What to grow in December

Unsure what to grow in December? Summer is the time for vegie patches to start really growing. All that hard work from Spring will begin the bare fruits (pardon the pun). This is now a great time to bring some serious colour to the garden and the vegie patch With a little bit of planning you will soon have a garden full of your own food and a bounty of beautiful flowers!

But, you find yourself asking “What to plant now?”

We have made it easy for you by listing seeds to sow this month so you can get the best out of your garden.

How can I find what to plant now based on where I live in Australia?

What to plant in December is split by the different Australian climate zones

What seeds to plant now?

Check out our regional zone planting guide. Find which zone you are in on the map.

Tropical (North Qld, NT & WA)

HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: basil, capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant and sweet corn.
FLOWERS: celosia and marigold

Reduce the risk of disease in your plants by using a trellis or stakes to lift plants off the ground.   Raising the plants increases air flow and increase photosynthesis

Subtropical (South-east Qld & Northern NSW)

HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: basil, capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, lettuce, melon, pumpkin, radish, squash, sweet corn, tomato and zucchini.
FLOWERS: celosia and marigold

Place nets over your lychee trees to prevent fruit-piercing moths, bats, possums and birds damaging the fruit. Use small amounts of Sulphate of Potash fertiliser to support fruit growth Lychees are ready to eat when they are red and slightly swollen making the skin become smother

Arid / Semi-Arid (Outback & dry inland areas)

HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: basil, beans (french and climbing), capsicum, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, leek, lettuce, melons, pumpkin, radish, squash, sweet corn, tomato and zucchini.
FLOWERS: cosmos and marigold

Warm Temperate (Sydney, coastal NSW & Victoria, Adelaide and Perth)

HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: basil, beans (french and climbing), beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, chilli, chives, cucumber, eggplant, kale, leek, lettuce, melon, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, squash, sweet corn, tomato and zucchini.
FLOWERS: celosia, cosmos, and marigold

On the hot days, spray and prune either early in the morning, evening or on overcast days. 

Cold Temperate (Melbourne & cool highlands)

HERBS, FRUIT & VEGETABLES: plant basil, beans (french and climbing), beetroot, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, chilli, chives, cucumber, eggplant, kale, leek, lettuce, melon, pumpkin, radish, silver beet, squash, sweet corn and zucchini.
FLOWERS: celosia, cosmos, and marigold

Monitor pots to prevent them drying out over the summer Mulch the soil surface and place saucers under the pots to catch excess water, especially if you have added seaweed extract. If possible, move your pots to a shaded area on the hot and dry days

A few points to remember:

It’s not just plants that are thriving, weeds are competing for space and nutrients in the soil. Weeding the garden is a must before you start planting anything. See the Top 5 Weeding Tips for Your Garden

Check the seed packet to know the proper depth to plant the seeds. To speed up the process, you can use a dibber or if you have a large area to cover the Wolf-Garten Seed Sower.  Give them a good watering

Consider a green manure crop to revive an overworked patch in the garden. We have a Guide to Green Manure to help you get going.

Fertilise! To know what the fertilise and when, check out our Guide to Fertilising in Summer