Shanghai in December: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, December in Shanghai has run 3.2–11.3°C with about 21 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 Shanghai is actually having, today.
Grow one in Shanghai's weather right now →❄️ In 5 of the last 5 years, Shanghai saw at least one night at or below 0°C in December (record low -6.7°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month still falls inside the frost season. Average last spring frost around Feb 23, first autumn frost around Dec 8 — roughly 289 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 7.1 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it cools by about 5.1°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 Shanghai 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 | 104 | Mar 28 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 112 | Apr 5 |
| 🍒 Cherry Radish | 106 | Mar 30 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 126 | Apr 19 |
| 🌿 Coriander | 118 | Apr 11 |
| 🫛 Peas | 131 | Apr 24 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 139 | May 2 |
| 🟣 Beetroot | 131 | Apr 24 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 123 | Apr 16 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Jan 13 |
| 🧅 Chives | 32 | Jan 15 |
Start these indoors this month
Shanghai's average last spring frost is around Feb 23. These need a head start under cover — sow into trays now, transplant out after the frost date.
- 🍅 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
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 114 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Spinach Ideal about 130 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Good about 123 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C is too cold (ideal 8–25°C)
- 🧄 Garlic Good about 161 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Coriander Good about 159 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
- 🫛 Peas Marginal about 214 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫘 Broad bean Marginal about 225 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🟣 Beetroot Marginal about 214 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip Marginal about 197 days to harvest Recent mean 7.2°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
- 🍃 Mint Ideal about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives Ideal about 31 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 7.2°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 7.2°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 7.2°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in Shanghai
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for Shanghai, 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.