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 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.

Serrano is a hot, sweet pepper with a great taste! This pepper variety is a pungent pepper that can grow up to 4" long! These skinny peppers have medium thin walls that mature to a bright red color on thirty inch tall plants.

The Dragon carrot is a refined purple carrot that is perfect for home gardeners and market growers! The reddish purple color on the outside contrasts with the bright orange interior when peeled or sliced. The Dragon has a delicious sweet, slightly spicy, carrot flavor that is delicious roasted or in soups and stews.

The Peppermint Stick's tender prolific stalks have real celery flavor! This unique, bicolored striped celery is red and white and full of flavor. It is a slow bolting variety. Use the Peppermint Stick's leaves and stalks for fresh seasoning. This celery is definitely a colorful addition to your garden!

The Brilliant celeriac is a large round root related to celery! This celeriac plant produces a a large round root with dark green celery-like leaves and a white flesh. Brilliant is a great addition to any meal as it adds a great flavor!

Beefmaster F1 tomato plants are renowned for producing some of the largest and most flavorful tomatoes in home gardens. Known for their impressive size, these beefsteak-type tomatoes can weigh over a pound each, making them perfect for slicing and adding to sandwiches, salads, and burgers. The plants are robust and vigorous, often reaching heights of up to 6 feet, and require sturdy support to handle the weight of the fruit. With a rich, juicy flavor and a meaty texture, Beefmaster tomatoes are highly sought after by gardeners and chefs alike, providing an abundant harvest throughout the growing season. In addition to their exceptional fruit, Beefmaster tomato plants are relatively easy to grow, thriving in warm climates with full sun and well-drained soil. They are typically resistant to common tomato diseases, which makes them a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners. Regular watering and proper fertilization help ensure optimal growth and fruit development. With their high yield and impressive size, Beefmaster tomatoes can significantly enhance the home garden, offering not just fresh produce for the table but also a rewarding gardening experience. Whether enjoyed fresh, cooked, or preserved, these tomatoes are sure to delight anyone who tastes them.

The Carolina Reaper is one of the hottest peppers in the world! This very hot pepper has a sweet chocolate-cherry under tone with hint of fiery citrus. The Guinness book of World Records has the Carolina Reaper at 1,569,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Use with caution, extremely hot!

The Italian Ice is a small white to cream-yellow tomato variety with a sugary sweet flavor that is bursting with flavor! This variety produces high yields of up to 1" sized fruits that ripen from green to white to cream-yellow color. The tomatoes are edible once they turn their famous yellow white. The ripened tomatoes are incredibly sweet, which makes this variety a double threat! This tomato plant is a heavy producer that will grow and produce tomatoes up until the first frost. This variety should be staked well as it will grow large and vine off! The Italian Ice will be one of the first tomato varieties to ripen in the garden.

Red Rock demonstrates good size with excellent internal dark red color and a good single-center percentage. Red Rock has a very good red scale and produces a nice firm bulb that can be stored for several months. It is also a Celebrate Onion with a good root system and grower friendly structure. Disease Ratings: High Tolerance for Bolting. Good Tolerance to Pink Root and Fusarium.

Green Arrow peas are a classic heirloom variety valued for their exceptional taste and reliable performance. Originating from the United Kingdom, this variety has been a staple in gardens for many decades. The Green Arrow pea plant is known for its vigorous, upright growth habit, typically reaching heights of 2 to 3 feet, making it suitable for small to medium-sized gardens and easy to manage without extensive support. The peas themselves are distinguished by their smooth, bright green pods and plump, tender peas that offer a sweet, fresh flavor. These peas are primarily used for fresh eating, though they are also excellent for freezing. They are generally harvested when the pods are fully formed but still tender, usually in late spring to early summer. The Green Arrow variety is appreciated for its high yield and disease resistance, which contribute to a bountiful harvest. With its sweet flavor, productive growth, and ease of cultivation, Green Arrow peas remain a popular choice among gardeners seeking a dependable and delicious pea variety.

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!

One of the hottest peppers in the world! Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper is hotter than the Bhut Jolokia and Naga Morich. Feels like a Scorpion is stinging your mouth! These peppers are plump and sometimes have a little tail resembling a Scorpion. Fruit has a slight fruit and citrus flavor. High yielding producer of hot peppers. The Butch T Scorpions come in at over 1,460,000 Scoville units.

Federle tomatoes, also known as Federle's Italian Paste, are a unique and heirloom variety of tomato renowned for their distinctive characteristics and rich history. These tomatoes typically exhibit a medium-sized, elongated shape, resembling a classic Roma tomato. Their size can range from 3 to 5 inches in length, making them ideal for canning, sauces, and paste production. Federle tomatoes thrive in specific growing conditions. They require full sun exposure and well-drained, fertile soil to flourish. These tomatoes are known for their resilience and adaptability, making them suitable for various climates and regions. They are often treasured by gardeners for their consistent performance and robust growth, making them a reliable choice for home gardeners and small-scale farmers. The history of Federle tomatoes dates back to Italy, where they have been cultivated for generations. These tomatoes were brought to the United States by Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since then, they have become a cherished heirloom variety, cherished for their exceptional flavor and versatility in the kitchen. Federle tomatoes are a testament to the enduring legacy of traditional tomato cultivation and continue to be a favorite among those who appreciate the rich heritage and exceptional taste of heirloom vegetables.

The Jersey Devil Tomato is an extremely prolific old heirloom paste-type variety that is shaped like a little banana pepper! These juicy tomatoes have a very meaty texture that is great for making into sauces and salsas. This old favorite produces very little seeds! The Jersey Devil grows to be about 5-6 inches.

2005 American Selection Tomato! Juicy half ounce fruits, pointed oval shape, reddish pink, very sweet. Ultra high sugar content (9.5 BRIX) make 1/2 ounce fruits irresistible. Very productive vines keep setting huge clusters of fruits all season long. Terrific curb appeal.

The Ruby Queen is an excellent canning and fresh eating beet! A perfectly round beet that has a smooth buttery texture that is more tender than any other beet. An early maturing beet, 52 days, that grows well in any soil type throughout the country. Ruby Queen can be grown close because they hold their shape well. They can also be grown larger than most beets and still hold good flavor making it a great market beet. An All American Selection winner!

The Pepperoncini Italian is a popular Italian pepper that is a favorite for pickling, cooking or eating fresh. This small bushy plant produces 3-5" wrinkly fruits that have thin walls and a sweet, mild heat. This variety is a delightful all-purpose pepper that can be enjoyed in numerous ways! Pick this pepper at the yellow-green stage for pickling or allow them to ripen greenish-red for eating raw or cooking! This is one of the lowest heat "hot" peppers that we offer, as it has a very slight heat with a more sweet flavor. When the Pepperoncini Italian is pickled, they become addicting!

The Early Scarlet Globe is an early forcing radish that is perfect for home and market growers! This variety is a great bunching radish that produces 1" globes with bright red skin and a white flesh. The Early Scarlet Globe is great for both spring and fall planting!