In December, we start harvesting many of the winter vegetables and other crops that we planted earlier. Now, it's time to start our December planting. In this article, you will find the December planting guide for North Texas.
To make this guide easy to read, I will show the harvesting time, plant variety suggestions, and other important information through charts or tables.
Those who follow my articles on North Texas Gardening know the pattern of my planting guides. Each month, I publish new planting calendars/guides, that can help you to decide what to plant at this time of the year.
Want to save your time with the full year-round planting chart of North Texas? Check: North Texas Planting Calendar for the whole year ( You will also get the PDF eBook that you can easily print and stick to your wall)
Type of plants you will find here ( Click to expand )
- Vegetables and Roots
- Leafy Greens
- Flowering Plants
- Herbs
- Berries
I am covering the above mentioned plant types in this guide.
Vegetables and roots to plant in December in North Texas
It is not necessary to plant the exact varieties that I am suggesting. The varieties I am suggesting will do best if planted in December.
But you can grow other varieties if you can't find the specific varieties I have mentioned in my charts.
Scroll the tables sidewise on mobile devices to check harvesting time.
| Vegetable/Root | Planting Method | Best Varieties | Harvesting Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion | Transplant sets or seedlings | Texas 1015Y, White Bermuda | 90-120 |
| Garlic | Plant cloves, pointed side up | Softneck (Silverskin), Hardneck (Rocambole) | 210-240 |
| Carrot | Direct sow seeds, thin to 2-inch spacing | Danvers Half Long, Nantes | 70-80 |
| Radish | Direct sow seeds, thin to 1-inch spacing | Cherry Belle, French Breakfast | 25-35 |
| Shallot | Plant bulbs, 1 inch deep | Ambition, Prisma | 90-120 |
| Turnip | Direct sow seeds, thin to 4-inch spacing | Purple Top White Globe, Hakurei | 50-60 |
| Beet | Direct sow seeds, thin to 3-inch spacing | Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia | 55-70 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow seeds, thin to 3-4 inch spacing | Hollow Crown, Gladiator | 120-150 |
| Horseradish | Plant root cuttings 2 inches deep | Common Horseradish, Bohemian | 180-240 |
| Leek | Transplant seedlings or direct sow | American Flag, King Richard | 120-150 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow seeds, thin to 6-inch spacing | Early White Vienna, Purple Vienna | 50-70 |
| Rutabaga | Direct sow seeds, thin to 6-inch spacing | American Purple Top, Laurentian | 80-100 |
| Celery Root (Celeriac) | Transplant seedlings | Brilliant, Giant Prague | 120-150 |
Leafy greens for December planting
| Leafy Green | Planting Method | Best Varieties | Harvesting Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spinach | Direct sow seeds, thin to 3-inch spacing | Bloomsdale, Space, Tyee | 40-50 |
| Kale | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Lacinato (Dino Kale), Red Russian | 50-70 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow seeds, thin to 6-inch spacing | Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant | 50-60 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow seeds, thin to 4-inch spacing | Southern Giant Curled, Red Giant | 30-50 |
| Collard Greens | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Georgia Southern, Champion | 60-80 |
| Arugula | Direct sow seeds, thin to 4-inch spacing | Astro, Rocket | 20-40 |
| Endive | Direct sow seeds, thin to 6-inch spacing | Broadleaf Batavian, Frisée | 50-60 |
| Romaine Lettuce | Transplant seedlings or direct sow seeds | Parris Island Cos, Little Gem | 60-70 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Tatsoi, Mei Qing Choi | 30-50 |
| Radicchio | Direct sow seeds, thin to 8-inch spacing | Treviso, Palla Rossa | 75-90 |
Flowering Plants
| Flowering Plant | Planting Method | Best Varieties | Colors | Perennial/Annual | Harvesting Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snapdragon | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Rocket, Liberty, Tall Mix | Red, Pink, White, Yellow, Purple | Annual | 90-120 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Old Spice, Cupani, Spencer Mix | Pink, Purple, White, Red | Annual | 60-90 |
| Petunia | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Wave, Supertunia, Grandiflora | Pink, Purple, White, Red, Yellow | Annual | 60-90 |
| Primrose | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | English Primrose, Polyanthus | Pink, White, Yellow, Red, Purple | Perennial | 90-120 |
| Pansy | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Majestic Giant, Delta, Panola | Purple, Yellow, Blue, White, Red | Annual | 60-90 |
| Marigold | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Crackerjack, French, African | Yellow, Orange, Red | Annual | 50-60 |
| Shasta Daisy | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Snowcap, Becky, Alaska | White with Yellow Center | Perennial | 70-90 |
| Coreopsis | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Moonbeam, Full Moon, Early Sunrise | Yellow, Red, Pink | Perennial | 70-80 |
| Columbine | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Rocky Mountain, McKana's Giant | Red, Yellow, Purple, Pink, White | Perennial | 80-90 |
| Lavender | Transplant seedlings or cuttings | Munstead, Hidcote, Grosso | Purple, Blue | Perennial | 90-120 |
I have not mentioned pot marigold. But it will be a good choice if you want to grow that in pot.
