Zone 9 - What to Plant in December

Zone 9 - What to Plant in December

Now is when the main planting is happening in zone 9. The hot and humid days of summer are behind us and we can start growing the garden. With a last frost date in early February you should start growing your tomatoes, peppers and other plants indoors so they are ready to transplant in February.

The Mushroom Basket is a large, uniquely shaped tomato with a delicious juicy sweet flavor, originating from Russia. This plant produces enormous 8-16 ounce ruffled tomatoes that are colored bright pink. These plants are Indeterminate and do require a sturdy trellis. The Mushroom Basket tomatoes are the perfect tomatoes for slicing!

The Baby Roma, also known as the "Cherry Roma," is a miniature roma-shaped tomato that is bursting with an intense sweet flavor. This tomato variety is great for garden snacking, adding into salads and growing for market production. The Baby Roma plant produces an incredibly heavy set of 1” grape-type tomato fruits that have a very long shelf life. 

China Star is a high producing and uniform Chinese cabbage. Grows large heads with a dark green exterior and dark yellow interior. It is slow bolting. China Star performs well in all Chinese cabbage planting slots.

The Philadelphia White Box Radish is a tiny, round white variety that is the perfect choice for a container or garden bed! This radish might be small, but it has a big spicy flavor and crispy texture that is wonderful when eaten fresh. The Philadelphia White Box can enjoyed by both home growers or market growers. This variety is a heavy yielder of little, uniform radishes!

The Pink Summercicle Radish will bring you an endless summer with its bright pink color, sweet taste and popsicle-like shape! These 5-6 inches long roots have a crisp white inside with an extra sweet flavor. This very adaptable variety is best when grown in the early spring or fall. Enjoy the Pink Summercicle in salads or stir-fries!

The Paul Robeson Tomato is an old fashioned Russian heirloom that has a very tasty flesh that is juicy with a great acid and sweet balance. This deep maroon colored variety is slightly flattened and round and grows up to 4." The Paul Robeson Tomato is an excellent choice for cooler growing regions.

Black from Tula tomatoes are a notable heirloom variety with a fascinating history and distinctive qualities. Originating from the Russian city of Tula, this variety has been cherished for its rich, robust flavor and striking appearance. Black from Tula tomatoes are characterized by their dark, reddish-brown skin with purple undertones, giving them a unique and attractive look. The fruits are medium to large, typically weighing between 6 to 12 ounces, and are known for their complex, sweet, and slightly smoky flavor, which adds depth to salads, sandwiches, and sauces. They generally take about 75 to 80 days to mature, and the plants exhibit an indeterminate growth habit, producing a steady yield of fruit throughout the growing season. The vines are vigorous and require staking or caging to support the weight of the abundant, flavorful tomatoes. With their rich taste and visually appealing color, Black from Tula tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike.

The Petite Mix Bell is a blend of our favorite mini bell peppers that are a sweet flavor explosion! These tiny peppers ripens to a rich yellow, red and purple colors when mature. The Petite Mix Bell blend is high yielding and produces 2-3 ounce peppers that make the perfect snack sized pepper. This mix is excellent for market selling or home growing for adding into salads!

One of our favorite peppers! If you like sweet peppers with a slight spicy kick, then the Cajun Belle is for you! This variety is a great small bell pepper that is an All American Selection winner. Cajun Belle matures early and is a very heavy yielder that bears 2 by 3 inch, 3-4 lobed fruit. This pepper's flavor really sets it apart from the pack with a sweet start that ends in a burst of spice that's not too hot. We found this charmer to be superb for both fresh eating and making salsa at either the green stage, or when ripened to red!

The Orange Habanero Pepper is among the hottest peppers available! This Habanero variety speaks for itself as it is one of the most well known peppers for its hotness. The Orange Habanera will mature from a silvery green to a bright orange color.

The Moneymaker Tomato is a terrific, high yielding heirloom that produces delicious, bright red and smooth fruits that are perfect for fresh eating. This variety's vine can grow to 5-6' and produce very heavy yields of 4-6 ounce fruits. This tasty heirloom tomato does well in hot humid climates and greenhouse growing. The Moneymaker originates from England and produces vigorous vines that should be staked for best results.

The Purple Plum is an amazing purple skinned radish with a crisp, mild and sweet white flesh! This unique radish is different from the "typical" radish coloring. This small round shaped radish is early to harvest, which makes it great for home and market growers. Purple Plum is a nice variety to blend with other colors in mixes!

Nothing says "spring" like the crisp taste of a homegrown Easter Egg Radish! This variety is a bright color blend of red, white, rose pink, purple, and bi-color (red top, white bottom) that is perfect for salads and relish trays. At the harvest time, you can have your own "Easter Egg hunt" for the most colorful radish! After the harvest, you can eat them fresh in salads or slice and add them to sandwiches for a bit of crunch and color.

The Dwarf Siberian Kale leaves are perfect as a garnish and in hearty winter dishes. This frilly green and purple kale dances in the crisp early morning cold and thrive. Why? Because its roots are from Russia!

Red Jewel is early maturing and produces good size cabbages. This variety is a high-yielding red cabbage hybrid with uniform maturity. Red Jewel offers a deep red head with a short core and is ideal for both fresh and shredder markets.

The Purple Bumble Bee Tomato is part of the beautiful and tasty Artisan tomato collection with a sweet fruity flavor that is great for fresh eating! This variety produces tomatoes with a purple color and a metallic green striping. The Purple Bumble Bee is beautiful when mixed with the other Artisan tomatoes.

The Striped German Tomato is a beautiful large sliced variety with very attractive, brilliant and bright orange-marbled stripes! The flat, medium to large, variably ribbed-shoulder tomatoes are shaded yellow and red. The marbled interior of this variety looks absolutely beautiful sliced! The complex, fruity flavor and smooth texture makes the Striped German Tomato a customer favorite .Organically grown.

The Super Sugar Pea is an improved original tall snap pea that is bursting with a sugary sweet flavor! This plant variety has a very high yield potential and even better flavor than before being improved, making it a favorite to add to many dishes.