Chengdu in December: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, December in Chengdu has run 4.7–11.6°C with about 11 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 Chengdu is actually having, today.
Grow one in Chengdu's weather right now →❄️ In 3 of the last 5 years, Chengdu saw at least one night at or below 0°C in December (record low -2.8°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month sits inside the frost-free window. Average last spring frost around Feb 7, first autumn frost around Dec 16 — roughly 313 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 4.7 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it cools by about 2.6°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 Chengdu usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Rocket | 83 | Mar 7 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 91 | Mar 15 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Dec 22 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 110 | Apr 3 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 102 | Mar 26 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 121 | Apr 14 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Jan 13 |
| 🧅 Chives | 32 | Jan 15 |
⏳ Too late this month: Cherry Radish, Coriander, Peas, Beetroot would still be in the ground when the first frost arrives (around Dec 16). Sow them earlier in the year, or grow them under cover.
Start these indoors this month
Chengdu's average last spring frost is around Feb 7. These need a head start under cover — sow into trays now, transplant out after the frost date.
- 🥒 Cucumber — sow indoors about 6 weeks before the last frost
- 🍅 Tomato — sow indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost
- 🌶️ Chili Pepper — sow indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost
- 🎃 Pumpkin — sow indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost
- 🍆 Aubergine — sow indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost
Best crops to sow now
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 90 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Spinach Ideal about 108 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Ideal about 96 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Coriander Ideal about 126 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🧄 Garlic Good about 141 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip Good about 153 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas Good about 170 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🟣 Beetroot Good about 170 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫘 Broad bean Good about 185 days to harvest Recent mean 8.1°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍃 Mint Ideal about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives Ideal about 32 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 8.1°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 8.1°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 8.1°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in Chengdu
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for Chengdu, 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.