Zone 9 - What to Plant in October

Zone 9 - What to Plant in October

It's finally cooling down a bit in zone 9 and this gives us a good window to grow some crops before the first frost in mid-December. Try growing a mix of fast growing warm and cool season crops. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 9 in October.

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.

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.

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.

Minowase radish seeds produce a classic Japanese daikon variety with origins in East Asia, where long-rooted radishes have been cultivated for centuries for their productivity and versatility. Known for its smooth white roots that often reach 12–18 inches, Minowase features crisp, juicy flesh with a mild, slightly sweet, lightly peppery flavor that is far gentler than smaller spring radishes. Its clean taste and firm texture make it ideal for microgreens, sprouts, salads, pickling, stir-fries, soups, fermenting, and even grating fresh as a condiment. This variety grows best in cool weather and loose, deeply prepared soil that allows for long, straight roots; sow seeds directly in late summer or early fall, provide consistent moisture, thin seedlings to prevent crowding, and harvest before hard frosts for the best quality.

Chioggia beets, also known as Candy Cane or Bull's Eye beets, are a unique and visually striking variety of beets that originated in Italy. Their history dates back to the early 19th century when they were first cultivated in the coastal town of Chioggia, near Venice. These beets are renowned for their vibrant and eye-catching appearance, characterized by concentric rings of alternating red and white colors, reminiscent of a candy cane. This distinct coloration makes them a popular choice among gardeners and chefs for their ornamental and culinary appeal. In terms of taste, Chioggia beets offer a mild and slightly sweet flavor, making them a versatile ingredient in various dishes. They can be enjoyed raw in salads, pickled, roasted, or boiled, and their taste becomes sweeter when cooked. Typically, Chioggia beets are round to slightly flattened in shape, with a diameter of 2 to 3 inches. They are known for their relatively quick maturity, taking around 50 to 60 days to reach full size. Their unique coloration is retained even after cooking, making them a visually stunning addition to any meal. When it comes to growing Chioggia beets, they thrive in well-drained soil with a neutral pH and require full sun for optimal growth. Proper spacing is essential to allow room for their roots to develop, typically requiring 3 to 4 inches between each plant and rows spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart. Chioggia beets are relatively disease-resistant, with a natural ability to withstand some common beet diseases, but it's still essential to monitor them for any signs of issues. With proper care, Chioggia beets can yield a bountiful crop, and their unique appearance and delightful taste make them a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike.

Seaside produces very uniform and great tasting baby leaf spinach. Stays baby size for extended period of time extending the season. Seaside has a nice, smooth, thick, very dark green, spade-shaped leaf making it a perfect choice for baby leaf growers. Seaside has great downy mildew resistance.

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.

De Cicco broccoli, known for its exceptional taste, is a popular heirloom variety of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) that hails from Italy. This Italian heirloom has been cultivated for generations, making it a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike. De Cicco broccoli is classified as a compact, semi-dwarf type of broccoli, and it is highly prized for its versatility in the kitchen and its relatively quick maturity. De Cicco broccoli boasts a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Its tender, dark green florets are surrounded by a profusion of lush leaves. The compact plant typically reaches a height of 18-24 inches, making it suitable for smaller gardens or container growing. De Cicco is known for its relatively short days to maturity, typically taking around 48-65 days from seed sowing to harvest. This broccoli variety is characterized by its vibrant, dark green color, which is indicative of its high nutrient content. De Cicco broccoli exhibits strong disease resistance, particularly against common broccoli ailments like downy mildew and clubroot, which can be a relief for growers. When properly cared for, De Cicco broccoli can yield a bountiful harvest of small to medium-sized heads, often producing side shoots after the main head is harvested. For optimal growth, it's recommended to sow De Cicco broccoli seeds in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spacing them about 18-24 inches apart to provide enough room for the plants to mature and thrive. Additionally, consistent watering and adequate fertilization can help ensure a successful De Cicco broccoli crop.  

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.

Iceberg Lettuce is the tried and true lettuce that is an easy to grow, slow bolting crisphead. This variety has proven to be one of the most popular crispheads for years! Iceberg is a great lettuce that performs exceptionally well under warm weather conditions. This compact lettuce plant features better leaf texture and quality than other varieties. This variety resists rib discoloration and tip burn.

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.

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 Wonder beet is a popular heirloom beet plant that produces high yields of deep red roots! A popular beet that is tasty, early maturing and produces abundant greens. The beets are great for boiling, pickling, baking, and freezing. Forms 3-4" deep red globes that are sweet and tender. Also known as "Tall Top" for its tall, glossy leaves that make great greens with salads. Greens are also a great substitute for chard or spinach and have high vitamin A and C.

The Green express is a bright green mini cabbage with excellent flavor! This favorite is now available as organic. The early maturing cabbage has a mild flavor and crisp texture that can't be beat. The Green Express can be sown directly in Fall gardens or transplanted in Spring.

Often called Early Coreless, this heirloom carrot is prized for its excellent storage ability and wide adaptability in the garden. It produces smooth, cylindrical roots about 7 inches long with rounded ends and vibrant red-orange flesh that is fine-textured and nearly free of a core. The flavor is notably sweet, crisp, and clean, making it enjoyable fresh or cooked. Harvested young, it works beautifully as a baby carrot, and it also performs exceptionally well for freezing and juicing. With origins dating back to the 1850s, this classic variety was developed in France by the renowned seed firm Vilmorin-Andrieux and remains a favorite for its quality and reliability.

Cascadia Pea is a major garden staple for its heavy yields of great tasting and crispy pea pods. Enjoy bucketloads of large, crisp pods with small, sugary peas! The 3' tall vines should be supported on a trellis or fence. Cascadia's multiple disease resistances allow for spring and late season plantings.

White Boston lettuce seeds produce an old heirloom butterhead variety known since the early 1900s for its soft, tender texture and reliable garden performance. The plants form loose, pale-green heads with broad, silky leaves that have a mild, buttery flavor and a pleasantly delicate crunch. This variety prefers cool weather, making it ideal for spring and fall planting, and thrives in rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. To grow it successfully, sow seeds shallowly, keep the soil evenly moist, provide partial shade in warmer climates to prevent bolting, and harvest heads when they are full and firm for the best flavor and texture.

The Crosby Egyptian beet is a standard early bunching beet for table or market, a favorite that is now also available in organic seeds. The flattened heart-shaped roots and dark-red flesh of this beet is equally appetizing as it is beautiful. The Crosby Egyptian is also the largest early variety beet and will keep its shape until fall. Enjoy both the roots and the tops chopped up in a salad! Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.