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Zone 10A — December

What to Plant in December in Zone 10A

December in Zone 10A: 8 crops to start indoors, 101 to plant or direct sow outside, and 2 entering harvest window. About 1 winter in 2 freezes; in those winters the last frost averages January 18. Reference city: Burbank, CA.
Updated August 12, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
8 Start Indoors
101 Plant Outside
2 Harvest
Frost window: Active

This is when frost can still happen in Zone 10A: about 1 winter in 2 reaches 32°F. In those winters, the last spring frost typically lands on January 18, with a 10% chance of frost as late as February 17. Plan transplants with this window in mind.

See full Zone 10A frost outlook

Start Indoors in December

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Broccolini brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Mar 23 – Apr 2
Brussels Sprouts brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Apr 27 – May 22
Green Cabbage brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Apr 2 – May 12
Red Cabbage brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Apr 2 – May 12
Romanesco brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Apr 17 – May 12
Snow Crown Cauliflower brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Mar 23 – Apr 2
Waltham 29 Broccoli brassica Dec 28 Feb 1 Apr 17 – May 2
Texas 1015Y SuperSweet Onion allium Dec 31 Apr 1 Jul 15 – Jul 25

Plant Outside in December

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
All Year Round Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 17, 2027 – Feb 26, 2027
America Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 27, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Astro Arugula lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 5, 2027 – Jan 24, 2027
Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Jan 30, 2027
Blonde de Paris Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 5, 2027
Blue Curled Scotch Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Bok Choy lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Broadleaf Classic Endive lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Broadleaf Full Heart Batavian Endive lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Mar 10, 2027 – Mar 15, 2027
Broadleaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Perennial — see plant page
Burgundy Boston Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Buttercrunch Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 30, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Butterhead Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027
Canary Yellow Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Candy Onion allium Plant Out Dec 14 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Catalogna Chicory lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Dec 28 Mar 8
Chervil herb Direct Sow Dec 28 Feb 1 – Feb 11
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027
Crisphead Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 21, 2027 – Feb 28, 2027
Curly Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027
Dandelion herb Direct Sow Dec 28 Perennial — see plant page
Dark Green Romaine Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Dutch Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Plant Out Dec 21 Mar 21 – Apr 20
Dwarf Siberian Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Dec 28 Mar 3 – Mar 13
Endive / Escarole lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027
Florida Broadleaf Mustard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Fordhook Giant Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
French Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
French Red Shallots allium Plant Out Dec 21 Mar 21 – Apr 20
Georgia Southern Collard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 23, 2027 – Mar 10, 2027
Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Flowers flower Direct Sow Dec 28 Apr 7 – Apr 27
Giant Red Mustard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29
Green Ice Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29
Green Mountain Celtuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3
Green Wave Mustard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Direct Sow Dec 28 Mar 13 – Apr 2
Holland Red Shallots allium Plant Out Dec 21 Mar 21 – Apr 20
Hot Pink Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Iceberg Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 21, 2027 – Feb 28, 2027
Kagraner Sommer Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 11
Lacinato Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027
Large Leaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Perennial — see plant page
Leaf Lettuce Mix lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Little Gem Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 9, 2027
Lollo Bionda Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Lollo Rossa Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 6, 2027 – Feb 9, 2027
Magenta Sunset Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Marvel of Four Seasons Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Matador Viking Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 1, 2027
Mesclun Mix lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 5, 2027 – Jan 14, 2027
Michihili Cabbage brassica Transplant Dec 28 Mar 8
Mizuna lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Monstrueux de Viroflay Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Morris Heading Collard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 28, 2027 – Mar 5, 2027
Mustard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 19, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Mâche (Corn Salad) lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Mar 9, 2027
Napa Cabbage brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027
New Zealand Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Noble Giant Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 30, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Old Fashion Mustard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Orange Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Premier Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Radicchio lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Mar 10, 2027
Rainbow Mix Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Rapini Broccoli Raab brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 18
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Transplant Dec 28 Mar 13 – Mar 18
Red Leaf Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Red Orach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29
Red Romaine Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027
Red Russian Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Red Vein Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Perennial — see plant page
Red-Stem Malabar Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027
Romaine Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 18, 2027 – Feb 28, 2027
Ruby Red Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Salad Bowl Green Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 2, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Shallot allium Plant Out Dec 28 Mar 28 – Apr 27
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Summer Bibb Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Tango Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 30
Tatsoi lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 9, 2027 – Jan 29, 2027
Tendergreen Mustard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Tom Thumb Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 23, 2027
Très Fine Maraîchère Frisée lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13
Tuscany Black Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Feb 28, 2027
Vates Collard lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 13, 2027 – Feb 28, 2027
Vates Kale lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 3, 2027 – Feb 8, 2027
Verona Red Chicory lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Mar 10, 2027 – Mar 17, 2027
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8, 2027 – Feb 18, 2027
Vienna White Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 8
White Boston Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 24, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Winner Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Winter Density Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Feb 7, 2027 – Feb 13, 2027
Winter Giant Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Jan 29, 2027 – Feb 3, 2027
Witloof White Chicory lettuce Direct Sow Dec 15 Apr 4, 2027 – Apr 24, 2027

Harvest in December

Plant Type Planted / Sown Harvest Window
Nantes Carrot (fall planting) root vegetable Oct 8 Dec 22
Sugar Snap Pea (fall planting) legume Oct 22 Dec 31

Key Tasks for December in Zone 10A

  1. 1 Start 8 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
  2. 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
  3. 3 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
  4. 4 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
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