December in Zone 6
December in Zone 6. 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.
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- Min Winter Temp
- -10 to 0 °F / -23 to -18 °C
- Last Spring Frost
- Mid April – early May
- First Fall Frost
- Mid October – early November
- Growing Season
- 180–210 days
- Annual Rainfall
- 30–55 in
December overview
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 6 last frost
- Mid April – early May
- Zone 6 first frost
- Mid October – early November
0
Sow indoors
0
Sow outdoors
0
Transplant
0
Harvest
1
Maintenance
🛠️ Maintenance
Plan, order seeds, and prep
The ground is cold or frozen — the perfect time for the indoor work that makes spring easier.
📌 Order seeds before favorites sell out, sketch next year's layout and rotations, sharpen and oil tools, and start onions/leeks late in the dormant season.
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 6: common questions
What can I plant in December in Zone 6?＋
December is mainly a planning and preparation month in Zone 6 — the ground is typically too cold for sowing outdoors. Order seeds, start onions and leeks indoors, and prepare beds for the season ahead.
When is the last and first frost in Zone 6?＋
Zone 6 typically has its last spring frost around Mid April – early May and its first fall frost around Mid October – early November, giving a growing season of roughly 180–210 days. Always check a local frost-date source, since microclimates vary.
What garden jobs matter most in December in Zone 6?＋
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.