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 Ashe County Pimento pepper is a cherished heirloom variety with roots deeply embedded in the Appalachian region of North Carolina. Originating from Ashe County, this pepper has been cultivated since the early 20th century, known for its unique attributes and exceptional flavor. Characterized by its heart-shaped pods, the Ashe County Pimento ripens to a vibrant red hue, distinguishing it from other peppers. Its flavor is renowned for its sweet, fruity notes and low heat, making it a versatile ingredient for both fresh consumption and culinary uses like pimento cheese and stuffed peppers. The plant exhibits a compact growth habit, typically reaching about 18 to 24 inches in height, which makes it suitable for garden beds and containers. It produces an abundance of peppers that are ready for harvest in late summer to early fall. With its rich history, distinctive color, and delightful taste, the Ashe County Pimento pepper continues to be a prized addition to gardens and kitchens alike.

The Little Marvel Pea is a well known old time home garden favorite, that is really a marvel! This pea is an excellent choice selected for its high yield potential and excellent sweet flavor making it the most satisfactory pea in the home garden. This variety's plants are very productive and compact and will grow up to 30" tall. Little Marvel produces small bright green pods with luscious, sugary peas that stay tender and sweet even when fully ripe!

A wonderful mild chile with a sweet flavor and is larger and sweeter than the Poblano pepper. The mulato has been described as tasting somewhat like chocolate or licorice, with undertones of cherry and tobacco. Its heat rating is 2,500 to 3,000 on the Scoville scale. Dry these out to create the perfect mole sauce!

Strawberry Spinach is a delicious fruit that is almost entirely edible. A beautiful plant with showy leaves and berries. It's triangular toothed leaves and tender shoots are great for salads. Shiny red mulberry-like fruits are edible and can be added to salads. Grown in Europe for centuries.

The large, red stalks of the Giant Red celery have a wonder flavor, some prefer it over green stalks! The Giant Red celery is a hidden gem. This variety is by far the best tasting celery you can grow! The yellow-pink hearts of the Giant Red are great in salads or soup and it grows great throughout the United States.

The Jalapeno M Pepper is a high yielding middle of the road hot pepper. This pepper variety has an average hotness level that tastes great in many dishes. Jalapeno M has thick walls with a spicy pungent smell! Typically growing to about 3-5 inches in length, these peppers have a smooth, firm texture and a slightly curved shape. The heat level of Jalapeno M peppers typically ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units, providing a spicy kick that enhances a wide variety of dishes without being overpowering. Originating from Mexico, Jalapeno M peppers are widely used in salsas, sauces, and as toppings for nachos and other dishes. They have a fresh, grassy flavor that complements both cooked and raw preparations. Harvesting usually occurs around 70-80 days after planting, when the peppers are firm and glossy green, although they can also be left to ripen to red for a sweeter taste. These peppers thrive in warm climates and well-drained soil, making them a staple in many home gardens. Their combination of heat, flavor, and versatility has solidified Jalapeno M peppers as a beloved ingredient in kitchens around the world.

Aspabroc broccoli seeds grow into a unique hybrid vegetable developed in the early 1990s by crossing standard broccoli with a Chinese kale-gai lan variety, resulting in what’s often called “broccolini.” This plant produces slender, tender stems topped with small, loose florets that resemble asparagus in shape, hence the name. Aspabroc is prized for its sweet, mild flavor with subtle peppery notes, making it delicious whether steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, or grilled. It thrives in cool-season conditions, preferring full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, with harvests ready in about 50–60 days after transplanting. Known for its extended harvest period, plants continue producing side shoots after the main head is cut, giving gardeners a steady supply. Its unique history, high nutritional value, and gourmet quality make Aspabroc a popular choice for home growers and chefs alike.

The Autumn Buckskin F1 Pumpkin is a buff colored dickenson hybrid that was selected especially for both baking and decorative purposes. This slightly flattened, hardy pumpkin is 8 x 13 inches big weighing at 12-15 pounds! This plant has large vines to produce up to 5 pumpkins per plant.

