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.

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.

The Blue Shelling Pea is a Dutch heirloom blue podded pea that has been highly regarded for hundreds of years. This very versatile variety can be picked young and eaten raw as a colorful snow pea pod or left to swell and harvested as a plump pea for cooking. This pea plant produces lovely purple flowers with a faint scent that are also edible and delicious! Traditionally used as a winter dish, Blue Shelling would be soaked overnight and then pan fried with onions and bacon - yum! Give this 6' plant some support.

Late Flat Dutch cabbage seeds produce one of the oldest and most reliable heirloom cabbage varieties, first introduced to American gardens in the mid-1800s and prized for its large, flat, broad heads. This late-season type matures slowly, typically in 100–110 days, forming dense, firm heads that can weigh 10–15 pounds, making it excellent for gardeners seeking high yields and long storage. Its flavor is mild, sweet, and crisp, improving after light frost exposure, which enhances its natural sugars. Historically valued for sauerkraut production, it remains a top choice for fermentation, coleslaw, boiling, and traditional cooking, while its long shelf life makes it a staple for winter kitchens and homestead food preservation.

The Lacinato Kale is an old Italian heirloom kale that has very large tender leaves. This favorite is now available in organic seeds! The Lacinato, or also known as Dinosaur kale, Black Magic or Toscano, is popular for home gardening and fresh markets. Its scaly, bumpy leaves are large dark blue-green and very delicious. Pick young for the most tender leaves. The Lacinato produces high yields and can be harvested continually. Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.

The Big Beef Tomato is an All American Selection winner beefsteak tomato variety that has been a farm favorite for a reason! This tomato variety produces delicious 12 ounce, deep oblate to globe shaped red fruits. This high yielding, high quality tomato is crack and highly disease resistant.

Red Wonder, aka Fraises des Bois, is a tasty Alpine Strawberry that is easy to grow from seed. Red Wonder is one of our favorites because it's considerably sweeter than most strawberries. An everbearing strawberry plant that produces all summer long.

Red Grano onion seeds produce a classic short-day variety that originated in the early 20th century from the famous Grano strain developed in Texas. Known for their medium to large, globe-shaped bulbs with rose-red skin and white, mildly flavored flesh, Red Grano onions are prized for both fresh use and short-term storage. They thrive in regions with mild winters and are best sown in late fall or early spring, preferring full sun and loose, well-drained soil. With a growing period of about 100–120 days, these onions mature into tender, juicy bulbs that add a sweet yet slightly sharp flavor to salads, sandwiches, and salsas.

Organic - The Cayenne Long Thin Pepper is a traditional medium heat cayenne pepper with a great flavor! This variety is a long and thin pepper that produces unbelievably high yields. These peppers will mature red and are wrinkled with a mixture of straight and curly fruits. Cayenne Long Thin is excellent for drying, pickling and fresh eating to spice up your chili or salsa. This pepper plant is bushy and reaches 26" tall. Conventional seed available.

The Red Beefsteak Tomato produces an extra large, meaty fruit that is very popular among home gardens used for adding to sandwiches other dishes. This beefsteak variety is not grown commercially as often as the smaller types. The Red Beefsteak is describes as being a solid, meaty and juicy tomato that is an excellent slicer.

The Yolo Wonder Pepper is a great new and improved tasty pepper for home gardens. This variety is a top quality very well shaped pepper with thicker walls and a very blocky shape with 4 lobes. The Yolo Wonder Pepper will give great high yields!

The Lutz Green Leaf Red Stem Beet has a beautiful deep red hue and a mouth watering taste that pairs perfectly with any dish. This variety is known for having huge glossy, deep green tops that are amazingly delicious! This beet is a "winterkeeper" beet that has a long standing storage capability. The Lutz Green Leaf Red Stem has 6 inches in diameter roots.

The Lemon Drop is an excellent seasoning pepper from Peru with some heat! When mature it will ripen to be a bright yellow that occasionally turns a purple blush depending on maturity. The Lemon Drop's crisp and clean, uncomplicated flavor is hot with some citrus notes. Its Scovilles top out at 35,000 units.

A classic disease resistant tomato! The Celebrity tomato plant is as close to perfect as you can get! This plant produces perfectly shaped 8 ounce fruits with excellent flavor. Chosen as the AAS winner this tomato is easy to grow and very disease resistant. No cracking and fruits keep coming over a long garden season. The Celebrity is a proven home tomato garden favorite.

Golden Cal Wonder peppers are a popular choice for gardeners due to their vibrant color and high yield. This variety thrives in warm, sunny climates and prefers well-drained, fertile soil. Typically, the plants grow to a medium height and produce large, thick-walled peppers that ripen from green to a striking golden yellow. Golden Cal Wonder peppers are relatively easy to grow, making them ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners. They require regular watering and should be spaced about 18 inches apart to allow room for their wide branches. These peppers benefit from consistent sunlight and can be grown in raised beds, containers, or directly in the ground. With proper care, they produce an abundant harvest, often with several peppers per plant. Not only do they add a beautiful burst of color to the garden, but their sweet, mild flavor makes them a garden favorite for fresh eating, cooking, and canning.

This Guinness World Record holding tomato plant set a record for yielding over 340lbs of fruit. This plant will produce an abundance of bright red, 10+oz. (455-g) fruits perfect for slicing, canning and making into sauces. First introduced by plant breeder John Peto as a hybrid between the Teddy Jones heirloom tomato and an unknown red variety. Their flavor is well-balanced, combining sweetness with a hint of acidity, making them perfect for fresh eating, salads, and sauces. These indeterminate plants continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the season, often reaching heights of 4-6 feet, necessitating staking or cage support. They thrive in warm climates and require full sun, ideally being planted after the last frost. With a growing period of about 70-75 days to maturity, Better Boy tomatoes are usually ready for harvesting from mid-summer through fall. Their robust nature and disease resistance make them a favorite for gardeners seeking a reliable and delicious crop.

The Merlot Pepper produces huge yields of big peppers on tall healthy plants! This hybrid pepper is a tall plant that is highly resistant to tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and bacterial leaf spot (BST). This variety produces huge pepper yields on lush foliage that offers good protection for the newly formed bells. The Merlot begins off green, turns white, and finally begins to turn merlot purple when mature.

The German Giant Tomato is a giant potato leaf heirloom type of tomato with a rich, sweet flavor! This variety is a deep pink hue that grows to be 30+ ounces. The German Giant tomato is favored for being very juicy.

The Cinderella is an excellent pumpkin for canning or baking pies and pumpkin bread as it has a great eating quality! This pumpkin variety is an heirloom variety from France that was selected out of the older variety, Rouge vif d'Etampes. Cinderella has deep ridges and exceptional flatening, making it a beautiful decoration for Halloween and other other fall festivities. This variety's vines are very productive with pumpkins that have grooved, thick walls.