Month by month · Oregon · Washington · Idaho
December in the garden
Rest and review. Pick hardy greens on mild days and enjoy the stored harvest.
What to plant in December
Nothing goes in the ground or into seed trays anywhere in the region in December.
December jobs
Start indoors
- Grow microgreens or pea shoots on a sunny windowsill.
Harvest
- Kale, leeks and other hardy crops as needed. West-side valleys
- Stored squash, potatoes, onions and garlic.
Garden care
- Cover winter greens with row cover on nights below the low 20s. West-side valleys
- Review this year's notes: what thrived, what failed and which varieties to repeat.
- Clean, oil and store tools.
- Shake heavy snow off shrubs and cold frames. East-side valleys
Pests and problems
- Check stored produce for rot and mice.
Fruit, berries and flowers
- Wait to prune fruit trees until late winter, when the worst cold has passed.
- Water evergreens and containers before a hard freeze if the soil is dry. East-side valleys
Read next
Fall and Winter Vegetable Gardening West of the CascadesHow to keep harvesting kale, carrots, garlic and greens through a mild Northwest winter, and when to plant for it.
What Your Last Frost Date Really MeansA last frost date isn't a promise. Here's what the number on a planting chart actually measures, and how to use it without losing your tomatoes.