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 Kuroda Shin is a popular Oriental carrot with a nice sweet flavor. This variety is a great addition to any Oriental dish. The Kuroda Shin carrot's deep orange, stubby roots are mild and sweet. This is an excellent carrot for juicing as well. Grows well in many climate conditions, good for home or market.

The Fiesta is a beautiful, heavy yielding broccoli . Uniform plants are medium height, giving rise to 5-7" blue-green heads. Heavy yields that are disease resistant, which is definitely a reason to celebrate!

The Amazing cauliflower lives up to its name! This variety will stay fresh for long periods. The terrific holding ability means you can plant all you want of this vigorous variety and will never have to worry about rushing to eat. The bright, dense finely textured heads spread 10 inches across and are protected by their self-wrapping leaves.

The Dukat Dill is a popular, improved dill variety that produces a high amount of its essential oil! This dill's attractive ferny foliage is best when used fresh or dried in dips, salads, soups and sauces - as well as to flavor peas and potatoes.

The Deer Tongue Lettuce really does look like a deer tongue! These triangular leaves are excellent for baby salad greens. Deer Tongue lettuce has medium-green leaves that form loose upright heads that are slow to bolt. This is a popular variety with many heirloom growers, as Deer Tongue has been an Amish favorite for decades!

The Rudolph Radish is known for being a "cute" smaller variety that has a very deep red hue and a nice uniform globe shape. It is only 1.5 inches round! Rudolph might be tiny, but it is bursting with lots of flavor! These crisp, sweet radishes will give any salad or dish an extra kick.

Oracle is a high yielding Spanish Hybrid with a high level of consistency. Oracle has nice upright tops that are glossy and vigorous. These traits combined with a robust disease package make this hybrid grower friendly. Oracle is also an excellent choice for mechanical harvesting and long term storage. Disease Ratings: High tolerance to Pink Root, Fusarium and Bolting.

Bull's Blood beet, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris, is a striking and versatile variety of beetroot that has gained popularity for its unique characteristics. This heirloom variety has a fascinating history, dating back centuries to Europe, where it was initially cultivated for its edible leaves rather than the root. Its name, "Bull's Blood," is derived from the deep burgundy-red color of its leaves, which resemble the color of ox blood. Over time, its sweet and earthy flavor profile has made it a favorite among chefs and home gardeners alike. In terms of appearance, Bull's Blood beets typically grow to a medium size, roughly 2-3 inches in diameter, and have a round to slightly flattened shape. The seeds of this variety are easy to come by and can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors. Bull's Blood beets are relatively quick to mature, taking about 50-60 days from seed to harvest. The leaves are a deep red, while the root itself is a dark purplish-red, making it visually appealing on the plate. Bull's Blood beets exhibit some resistance to common beet diseases like Cercospora leaf spot and Downy Mildew, although specific resistance levels may vary depending on growing conditions. When properly cared for, they can yield a plentiful harvest. To ensure optimal growth, it's recommended to space the beet plants about 2-4 inches apart in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Adequate moisture and consistent watering are essential for healthy growth. Whether you're looking to add a pop of color to your garden or enhance your culinary creations, Bull's Blood beets are a delightful choice with a rich history and vibrant character.

Vates is one of the highest yielding collards around! This collard variety produces dark green leaves that are very delicious. Vates grows to a height of 30" and is very slow to bolt.

The Texas Early Grano Onion has a nice sweet flavor that is a favorite among home growers! The vidalia-type onion is now available in organic seeds. The white flesh is crisp and not too pungent. This short day onion variety is very disease resistant which makes it very popular for home growers and market growers alike. Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.

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.

Lutz Green Leaf Pink Stem beet seeds are prized for producing beets with distinctive characteristics and exceptional flavor. This variety features vibrant green leaves with a striking pink stem, which adds a splash of color to any garden. The beets themselves are known for their smooth, round shape and tender, sweet, deep red to purple flesh. Lutz Green Leaf Pink Stem beets are valued not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for their excellent taste, making them a popular choice for salads, roasting, and pickling. They are known for their adaptability, growing well in various soil conditions, and for their relatively long harvest window, allowing for a prolonged period of fresh, nutritious beets. Additionally, the green leaves are edible and nutritious, providing a dual-purpose crop that enhances both the visual and culinary appeal of your garden. This variety is a "winterkeeper" beet that has a long standing storage capability. The Lutz Green Leaf Pink Stem has 6 inches in diameter roots, make sure to thin them out to 4-6 inches.

The Fancy Nantes carrot gets its name for its very smooth skin and fancy cylindrical shape. These carrots can grow up to 8" long with a very sweet and crisp flesh. For smaller, "fancier" look and great flavor try harvesting at 45-50 days when 4" long! They can store for months and also do great being left in the ground over winter.

The Premier Kale, or also known as Early Hanover, is a high yielding kale with delicious and nutritious green leaves. This kale is early maturing that produces high amounts of smooth, dark green leaves. Plant Premier in the fall so that it produces higher yields and resists bolting 4 weeks longer. This kale's taste is a favorite and is extremely high in antioxidants and beta carotene!

The Crosby Egyptian Beet, a classic heirloom variety, has a rich history dating back to the late 19th century. Originating in Egypt, it was introduced to the United States in the 1860s and quickly gained popularity among gardeners and farmers. This beet variety has stood the test of time due to its exceptional taste and versatility in the kitchen. Crosby Egyptian Beets are known for their sweet and tender flesh, making them a favorite for both raw and cooked applications. They have a distinct earthy flavor with a hint of sweetness, making them perfect for salads, pickling, roasting, and even juicing. These beets typically mature in about 55-60 days, making them a relatively quick-growing option for gardeners. In terms of appearance, Crosby Egyptian Beets are small to medium-sized, usually reaching about 2-3 inches in diameter. They have a round to slightly flattened shape and a vibrant deep red or purplish skin. Disease resistance is moderate, with some resistance to common pests and diseases like aphids and leaf miners. In terms of yields, you can expect a good harvest of beets from each plant, especially if you space them adequately (about 2-4 inches apart) in well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade. These beets thrive in cool weather conditions, making them suitable for spring and fall planting. With its rich history and delightful flavor, the Crosby Egyptian Beet continues to be a treasured addition to vegetable gardens.

Gypsy is a hybrid broccoli that produces well in warmer growing zones. An excellent variety for greenhouse production. Gypsy has a strong root system and intermediate downy mildew resistance. Gypsy yields excellent, smooth, dome-shaped heads with medium-small beads.

Bobcat is a high producing fresh-market variety that has long storage life. Excellent flavor and good resistance to disease. Due to its high yield potential, Bobcat is suitable for coleslaw production.

The Orange Dream cauliflower performs like a dream in outdoor and greenhouse growing conditions. This cauliflower is a medium-large plant. Orange Dream is a pastel orange cauliflower that exhibits great tolerance to heat and stress.