What are the best planting days in December 2026 in Jamaica?

Above-ground crops (tomato, sweet pepper, scotch bonnet, lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage): the waxing-moon window December 1 to December 13, 2026. Below-ground crops (carrot, beet, radish, onion, Irish potato): the waning-moon window December 16 to December 28, 2026.

Why is December the best eating of the year?

December through March is Jamaica's dry season — less rain, less disease, less pest pressure, cooler nights. Tomatoes grow firmer and sweeter, scotch bonnet gets hotter, leafy greens stay crisp instead of bolting, and carrots pull long and straight. Old-time growers plant their best crops in December.

What do I plant in December for Easter 2027 harvest?

Sweet pepper and scotch bonnet transplanted in early December give you peppers from March onwards. Irish potato (if you're in the hills) planted in December is harvested March–April. Tomato from December seedlings crops through February.

🍅 Jamaica Planting Days — December 2026 (Dry-Season Tomato & Pepper Guide)

Seeds Jamaica Growing Guides · Published November 2026 · 5 min read

December through March is Jamaica's dry season — and if you're willing to water, it's the best eating of the year. Less rain, less disease, less pest pressure, firmer fruit, sweeter leafy greens. The old-timers plant their best tomatoes now. Here are the planting days for December 2026, and the crops to pair with each window.

🌱 Above-ground crops — December 1 to December 13, 2026

These are the days to sow or transplant anything you'll harvest from above the soil. The moon is waxing from new moon (Nov 30) through full moon (Dec 14), and traditional almanac wisdom says sap rises with the moon's light — good for seedlings pushing up.

Top above-ground picks for December: tomato (the dry-season crop — firmer, sweeter, less blight), sweet pepper, scotch bonnet, lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, string beans, callaloo (keep going for the Jan/Feb cuts).

🥕 Below-ground crops — December 16 to December 28, 2026

The waning-moon window is when the almanac points to root crops. Energy moves down to the roots instead of the leaves — handy for anything that bulks under the soil.

Top below-ground picks for December: carrot (loves the cooler nights, pulls long and straight), beet, radish, onion, Irish potato (highland only), dasheen, sweet potato.

💡 The dry-season gotcha: water deeply, 2–3 times a week, early morning. Light daily sprinkling gives you shallow roots and weak plants. If you can't commit to that, stick with drought-tolerant crops (cassava, pigeon peas, pumpkin).

What to plant in December for an Easter 2027 harvest

Easter is about four months away. Here's what a December sowing produces by then:

Sweet pepper + scotch bonnet — transplant in early December, picking by March–April.
Irish potato (highland) — plant December, harvest late March.
Tomato — December seedlings crop through January and February; a second sowing in late December gives March fruit.
Carrot — December sowing, pulling in March. Cool nights make them sweet.
Onion — plant December, cure for Easter market.

December planting-day calendar — quick reference

Nov 30 (New Moon): rest / prep beds / add compost
Dec 1–13 (Waxing): sow above-ground crops — best days Dec 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11
Dec 14 (Full Moon): transplant seedlings, strong watering day
Dec 16–28 (Waning): sow below-ground crops — best days Dec 17, 18, 21, 22, 24, 27
Dec 29–30: rest, mulch heavy, plan January

What else to do in the December garden

Mulch heavy. With less rain, mulch is what keeps your watering in the soil. 3–4 inches of dry grass or banana trash around every plant.
Watch the whitefly. Dry weather is whitefly weather. Spray soapy water on the underside of tomato and pepper leaves twice a week.
Protect your cabbage. Diamondback moth loves dry-season brassicas. Hand-pick caterpillars every evening, or spray Bacillus thuringiensis (safe, organic) weekly.
Save seed from November's best plants. If one callaloo or tomato outperformed the rest, let it go to seed and collect for next year. Free seed, adapted to your yard.

Dry-season seeds — ready for December

Tomato, scotch bonnet, sweet pepper, lettuce, carrot, cabbage. Hand-packed in Mandeville for backyard growers. From J$200 — free Knutsford Express pickup island-wide. Stock is limited for the dry-season window — order early.

Shop dry-season seeds →

Want the full-year calendar? See the Jamaica Planting Calendar and download the free 2026 Planting Days PDF. Just getting started? Our November 2026 guide covers the dry-season setup, and the Drought Gardening in Jamaica guide keeps you watering smart. For a monthly reminder straight to your inbox, join the Seeds Jamaica growers' list in the footer.