London in December: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, December in London has run 4.6–9.2°C with about 63 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 London is actually having, today.
Grow one in London's weather right now →❄️ In 4 of the last 5 years, London saw at least one night at or below 0°C in December (record low -5.5°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month still falls inside the frost season. Average last spring frost around Mar 9, first autumn frost around Nov 21 — roughly 257 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 3.1 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it warms by about 1.7°C from the first ten days to the last.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-December, then adding up the warmth London 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 |
| 🌿 Rocket | 117 | Apr 10 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 125 | Apr 18 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 144 | May 7 |
| 🍒 Cherry Radish | 122 | Apr 15 |
| 🥬 Kale | 147 | May 10 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Jan 13 |
| 🧅 Chives | 32 | Jan 15 |
| 🌿 Basil | 34 | Jan 17 |
| 🥗 Lettuce | 152 | May 15 |
| 🥬 Swiss chard | 155 | May 18 |
| 🌿 Coriander | 138 | May 1 |
🌡️ Cucumber, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Yardlong bean, Bitter melon, Luffa, Winter melon, Aubergine, Okra never accumulate enough heat outdoors in London — not in any month. Locally these need a greenhouse or a warm windowsill.
Best crops to sow now
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 130 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Spinach Good about 143 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🧄 Garlic Good about 171 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Good about 160 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 8–25°C)
- 🥬 Kale Marginal about 210 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°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
- 🌿 Basil Ideal about 34 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🥗 Lettuce Marginal about 227 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 7–24°C)
- 🥬 Swiss chard Marginal about 238 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 7–26°C)
- 🌿 Coriander Marginal about 182 days to harvest Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 6.9°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in London
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for London, 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.