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.

King Richard is a newer leek variety that grows well throughout the United States. This leek variety is a summer type, non-bulbing leek that grows to 12" in length. King Richard has green leaves with white inside. This leek is a very early maturer and is not sufficient for overwinter growing.

The Ace 55 Tomato is a heart, beefy, thick walled tomato variety with low acid content. This tomato type has a bright red color and can grow to about 12 oz. in size. The Ace 55 grows somewhat large on its disease resistant indeterminate vines. This favored variety is great for the farmers market!

The Halloween Mix contains a "spooky" mix of purple, yellow, black and white radishes. These radishes are mildly spicy and only 5 centimeters in diameter. Everyday can be a scary fun holiday if you succession plant this mixture every two weeks throughout the spring and fall! This radish mix will bring lots of colors to your dishes.

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.

Red Express cabbage seeds produce a variety of cabbage known for its vibrant purple-red color and compact, round heads. This variety is prized for its early maturity, typically reaching harvestable size in about 60-70 days. The heads are tightly packed and dense, with crisp, tender leaves that offer a mild, sweet flavor, making it ideal for both fresh consumption in salads and slaws or for cooking. Red Express cabbage is also known for its resistance to common cabbage pests and diseases, making it a robust choice for home gardeners. Additionally, it provides a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as antioxidants.

The Roma is a popular heirloom elongated tomato preferred for cooking, canning and making a spectacular Italian paste. This variety has very thick flesh, low seed count and produces high yields of up to 200 fruits on each plant. The Roma VF also has great disease resistance to verticillium and fusarium wilt. These strong vigorous plants can be grown outdoors or in a greenhouse.

The All Seasons Cabbage is a very heat resistant cabbage that is resistant to yellowing and will offer a nice flavor in any dish. This cabbage produces fine heads that are about 10-11" across and average about 11-14 pounds.

The Rainbow Blend Bell is an assorted mixture of 7 colorful bell pepper varieties. This blend of bells contains a full range of colors with 7 varieties of top-quality, vigorous hybrids of red to green, orange, yellow, chocolate, lilac, ivory and purple! Enjoy your peppers together in a colorful dish with this excellent sweet bell pepper blend!

The Jack Be Little is a small pumpkin that is popular in many floral arrangements! This new miniature pumpkin is ideal for small Jack'O Lanterns and other decorations. These easy to grow plants bear several small pumpkins per plant. The Jack Be Little pumpkins are edible, but are more highly valued for their decorative value and will last for months if properly cured!

The Early Alaska Pea is an old heirloom that, just like its name suggests, thrives in the colder climates. This variety does great in early spring or short season plantings. The vines are cold hardy and can grow to 30." This pea plant yields 3 1/2” pods filled with 6-7 delicious medium sized peas that are excellent for fresh eating or freezing for later use.

The Heirloom Collection is a mixture of some of our favorite and best tasting heirloom tomatoes. These old fashioned, great tasting heirloom tomatoes are sure to please your tastebuds! We have chosen the most popular, tried and true heirlooms around. These tomatoes have been passed down for generations because of their exceptional taste, growth habits, yield, disease resistance and more! The collection includes a packet of each of the following: Delicious - Once held the world record for largest tomato grown. A huge beefsteak that is large and fairly crack resistant. Black Cherry - One of the most delicious cherry tomatoes around! The only truly black cherry tomato. Chocolate Stripes - Mahogany color with dark brown stripes. A luscious bicolor tomato with a sweet earthy flavor. Cherokee Purple - A purple tomato that is a favorite heirloom amongst gardeners. Absolutely the best taste of any tomato around. Costoluto Genovese - An old Italian preserving tomato. Works great for sauces and paste. German Giant - A giant potato leaf heirloom tomato. A deep pink fruit that grows up to 30+ ounces.

Get a head start with the early maturing Early Jalapeno Pepper. This pepper variety continuously produces a dark green, thick skin that forms to the shape of a cone. Enjoy the Early Jalapeno fresh or pickled on salads, dips or tacos!

The Rutgers Tomato produces an intense, red colored, round fruit that is a proven variety that excels at canning and slicing. This highly productive, open pollinated heirloom tomato is one of the earlier maturing tomato varieties and has been around since 1934. Rutgers grows on a strong vine and can weigh anywhere from 6-12 ounces. The first maturing tomatoes tend to be smaller while later maturing tomatoes are larger. This tomato has a beautiful flesh inside with a good ratio of flesh to gel with a few seeds for each slice. This variety holds well when sliced making it great for sandwiches! The Rutgers tomatoes were originally developed by a Rutgers University scientist named Lyman G. Schermerhorn in co-operation with the Campbell's Soup Company. The tomato was developed by crossing Marglobe with a variety called JTD. As time went on, the Rutgers became the most famous tomato worldwide and once made up over 70% of the tomatoes being processed in the United States.

The Lutz Green Leaf White Stem Beet is an attractive deep red variety with white stalks that is absolutely delicious when steamed or roasted. This beet is known for having huge glossy, deep green tops that are perfect for salads! This beet is a "winterkeeper" beet that has a long standing storage capability. The Lutz Green Leaf White Stem has 6 inches in diameter roots.

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 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 Oregon Sugar Pod II Pea is a high yielding snow pea that has a high percentage of two pods per cluster! This variety grows to a height of 28" and bears 4 1/2" long pods that are disease resistant to pea virus, common wilt and powdery mildew. The Oregon Sugar Pod II produces delicious flat and tender pea pods that are superb for freezing!

Lacinato kale, also known as dinosaur kale or Tuscan kale, is a leafy green vegetable characterized by its long, dark green, crinkled leaves. The leaves have a distinctive bumpy texture and are often a deep, rich shade of green, sometimes with a bluish tint. They grow on tall, upright stalks and have a slightly sweeter and milder flavor compared to other kale varieties. This type of kale is prized for its versatility in the kitchen. It can be eaten raw in salads, blended into smoothies, sautéed, or added to soups and stews. Lacinato kale holds up well to cooking without losing its texture, making it a favorite for both chefs and home cooks alike. Nutritionally, it's packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and iron, making it a powerhouse of health benefits. Its striking appearance and robust flavor make Lacinato kale a standout choice for any dish!