What to Plant in December in Arizona
If you are wondering what to plant in December in Arizona, you have more options than you might think. December in the low desert is a great time to tuck in cool-season vegetables, herbs, flowers, and even a few perennials outside, and to start warm-season seeds indoors for an early jump on spring.
Cooler days and chilly nights slow growth a bit, but plants are less stressed and easier to care for. As you harvest fall crops, you can keep beds productive by filling open spaces with the crops on this list. Starting seeds like tomatoes, peppers, and flowers inside now also means you will have strong transplants ready to go when the soil warms in late winter.
The low desert includes areas below about 3,500 feet in elevation in the Southwest, including the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas. This guide is written for those low desert conditions, so you can plant with confidence in December.
What you will find in this December planting guide for Arizona:
- At a glance: What to plant in December in Arizona (low desert)
- December garden overview for the low desert
- December planting videos
- Planning tools for December in Arizona
- Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in Arizona in December
- Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during December
- Perennials, fruit trees, and roses to plant in December
- Flowers to plant in Arizona in December
- Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in December
- December planting in Arizona: Frequently asked questions
- Simple gift ideas for Arizona gardeners
If you are looking for tasks and care tips, be sure to also read my “Arizona Garden in December” post for a full list of jobs to keep your garden thriving this month.
At a glance: What to plant in December in Arizona (low desert)
In December, focus on cool-season crops that like mild days and chilly nights, plus a few long-season perennials.
Best bets to plant outside in December:
- Vegetables: 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: sweet peas, snapdragons, stock, alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, violas, pansies, poppies, calendula or rudbeckia
The detailed lists later in this guide break down which crops to grow from seed, which to plant as transplants, and which will do well either way.
For December plantings and an easy end-of-year reflection, learn more about the Low Desert Garden Planner or buy it in my shop.
December garden overview for the low desert
What is happening in the garden in December
Cool-season crops shine in December in the low desert. You may be harvesting:
- Leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and arugula
- Root crops such as carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips
- Brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kohlrabi
- Peas, herbs, and citrus
As you harvest, look for open spots and tuck in more seeds and transplants from the lists below. That keeps beds full and productive into late winter and spring.
Should you plant now or wait until January?
December is not too late to plant, but it is smart to think ahead. Our spring arrives quickly, and warm-season crops need space by late February and March.
If you have open space, plant from the December lists and prioritize quick growers such as lettuce, radishes, and baby greens, plus transplants for slower brassicas.
December planting videos
Sometimes it helps to see what planting looks like in a real low desert garden. Watch these videos to see what I am planting, harvesting, and focusing on in December:
You will see how the garden looks this time of year, plus more ideas for filling in gaps and protecting plants from the cold.
Planning tools for December in Arizona
To make planning easier, I created calendars and guides so you can quickly see what to plant each month in the low desert. There are versions for:
- Vegetables, herbs, and fruit monthly calendar
- Vegetables, herbs, and fruit planting guide
- Flower monthly calendar
- Flower planting guide
- Garden Planner and Journal
All of the calendars and guides are available in my shop. They are designed to help you garden with confidence in Arizona’s low desert.
If you would like more step-by-step help, my gardening classes go deeper into how to plan, plant and care for your garden in Arizona, whether you are a brand new gardener or have been gardening here for years.
Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in Arizona in December
December is a good time to plant some cool-season crops outdoors. Growth might be a bit slower due to the cooler weather, so don’t worry if things seem to be taking their time. Check out the planting lists and fill any empty spots in your garden beds.
(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
- Garlic Chives (T)
- Kale (ST)
- Kohlrabi (ST)
- Lavender (T)
- Leek (T)
- Lentil (S)
- Lettuce/Endive (ST)
- Mustard (ST)
- Onion (Bulb) (T)
- Onion (Green) (S)
- Parsley (S)
- Peas (S)
- Potato (seed potato)
- Radish (S)
- Rutabaga (S)
- Spinach (ST)
- Strawberry (T)
- Swiss Chard (ST)
- Turnip (S)
- Wheat (S)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during December
December is the beginning of the window for starting warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers indoors. If you want to get a jump on the spring gardening season, now’s the perfect time to start those seeds. Our spring is pretty short, so having transplants ready to go will help ensure you get a good harvest before the heat sets in.
