in, temperatures as cold as 15°F and sometimes lower. So long as your swiss chard is in buckets, or heavily mulched, or otherwise protected, the plant has no issues growing in the winter.

2. Beets

Beets are another great option for winter gardening outdoors, especially in areas that don’t see much frost or temperatures below 30°F. In most climates, these small root vegetables do exceptionally well in greenhouses or cold frames over the winter.

3. Carrots

Carrots are another root vegetable that makes a superb option for winter gardening. In fact, most gardeners who enjoy growing things in the winter know that leaving carrots in the ground over winter drastically improves their taste. These orange root veggies can withstand practically any cold temperature, even beyond freezing.

3 Best Herbs to Plant and Grow in December

1. Chives

Chives are a perfect example of a species that is good to plant in the winter but grows best in the spring (and fall). The trick is planting chives around a month or two before the last frosts of late winter and early spring. Chives planted during the last of the cold season tend to thrive more than those planted after the frost stops.

2. Cilantro

Cilantro is not the cold-resistant herbs or vegetables that chives or onions are, but they are a prime candidate for growing during mild winters. If the winter weather doesn’t drop down to freezing, you may look forward to harvesting cilantro off and on all winter long and well into the next spring.

3. Parsley

Parsley, like cilantro, is another herb that does exceptionally well during mild winters that don’t drop below freezing. When the winter is less frosty, parsley harvests may be abundant from fall and winter all the way until the late spring or early summer.

3 Best Fruits to Plant and Grow in December

1. Lemon

Lemon trees are among the most preferred indoor trees do grow during the winter. They smell amazing, and they are easy to care for. Even more, they may even produce fruit if you are growing a standard variety.

2. Pear

The pear tree is another favorite among those who enjoy growing fruit during the winter, specifically fruit trees. That said, there are two main varieties of pears you may grow indoors; winter pears and summer pears. Obviously, winter pears are the ones you want to focus on for fruit during this coldest time of the year.

3. Orange

Most orange trees won’t actually provide you with fruit during the winter, but a few hybrid species may do just that. For the standard orange tree in a pot, taking it inside during the winter and caring for it indoors is mandatory unless you live somewhere where the temperature stays well above freezing even during the coldest months of the year.

3 Best Flowers to Plant and Grow in December

1. Snow Drops

Planting flowers isn’t the most common routine for gardeners unless they are bulbs. Snow drops are one of the species people plant in late November and early December. Typically snow drops are among the first flowers to bloom as winter fades away and spring creeps into season.

2. Pansies

Pansies, despite the modern pop culture usage of the word (meaning something like softy or sissy), these flowers are actually quite tough (much tougher than others). Unless the winter weather plunges well below freezing for several days or weeks at a time, pansies are likely to rebloom again and again.

3. Daphne

Daphne is also an amazing flower for growing in the winter. However, these little beauties are best planted in the late winter, or spring, for next winter’s blooms! Don’t forget to mulch and water daphnes in the winter, unlike other flowers.

What do You Plant and Grow in December?

Now that we’ve shared our top picks for the best fruits, herbs, veggies, and flowers to grow in the month of December, we want to know what YOU plant and grow in December! Or, what do you plan to plant and grow? Did our list help inspire you to make a decision? Let us know in the comments below! Thanks!

Suggested Reading: 15 Best Garden Plants to Grow This Winter