Zone 10 - What to Plant in December

Zone 10 - What to Plant in December

Zone 10 gardeners should be planting their gardens in December. With no risk of frost but the dog days of summer behind us, this is the perfect time to plant. See the vegetables below that are perfect for planting now.

Black Cherry tomatoes are a sought-after heirloom variety known for their distinctive appearance and exceptional taste. Originating from a blend of traditional cherry tomato varieties, this cultivar has become popular for its rich, dark color and robust flavor. The tomatoes are small, typically about the size of a marble, with a deep, dusky purple to black hue that turns almost mahogany when fully ripe. Their flavor is renowned for its sweet, complex taste with subtle hints of smokiness, making them a delightful addition to salads, snacking, and gourmet dishes. Black Cherry tomatoes usually reach maturity in about 60 to 70 days, making them one of the quicker-maturing cherry varieties. The plants exhibit an indeterminate growth habit, producing fruit continuously throughout the growing season and requiring staking or caging to support their vigorous, sprawling vines. With their attractive color, rich flavor, and prolific yield, Black Cherry tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts seeking both beauty and taste.

The Bradley Tomato is one of the all time Southern favorites! This tomato variety is a reliable, productive plant that has fairly good cover, producing attractive, smooth pink fruit with a tasty mild flavor. Bradley is a disease resistant variety released in 1961 by Dr. Joe McFerran of the University of Arkansas. The seeds produce delicious, sweet tomatoes that are well balanced with just enough acidity to give you that old-fashioned big tomato flavor that you love so much. Bradley tomatoes ripen at the same time making it a great variety for canning and freezing. This variety is suitable for Southern regions, but can grow in most places.

Candy Onion can grow just about anywhere from the far North to the deep South! Neither a long-day (Northern) nor short-day (Southern) variety, this variety is a "mid-day" or day-neutral variety. This variety is a hybrid onion that is earlier, larger and more flavorful. No matter where you live, you can enjoy these huge, savory yellow onions with a delicious sharp-to-sweet flavored flesh. These onions can be stored for months.

Napoli F1 carrot seeds are a popular variety known for producing high-quality, uniform carrots with excellent flavor and texture. This carrot has a bright orange color with a length of 7-8 inches. This hybrid variety is prized for its smooth, cylindrical shape, bright orange color, and sweet, crisp taste. Napoli F1 carrots are well-suited for both fresh market sales and processing, offering consistent size and a strong resistance to diseases like alternaria and bacterial blight. They are fast-growing, with a relatively short maturation period, making them ideal for growers looking for early-season harvests. With their attractive appearance and superior taste, Napoli F1 carrots are a favorite among farmers and gardeners seeking a high-yielding, reliable carrot variety.

The Golden Greek Pepper is a mildly hot, bright yellow to red pepper! This variety should be picked when golden for the best taste! These 4" long by 1" thick peppers have a crispy flesh that is excellent when pickled or thrown in a Greek salad!

Black Brandywine tomatoes are a unique and highly regarded heirloom variety known for their exceptional flavor and distinctive characteristics. With a rich history dating back to the 19th century, these tomatoes have earned a special place in the hearts of gardeners and tomato enthusiasts alike. The story of Black Brandywine begins with the original Brandywine tomato, which was developed in the late 1800s in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania. Over time, a natural mutation led to the development of the black variant, which retained the outstanding flavor of the original while introducing a striking, dark coloration. The fruit of the Black Brandywine tomato is large and typically reaches sizes of 8 to 16 ounces (227 to 454 grams) or even larger under optimal conditions. Its shape is somewhat irregular, often with a beefsteak-like appearance, characterized by deep ridges and an uneven, slightly flattened globe shape. The skin of Black Brandywine tomatoes is a dark purplish-black or maroon color, adding to their visual appeal. The plants of Black Brandywine tomatoes are indeterminate, which means they continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. They can reach heights of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters) or more, so proper support is essential. These tomatoes thrive in warm and sunny climates, requiring full sun and well-drained soil. Adequate moisture and regular pruning are crucial to manage their vigorous growth and ensure good air circulation. Black Brandywine tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners who appreciate their rich, complex flavor, making them a must-grow variety for anyone looking to savor the taste of history in their garden.

Lutz Green Leaf Pink Stem beet seeds are prized for producing beets with distinctive characteristics and exceptional flavor. This variety features vibrant green leaves with a striking pink stem, which adds a splash of color to any garden. The beets themselves are known for their smooth, round shape and tender, sweet, deep red to purple flesh. Lutz Green Leaf Pink Stem beets are valued not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their excellent taste, making them a popular choice for salads, roasting, and pickling. They are known for their adaptability, growing well in various soil conditions, and for their relatively long harvest window, allowing for a prolonged period of fresh, nutritious beets. Additionally, the green leaves are edible and nutritious, providing a dual-purpose crop that enhances both the visual and culinary appeal of your garden. This variety is a "winterkeeper" beet that has a long standing storage capability. The Lutz Green Leaf Pink Stem has 6 inches in diameter roots, make sure to thin them out to 4-6 inches.