The Best Tasting Collection has the most popular and best tasting home garden tomatoes we have! These six varieties have been chosen by the people at Urban Farmer as the tastiest tomatoes for home gardens. We have grown all of these varieties and several others and these had the best taste and juiciest flesh we could find. Enjoy! Golden Jubilee - Meaty, thick, golden-orange walls that have an excellent flavor. Cherokee Purple - Plump, juicy, purple tomatoes that are probably the best tasting of all tomatoes. Brandywine - Looking for a nice beefsteak tomato that can be sliced for sandwiches, burgers and more! SunSugar - A golden cherry variety that is just mouth watering. A high sugar content makes you coming back for more. Black Krim - A dark purple-black skin and flesh that holds a juicy, mouth watering flavor. Roma - Roma is a very popular and flavorful Italian tomato. It is an old fashion heirloom that makes great salsa and tomato paste.

The Harvest King will produce a consistent 25-35 lb. pumpkin. This larger variety has excellent yield and quality. Almost 100% of the pumpkin yields are marketable.

Waltham 29 produces incredibly high yields for broccoli! This variety is known for its good color, cold resistance, dwarf compact plant, and big side shoots. Main heads are 4-8" with steady side shoot production after main head is harvested.

Amazing cauliflower seeds produce a high-yielding, uniform variety known for its large, dense, and smooth white heads. This hybrid cauliflower is prized for its excellent resistance to common diseases and its ability to perform well in a range of growing conditions, from cool climates to slightly warmer environments. With a fast-growing cycle, Amazing cauliflower is ideal for early-season harvests, making it popular among commercial growers and home gardeners alike. The compact, tightly-formed heads are highly marketable and have a delicate, mild flavor that holds up well in both fresh and cooked dishes. Whether grown for local markets or personal use, Amazing cauliflower seeds offer consistent, premium-quality results with minimal care required.

'Mignonette' is the tastiest red alpine variety in our opinion. It has moderate production of 1" long conical shaped fruit has an aroma and taste unlike anything you've ever experienced. Not as hardy as some of the other selections so mulch well for winter in colder zones.

Nebuka Evergreen Bunching onion seeds produce a hardy, non-bulbing variety of green onion that traces its roots to traditional Japanese gardening, where it has long been prized for its reliable, perennial growth. Known for its slender, upright stalks with crisp white bases and tender green tops, this onion thrives in a wide range of climates and can be grown year-round in mild regions. It is quick to mature, easy to grow from seed, and often multiplies by clumping, providing a steady harvest with minimal effort. The flavor is mild yet savory, less pungent than bulb onions, making it ideal for fresh use in salads, garnishes, soups, and stir-fries, while its greens can be cut repeatedly for continuous use in the kitchen. This versatile and dependable onion has earned a place in both home gardens and culinary traditions worldwide.

The Blue Curled Scotch Kale can be used as a garnish and or in hearty winter dishes. This kale variety is a compact plant with very tender, blue-green, crinkled leaves that are quite delicious, very cold hardy, and rich in vitamin A.

Tall Utah celery, developed in the early 20th century in Utah, is renowned for its tall, sturdy stalks and exceptional flavor. This variety features vibrant green, crisp stalks that can reach heights of 18-36 inches, making it a standout in gardens. The taste is mild and slightly sweet, perfect for fresh eating or cooking in a variety of dishes. Harvesting typically occurs 85-100 days after planting, when the stalks are firm and well-developed; gardeners can choose to cut the entire plant or selectively harvest individual stalks as needed. Tall Utah celery thrives in cool climates and requires consistent moisture, making it a favorite for both home growers and commercial producers.

Solar Yellow carrots are a delightful and unique variety that brings a vibrant burst of color to your garden and plate. Distinguished by their bright yellow hue, these carrots stand out among the more traditional orange varieties, offering a sunny and cheerful appearance. Their color is due to the presence of xanthophylls, which are natural pigments that also contribute to their mild, slightly sweet flavor. Solar Yellow carrots are known for their crisp texture and tender bite, making them a versatile addition to both raw and cooked dishes. This golden carrot has 6-7 inches tapered roots.

The Early Purple Sprouting broccoli is an heirloom broccoli bred for overwintering! This variety produces lots of beautiful purple broccoli sprouts in the spring. The Early Purple Sprouting grows slowly through the winter; very frost hardy.