You can also start more cool-season crops inside if you prefer to transplant them out later.
(Click the link for seed sources.)
- Ground Cherry
- Hyssop
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce/Endive
- Mustard
- Parsley
- Pepper
- Potato (begin to chit)
- Spinach
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatillo
- Tomato
Ready to start planting? These are my favorite seeds and the companies I order from year after year.
Perennials, fruit trees, and roses to plant in December
December is also the beginning of planting season for some longer-lived plants in the low desert.
- Fruit trees: Plant container fruit trees from fall through early spring. Bare-root trees are best planted in January and early February, when they are fully dormant.
- Roses: Mid-December through January is the ideal window to plant bare-root roses in the Phoenix area. Container-grown roses can go in the ground through winter and early spring, avoiding the heat of summer.
Plant container-grown roses this month. I get my roses from Heirloom Roses. Use Code GARDENAZ26 for 20% off any rose, perennial, or bulb order.
Flowers to plant in Arizona in December
December is a beautiful time to plant flowers in the low desert. Cool-season annuals thrive in our mild winters, and they are an easy way to add color to beds and containers while attracting pollinators.
If you have empty containers, fill them with winter flowers and place them near entries or outside windows where you can enjoy them. In raised beds, tuck flowers into corners and along edges to bring in beneficial insects and soften the look of trellises and supports.
(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
- Nasturtium (S)
- Nigella (ST)
- Ornamental Cabbage/Kale (T)
- Petunia (T)
- Poppy (S)
- Rudbeckia (ST)
- Snapdragon (T)
- Stock (T)
- Strawflower (ST)
- Sweet Peas (ST)
- Tulips (bulb)
- Violet (T)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in December
December is the start of the season for planting warm-weather flower seeds indoors in the low desert. Getting a head start inside means you will have strong flower transplants ready to move out as the weather warms.
(Click the link for seed sources.)
- Alyssum
- Bee Balm
- Chamomile
- Feverfew
- Gaillardia
- Gazania
December planting in Arizona: Frequently asked questions
Yes, December is still a good planting month in the low desert of Arizona. Cool-season vegetables, herbs, flowers, and strawberries can all go in now. Growth is slower because days are short and nights are cool, but plants will be ready to take off as days lengthen in late winter.
Focus on cool-season crops that like mild weather and light frosts. Lettuce, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, carrots, beets, radishes, peas, onions, turnips, and fava beans all do well in low desert winters.
You can start tomato seeds indoors in December in the low desert, so transplants are ready to set out in late February or March. It is too early to plant tomatoes outside. Wait until after the danger of hard frost, and once the soil begins to warm.
Cool-season annuals such as sweet peas, snapdragons, stock, alyssum, lobelia, dianthus, violas, and pansies do well in winter. Plant them in beds or containers, and protect tender blooms if a hard freeze is forecast.
This guide is written for the low desert of Arizona, including Phoenix, Tucson, and similar areas below about 3,500 feet in elevation. Gardeners at higher elevations have colder winters and shorter planting windows, so check with your local Cooperative Extension office for region-specific dates.
Simple gift ideas for Arizona gardeners
If you are looking for the perfect gift for the gardener in your life, or a treat for yourself, visit my gardening gift guide collection. You will find:
- Favorite tools and supplies that I use in my own garden
- Simple homemade gifts from the garden
- Kitchen tools for making the most of what you grow
If this post about what to plant in December was helpful, please share it.
Hi Angela, love your site. Was that vermiculite that you were spreading over the seeds in the seed trays you were planting? Also, how long do you have your grow lights on each day and at what strength? Do you change the times and strength after they sprout? Thanks.
Thanks. Yes, vermiculite. You can get all the details of how to start seeds indoors in this blog post: https://growinginthegarden.com/how-to-start-seeds-indoors-10-steps-for-success/