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.

Black Spanish Round Radish is a unique black old heirloom that has a nutty and slightly spicy flavor! This black beauty radish is making a comeback! Its firm flesh holds up well in meals. The Black Spanish Round is best grown from late winter to early spring and is a healthy spring vegetable.

The Spring Pea is the sweetest pea pod you can grow in the garden! This variety is a very early maturing medium sized pea plant that produces super sweet peas. Spring bears large crops of pods that hold 6 to 7 plump peas that are delicious in soups and stews.

The Wisconsin Lakes Pepper is a beautiful heirloom bell pepper with a bright red flesh. This pepper variety is an early maturing bell pepper that turns from green to red. This pepper is a great choice for Northern gardeners. Wisconsin Lakes was bred by Wisconsin University in the1960s and it produce a good reliable harvest of early bell peppers.

Texas Early Grano onion is a renowned heirloom variety with a rich history and impressive growing characteristics. Originating from the fertile soils of Texas, this onion has been cultivated since the early 20th century and is celebrated for its adaptability and early harvest. The Texas Early Grano onion is characterized by its round, yellow bulbs with a smooth, thin skin and crisp, white flesh. Known for its mild, sweet flavor, it is particularly favored for fresh use in salads, salsas, and cooking. The onions generally reach maturity in about 100 to 110 days, and the plants exhibit a robust, upright growth habit, growing to heights of 12 to 18 inches with a spread of about 6 to 8 inches. They thrive in well-drained, fertile soil and prefer full sun exposure. Texas Early Grano onions are notable for their early harvest, which allows gardeners to enjoy fresh onions earlier in the season compared to other varieties. Their reliable growth, mild flavor, and adaptability make them a popular choice for both home gardeners and commercial growers.

Dill's Atlantic Giant pumpkin seeds are famous for producing the world’s largest pumpkins, a variety developed by Nova Scotia grower Howard Dill in the 1970s and later patented due to its remarkable size potential. Bred from a long line of giant pumpkins, this variety has set countless world records, with some specimens weighing well over a ton. The plants are vigorous and sprawling, requiring ample space, rich soil, and consistent watering to support the rapid growth of their enormous fruit. These pumpkins typically range from 200–400 pounds in a home garden, though competitive growers often push them far beyond that with careful cultivation and special techniques. While the flesh is edible and can be used in pies, soups, or livestock feed, Dill’s Atlantic Giant pumpkins are most often grown for show, competitions, and fall displays. Their massive size, combined with their bright orange color and smooth rind, makes them an impressive centerpiece for fairs, festivals, and giant pumpkin weigh-offs worldwide.

The Sparkler Radish is a bright scarlet colored radish with a sweet, juicy flesh and snappy flavor. This variety's scarlet skin fades to white on lower 1/3 of its round, to round oval bulb. This radish's medium tops are perfect for both home and market gardens. Sparkler can grow up to 1.5" diameter.

The Crayon Colors Mix is a mixture of primary colored radishes that literally paints a wonderful colorful palette in your garden! The color in this mix includes yellow, pink, red, and purple.

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.

Fairytale is a traditional pumpkin variety from the south of France. This gorgeous, big flat fruit is heavily ribbed and looks similar to large wheels of cheese. This pumpkin averages 20 lbs. and ripens to a rich brown when fully ripe. The deep orange flesh is very fine grained, one of the best for baking! Long season.

The White Bhut Jolokia Pepper is a white Ghost Pepper! The Ghost Pepper is among the World's Hottest Pepper! This long, hot and wrinkled white pepper is 125 times hotter than a Jalapeno pepper! The White Bhut Jolokia is a rare, natural variant of the Red Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper. This pepper can reach over 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Use with caution.

The Tropic VFN Tomato is a beautiful, large and firm red variety with a delicious juicy flavor that is perfect for greenhouse production! This variety is disease tolerant in hot humid climates.

The Devil's Tongue Pepper has an intense heat with a delicious citrus flavor! This unique variety bears long 3" wrinkly textured fruits that ripen to a fiery red! The Scovilles on this pepper range from 125,000 to 325,000, so handle with care! Devil's Tongue is a high yielder, so you can enjoy an abundance of hot sweet peppers.

The Taxi Tomato is an attractive, sweet flavored, vibrant lemony-yellow tomato that grows to be the size of a baseball! This popular variety produces smooth, blemish-free globes with a rich, meaty flesh that are perfect for market and home growers alike. The easy to grow tomatoes thrive anywhere throughout the United States. Taxi is a low acid tomato.

The Red Zebra is not only a beautifully striped hybrid tomato, but it also has a very juicy and flavorful taste as well! This variety was first grown in 2013 by Jeff Dawson and is a cross between Tom Wagner's 'Green Zebra' tomato and an unknown parent.

Among the world's hottest peppers! Use with caution, wrinkled  brown pepper. 125 times hotter than a Jalapeno pepper! Bhut Jolokia Chocolate is a rare, natural variant of Red Bhut Jolokia. Ghost pepper can reach over 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

Pineapple Crush alpine strawberries are a unique and delightful variety known for their vibrant yellow to orange-hued berries and exceptional sweetness. These compact plants produce fruit that not only boasts a striking color but also offers a tropical flavor reminiscent of pineapples, making them a favorite for fresh eating and culinary creations. Thriving in various growing conditions, Pineapple Crush strawberries are hardy and require minimal care, making them ideal for home gardens and containers. Their attractive foliage and charming white flowers enhance any garden setting, while their continuous harvest throughout the growing season ensures that gardeners can enjoy a delicious bounty of unique berries.

The Chocolate Scotch Bonnet pepper adds the perfect heat to any sauce or salsa! This really hot pepper has a sweet fruity slightly smoky flavor, but with a lot of heat! The spiciness is comparable to a chocolate habanero. The Chocolate Scotch Bonnet ripens from green to dark brown and can grow to be as big as 2 inches.

The Yellow Scotch Bonnet, aka the Jamaican, produces an abundance of little yellow peppers with an extremely hot flavor! Some say that this pepper's flavorful taste is rivaling that of many Habanero's. This hot variety has an excellent flavor making them popular for hot sauces. The Yellow Scotch Bonnet produces well-yielding, compact plants.