December in Zone 11
December in Zone 11 (last frost none, first frost none). There are 4 crops to sow, transplant, or harvest this month.
Quick answer · Updated July 2026
In December, Zone 11 gardeners can plant Peppers, Eggplant, Onions, and Parsley. Zone 11 is frost-free — the full task list below has timing for each crop.
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- Min Winter Temp
- 40 to 50 °F / 4 to 10 °C
- Last Spring Frost
- None
- First Fall Frost
- None
- Growing Season
- Year-round (365 days)
- Annual Rainfall
- 20–80 in
Gardening in December in Zone 11
In Zone 11, December falls in the prime cool-season window. Unlike colder zones, your strongest growing happens now: mild temperatures let you plant a wide range of vegetables that would struggle in the summer heat.
The planting focus in Zone 11 this month is Peppers, Eggplant, Onions, and Parsley — see the task cards below for exactly how and when to sow each in your conditions.
About December in the garden
December is the quietest month in cold-zone gardens. Planning, education, and equipment preparation fill the time. In warm zones, cool-season gardens are fully active and the holiday season includes fresh garden harvests. The winter solstice marks the turning point toward longer days.
Garden planning and seed catalog browsing in cold zones; active harvesting in warm zones; holiday greens; equipment maintenance; reflection and planning for the year ahead.
- Season
- winter
- Temperature trend
- Coldest period begins; winter solstice (shortest day) around December 21.
- Daylight
- Shortest days of the year; winter solstice around December 21 marks the turning point.
- Zone 11 last frost
- None
- Zone 11 first frost
- None
4
Sow indoors
0
Sow outdoors
0
Transplant
0
Harvest
1
Maintenance
🌱 Sow indoors
Start these indoors
Get a jump on the season under lights or on a sunny windowsill so transplants are ready when the weather warms.
Sow ⅛ in deep at 80°F on a heat mat. Slow to sprout (14–21 days) — start early.
Sow ¼ in deep at 80°F; needs steady warmth for 8 weeks indoors.
Sow ¼ in deep in trays; keep tops trimmed to 3 in for stocky transplants. Choose day-length type for your latitude.
Soak seed overnight; slow to germinate (3 weeks). Surface-sow under lights.
🛠️ Maintenance
Get ahead of first frost
First fall frost arrives around now in Zone 11.
📌 Harvest tender crops, cover beds on frost nights, plant garlic, sow a cover crop on empty beds, and bring in herbs to overwinter.
When to plant this month's crops in Zone 11
Full planting calendars — start indoors, transplant, and harvest timing — for the crops you're planting in December.
General December tasks
These apply broadly regardless of zone — a useful checklist alongside the zone-specific tasks above.
- ✓Review what worked and what didn't in this year's garden — take notes
- ✓Browse seed catalogs and create wish list for next season
- ✓Clean, sharpen, and oil all garden tools before storage
- ✓Service lawn mower and garden equipment
- ✓Harvest fresh winter vegetables in warm zones (Zones 8–13)
- ✓Force spring bulbs indoors for winter bloom: paperwhites, amaryllis
- ✓Order bare-root trees, roses, and fruit plants for late winter planting
- ✓Repot and refresh houseplants; take cuttings of favorite tender plants
⚠ Watch-outs for December
- ⚠Monitor cold frames and low tunnels during cold snaps — ventilate on warm days
- ⚠Salt and ice-melt products damage nearby plants — use sand or kitty litter instead
- ⚠Holiday plants (poinsettia, cyclamen) need cool, bright locations to last through the season
- ⚠Check stored produce (potatoes, squash, apples) and remove any showing rot
December in Zone 11: common questions
What can I plant in December in Zone 11?＋
In December, Zone 11 gardeners can sow or transplant Peppers, Eggplant, Onions, and Parsley. December in Zone 11 (last frost none, first frost none). There are 4 crops to sow, transplant, or harvest this month.
Does Zone 11 get frost?＋
No — Zone 11 is frost-free year-round. Instead of frost dates, planting follows the tropical seasons: a hot, wet season (roughly May–October) for tropical staples, and a cooler, drier season (roughly November–April) that is the main window for temperate vegetables.
What garden jobs matter most in December in Zone 11?＋
Focus on review what worked and what didn't in this year's garden — take notes, browse seed catalogs and create wish list for next season, clean, sharpen, and oil all garden tools before storage. Watch out for monitor cold frames and low tunnels during cold snaps — ventilate on warm days.