Zone 10 - What to Plant in December

Zone 10 - What to Plant in December

Zone 10 gardeners should be planting their gardens in December. With no risk of frost but the dog days of summer behind us, this is the perfect time to plant. See the vegetables below that are perfect for planting now.

This cabbage is known for its solid head and excellent flavor. Early Flat Dutch is a big cabbage, it is a good keeper and the standard early season variety. Heads form up to 12 inches and weigh as much as 15 pounds. Early Flat Dutch has an excellent flavor.

Costoluto Genovese tomatoes are a classic heirloom variety celebrated for their historical significance and distinctive characteristics. Hailing from Genoa, Italy, this variety has been cherished since the 19th century for its unique ribbed, fluted shape and rich flavor. The tomatoes are typically deep red, with a strikingly irregular, somewhat lobed appearance that makes them visually appealing. Known for their bold, tangy flavor with a hint of sweetness, Costoluto Genovese tomatoes are highly prized for making robust sauces, salsas, and fresh salads. They generally reach maturity in about 75 to 85 days and feature an indeterminate growth habit, meaning they continue to bear fruit throughout the growing season. The plants are vigorous and sprawling, requiring staking or caging to support their abundant fruit. With their rich heritage, distinctive appearance, and exceptional taste, Costoluto Genovese tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners and chefs seeking both culinary excellence and a touch of Italian tradition.

Black Brandywine tomatoes are a unique and highly regarded heirloom variety known for their exceptional flavor and distinctive characteristics. With a rich history dating back to the 19th century, these tomatoes have earned a special place in the hearts of gardeners and tomato enthusiasts alike. The story of Black Brandywine begins with the original Brandywine tomato, which was developed in the late 1800s in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania. Over time, a natural mutation led to the development of the black variant, which retained the outstanding flavor of the original while introducing a striking, dark coloration. The fruit of the Black Brandywine tomato is large and typically reaches sizes of 8 to 16 ounces (227 to 454 grams) or even larger under optimal conditions. Its shape is somewhat irregular, often with a beefsteak-like appearance, characterized by deep ridges and an uneven, slightly flattened globe shape. The skin of Black Brandywine tomatoes is a dark purplish-black or maroon color, adding to their visual appeal. The plants of Black Brandywine tomatoes are indeterminate, which means they continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. They can reach heights of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters) or more, so proper support is essential. These tomatoes thrive in warm and sunny climates, requiring full sun and well-drained soil. Adequate moisture and regular pruning are crucial to manage their vigorous growth and ensure good air circulation. Black Brandywine tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners who appreciate their rich, complex flavor, making them a must-grow variety for anyone looking to savor the taste of history in their garden.

The Whopper Pepper produces high yields of huge sweet bell peppers! This pepper plant produces huge yields of large 4" long by 4" wide bell peppers that will turn from green to red when ripe and ready to be picked. Whopper is one of the best bell peppers for home gardens and is excellent for salads, stuffing, sauteed, or fried. This tasty pepper also freezes well.

The Jet Star Tomato is a long time favorite and industry standard hybrid tomato with a high sugar content that masks acidity. These meaty, globe-shaped tomatoes can grow to be about 6 to 8 ounces and produces in abundance in mid-to-late summer.

The Ugly Duckling is the "ugly" sister to our Cinderella pumpkin, but this variety produces multiple colors. This pumpkin is an antique French heirloom that, despite its name, is beautiful and great for ornamental purposes!

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.

The Golden Greek Pepper is a mildly hot, bright yellow to red pepper! This variety should be picked when golden for the best taste! These 4" long by 1" thick peppers have a crispy flesh that is excellent when pickled or thrown in a Greek salad!

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.

Isis Candy tomatoes are a captivating heirloom variety prized for their unique and beautiful appearance. These cherry tomatoes are known for their striking color pattern, featuring vibrant red and yellow stripes that give them an eye-catching look. Each tomato is small, round, and glossy, with a juicy texture and a delightful burst of sweet and tangy flavor. The taste is rich and complex, making them a popular choice for salads and fresh dishes. Isis Candy tomatoes have a relatively short growing season, typically reaching maturity in about 75 days, making them a great option for gardeners looking for a quick yet rewarding harvest. Their exceptional flavor, combined with their stunning appearance, makes them a standout in any garden.

An early cabbage with a blue-green color. Produces beautiful globe-shaped heads that have a blueish color. Very good holding ability. 3-5 lb. heads produced on low, compact plants. First introduced by Harris Moran.

The Indigo Sun is a F1 Hybrid bright yellow cherry tomato with an indigo anthocyanin pigmentation splashed around the crown. This pretty tomato has a sugar sweet flavor that is a nice balance between sugars and acids. This variety produces about eight tomatoes per cluster with each little cherry tomato weighing 1 ounce. The Indigo Sun is perfect as a snack or can be used to brighten up any salad or pasta dish!

The Beaver Dam Pepper is a delicious pepper that makes a great for stuffed peppers or adding to sandwiches. This pepper variety was brought from Hungary to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin in 1912 by the Joe Hussli family. Beaver Dam ripens from green to orange to red with just a touch of a tangy heat flavor!

The Blondkopfchen, aka Little Blonde Girl, is a delicious heirloom cherry tomato that comes from East Germany and has a delicious sugary flavor. This high yielding variety produces an abundance of small golden yellow 1" fruits that grow in giant clusters. The Blondkopfchen is one of the best tasting cherry tomatoes as it has a high sugar content, is crack resistant and produces well until the first frost.

Just like its name, the Tom Thumb Pea is a tiny bush pea plant perfect for containers! If you are hurting for space but want to grow some delicious peas, try the Tom Thumb! This pea variety produces pea pods on a tiny pea plant.

Katarina cabbage has a perfect smaller head size (4”) and shape to be grown successfully in containers on patios, decks or in-ground beds, possibly as an ornamental/edible border.

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 Rondo Pea is a wrinkle-seeded variety that produces great yields of long, uniform pods that contain around 10 little plump peas per pod. This stocky, dark green pea is hardy and shows good resistance to Fusarium Wilt. This favorite has a delicious sweet flavor that can't be beat! The Rondo is perfect for freezing for soups and stews but is also amazing when eaten freshly picked!