The Graffiti cauliflower has a fun purple head with a great flavor! Graffiti produces a true deep purple head. This variety is a large cauliflower plant with dark green leaves and it produces best in the fall. It can also be planted in early spring. The Graffiti is very fun to watch grow and eat!

The Crosby Egyptian Beet, a classic heirloom variety, has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. Originating in Egypt, it was introduced to the United States in the 1860s and quickly gained popularity among gardeners and farmers. This beet variety has stood the test of time due to its exceptional taste and versatility in the kitchen. Crosby Egyptian Beets are known for their sweet and tender flesh, making them a favorite for both raw and cooked applications. They have a distinct earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness, making them perfect for salads, pickling, roasting, and even juicing. These beets typically mature in about 55-60 days, making them a relatively quick-growing option for gardeners. In terms of appearance, Crosby Egyptian Beets are small to medium-sized, usually reaching about 2-3 inches in diameter. They have a round to slightly flattened shape and a vibrant deep red or purplish skin. Disease resistance is moderate, with some resistance to common pests and diseases like aphids and leaf miners. In terms of yields, you can expect a good harvest of beets from each plant, especially if you space them adequately (about 2-4 inches apart) in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. These beets thrive in cool weather conditions, making them suitable for spring and fall planting. With its rich history and delightful flavor, the Crosby Egyptian Beet continues to be a treasured addition to vegetable gardens.

The Caspian Pink Tomato is a beautiful tomato variety that originally comes from Russia and was brought to America shortly after the cold war ended. This tomato has a sweet and rich flavor that is often compared to the Brandywine. The early maturing medium sized pink beefsteak tomato averages 10-12 ounces in size. The Caspian Pink plant has regular leaves.

The Cipollini Yellow is an unique coin shaped yellow onion. This variety can be grown and perform well in most US latitudes. Cipollini Yellow has good pungency, but is still sweet. This onion is larger and flatter than most pearl onions, making it a great choice for any cooking or braising use. Cipollini Yellow is also excellent when used in crafts like braiding and has excellent storage ability for a small onion.

Texas Early Grano onion is a renowned heirloom variety with a rich history and impressive growing characteristics. Originating from the fertile soils of Texas, this onion has been cultivated since the early 20th century and is celebrated for its adaptability and early harvest. The Texas Early Grano onion is characterized by its round, yellow bulbs with a smooth, thin skin and crisp, white flesh. Known for its mild, sweet flavor, it is particularly favored for fresh use in salads, salsas, and cooking. The onions generally reach maturity in about 100 to 110 days, and the plants exhibit a robust, upright growth habit, growing to heights of 12 to 18 inches with a spread of about 6 to 8 inches. They thrive in well-drained, fertile soil and prefer full sun exposure. Texas Early Grano onions are notable for their early harvest, which allows gardeners to enjoy fresh onions earlier in the season compared to other varieties. Their reliable growth, mild flavor, and adaptability make them a popular choice for both home gardeners and commercial growers.

The Pink Oxheart Tomato is a beautiful pink oxheart shaped variety that has vigorous vines that produce plenty of attractive and tasty tomatoes. The tomatoes weigh in at about 16-32 ounces. This variety has a sweet and juicy flavor that will have you growing them for years and years. The Pink Oxheart is just perfect looking!

The Ghost Mix is a blend of some of the world's hottest peppers! Use with caution! This mix is a wonderful blend of red, yellow, purple, white and chocolate Bhut Jolokia (Ghost) pepper seeds that can reach over 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

The Purple Beauty Pepper is a productive pepper plant that produces attractive deep purple colored peppers! This pepper is an open-pollinated variety with a sweet tasting 3x3" block shaped peppers. Pick when the pepper is purple or wait for it to turn deep red when its mature, which happens later in the season. The Purple Beauty is a great pepper for container gardening and can add that extra kick to your salads or meals.

The Purple Bhut Jolokia is a purple Ghost Pepper! This purple wrinkled pepper is 125 times hotter than a standard Jalapeno pepper! The Bhut Jolokia Purple is a rare, natural variant of Red Bhut Jolokia. Ghost peppers can reach over 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Use with caution!

Bobcat is a high producing fresh-market variety that has long storage life. Excellent flavor and good resistance to disease. Due to its high yield potential, Bobcat is suitable for coleslaw production.

The San Marzano Tomato is an easy to grow, heirloom that is known as one of the best tomato 'sauce' varieties in the world! This tomato has a plum shape and is considered by many chefs to be the best sauce and cooking tomato types in the world. These heritage tomatoes are named after the region of San Marzano near Naples, Italy. This variety is low acidity, indeterminate and grows on vigorous vines that offers a good cover. Its plants produces clusters of tasty, intensely red fruit that holds well on the vine or in storage. The San Marzano resists cracking and is excellent for paste, puree, or canning due to high solids.