Beijing in December: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, December in Beijing has run -5.5–2.7°C with about 4 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather Beijing is actually having, today.
Grow one in Beijing's weather right now →❄️ In 5 of the last 5 years, Beijing saw at least one night at or below 0°C in December (record low -15.4°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month still falls inside the frost season. Average last spring frost around Mar 21, first autumn frost around Nov 11 — roughly 235 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 7.5 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it cools by about 3.4°C from the first ten days to the last — the window for autumn sowings is opening.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-December, then adding up the warmth Beijing usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Dec 22 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Jan 13 |
| 🧅 Chives | 32 | Jan 15 |
| 🌿 Basil | 34 | Jan 17 |
Best crops to sow now
They are all ideal for this month — the only real difference is how long each one takes, so pick whatever you want to eat.
- 🌱 Microgreens about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🍃 Mint about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives about 32 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Basil about 34 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌿 Dill — Recent mean -1.4°C is too cold (ideal 9–26°C)
- 🌿 Parsley — Recent mean -1.4°C is too cold (ideal 7–25°C)
- 🌿 Coriander — Recent mean -1.4°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
Other months in Beijing
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for Beijing, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.