I love to grow marigold as it helps to keep away a lot of harmful bugs from my garden.
Herbs
| Herb | Planting Method | Best Varieties | Flavor | Harvesting Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parsley | Direct sow seeds or transplant seedlings | Italian Flat Leaf, Moss Curled | Fresh, slightly peppery | 70-90 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow seeds, thin to 4-inch spacing | Santo, Leisure | Bright, citrusy | 50-60 |
| Thyme | Transplant cuttings or seedlings | English Thyme, Lemon Thyme | Earthy, slightly minty | 180-200 |
| Sage | Transplant seedlings or cuttings | Common Sage, Berggarten | Earthy, woody | 75-100 |
| Chives | Transplant seedlings or divide clumps | Common Chives, Garlic Chives | Mild onion-like | 60-80 |
| Oregano | Transplant seedlings or cuttings | Greek Oregano, Italian Oregano | Robust, slightly bitter | 90-120 |
| Rosemary | Transplant cuttings or seedlings | Arp, Tuscan Blue | Pine-like, slightly bitter | 120-180 |
| Dill | Direct sow seeds, thin to 6-inch spacing | Bouquet, Fernleaf | Sweet, grassy | 40-60 |
| Fennel | Direct sow seeds, thin to 6-8 inch spacing | Bronze, Florence | Anise-like, sweet | 90-120 |
| Marjoram | Transplant seedlings or cuttings | Sweet Marjoram | Delicate, sweet, woody | 70-90 |
I have tried coriander this December and believe me they are doing very well.
Check the below picture.
Berries
| Berry | Planting Method | Best Varieties | Taste | Harvesting Time (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strawberry | Plant bare-root or potted plants | Chandler, Seascape, Jewel | Sweet, slightly tart | 70-90 |
| Blueberry | Plant bare-root or container plants | Legacy, Tifblue, Sunshine Blue | Sweet, tangy | 120-150 |
| Raspberry | Plant bare-root canes | Heritage, Red Latham, Fall Gold | Sweet, tart | 60-90 |
| Blackberry | Plant bare-root canes | Navaho, Marion, Triple Crown | Sweet, slightly tart | 60-100 |
| Goji Berry | Plant bare-root or potted plants | Phoenix, Crimson Star | Sweet, slightly tangy | 120-150 |
| Mulberry | Plant bare-root or potted trees | Illinois Everbearing, Black Beauty | Sweet, fruity | 60-90 |
| Gooseberry | Plant bare-root plants | Invicta, Hinnonmaki Red | Tart, slightly sweet | 90-120 |
| Cranberry | Plant bare-root plants | Stewart, Early Black | Slightly tart | 120-150 |
| Currant | Plant bare-root plants | Red Lake, Blackdown | Tart | 90-120 |
| Honeyberry | Plant bare-root or potted plants | Blue Moon, Tundra | Sweet, tangy | 70-90 |
Kindly note that, blackberry and mulberry are not the same. (They might look same unless you get closer to the fruits)
If you are planting strawberry in December here in North Texas, make sure you do not overwater it. It can causes the strawberry leaves to turn yellow.
You can read: Mulberry vs blackberry difference with pictures
Growing plants in pots or containers and unsure when to bring them insides? Why don't you check my charts with temperature: When to bring plants inside in winter
And those who can't bring the plants inside can check: when to cover plants in winter.
Gardening is a never ending journey and I truly value the advice from fellow gardeners. Feel free to comment below and subscribe to this site. (It's free!)
