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.

The Black Prince Tomato is an attractive dark red and black colored juicy Russian heirloom tomato that has a rich distinctive flavor! This dark variety produces beautiful, smooth 2" oval tomatoes. The Black Prince is truly royalty!

Ready in about 89 days, this variety forms broad, slightly flattened heads that average 6–8 pounds. The crisp white interior is beautifully framed by heavily savoyed blue-green wrapper leaves. It handles heat well and truly shines in fall production, delivering consistently impressive, eye-catching heads for your garden.

The perfect size, shape and taste for a pickling pepper! This pepper variety is covered with thick-walled, sweet, 2-inch tapered peppers that grow in a variety of colors. The Sweet Pickle is one of the best picking peppers around!

The Baby Roma, also known as the "Cherry Roma," is a miniature roma-shaped tomato that is bursting with an intense sweet flavor. This tomato variety is great for garden snacking, adding into salads and growing for market production. The Baby Roma plant produces an incredibly heavy set of 1” grape-type tomato fruits that have a very long shelf life. 

The Pink Summercicle Radish will bring you an endless summer with its bright pink color, sweet taste and popsicle-like shape! These 5-6 inches long roots have a crisp white inside with an extra sweet flavor. This very adaptable variety is best when grown in the early spring or fall. Enjoy the Pink Summercicle in salads or stir-fries!

The Azoychka Tomato is a highly productive Russian heirloom that produces good yields of smooth, sweet and citrusy tomatoes. This variety is an indeterminate, open-pollinated tomato plant that produces tomatoes that weigh 10-16 oz. each. The Azoychkas are slightly oblate with a yellow-orange flesh and a higher than normal acidic balance than most other yellow tomatoes, that gives off delicious flavors unlike any other yellow tomato. This tomato variety does well throughout the United States in both hot and cool locations.

Glacier tomato seeds produce a cold-tolerant, early-season tomato variety that thrives in cooler climates, making it ideal for short growing seasons or northern regions. Known for its ability to set fruit even in lower temperatures, Glacier tomatoes offer small (2-3 oz.), round, bright red fruits with a balanced, sweet-tart flavor. These tomatoes mature early, often within 50 to 60 days, providing a quick harvest and the opportunity for multiple crops in one season. The plants are compact and bushy, making them perfect for small gardens or container growing. Glacier tomatoes are not only valued for their early productivity but also for their resilience to cooler weather, which allows gardeners in less predictable climates to enjoy fresh, homegrown tomatoes with a classic taste. This tomato variety is wonderful for salads or sliced up for fresh eating!

Thumbelina carrots are tender and sweet with no need to peel! It is the perfect bit size for fresh eating, stews and salads. Thumbelina's small size makes it a great choice for heavy or shallow soils or containers. No wonder it is an All-America Selections Winner from 1992!

Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes have a bright red color with bursting flavor and high sugar content. A moderate yielder that goes great in salsa, salads and fresh eating. Some resistance to early blight and late blight.

Avalon is a very sturdy, yet flexible, late intermediate Spanish onion. This variety allows a smooth transition from intermediate to long day varieties. Growers enjoy the easy growth, the size potential, single centers, and the nice firm bulb that it produces. The grower also has the option of mechanical harvesting with Avalon.

Crimson radish is a vibrant and flavorful variety of radish that stands out for its striking color and crisp texture. Originating from traditional radish cultivars, Crimson radish has been cultivated for its eye-catching appearance and peppery taste. This variety is known for its round, smooth roots, which boast a deep red to crimson skin and a white, crunchy interior. The flavor is typically sharp and tangy, with a satisfying bite that enhances salads, sandwiches, and garnishes. Crimson radishes generally mature in about 25 to 30 days, making them a quick and rewarding crop for gardeners. The plants exhibit a compact, upright growth habit, growing to a height of about 6 to 12 inches with a spread of 6 to 8 inches. They thrive in cool weather and well-drained soil, preferring full sun to partial shade. Their rapid growth and ease of cultivation make them ideal for successive plantings, providing a steady supply of fresh radishes throughout the growing season. With their vibrant color, crisp texture, and zesty flavor, Crimson radishes are a popular choice for adding both visual appeal and flavor to the garden and kitchen.

The Pruden's Purple Tomato, also known as Prudence, is considered to be one of the best heirloom beefsteak tomatoes in America! This tomato variety is an indeterminate, potato leaf plant that has heavy yields of 10-16 ounce, dark pink fruits. Pruden's Purple produces only very few seeds and is widely adapted.

The Big Rainbow is one of the most beautiful tomatoes to watch grow to maturity. This tomato turns from green, to a yellow-centered, red-bottomed young fruit and then to a gold-and-red sunset color when mature. The Big Rainbow is a very beautiful and absolutely large tomato that has an over-the-top flavor that you just can't get enough of!

Rudolf Radish produces smooth, cherry-red, perfectly round roots with a crisp bite and classic, bold radish flavor. This vigorous, high-yielding variety is one of the easiest to grow and performs reliably in both spring and fall plantings. Roots size up quickly and uniformly, making them ideal for early harvest as cute mini radishes—or left to mature for full size without sacrificing texture or taste. A dependable choice for consistent shape, color, and crunch.

The Early Scarlet Globe is an early forcing radish that is perfect for home and market growers! This variety is a great bunching radish that produces 1" globes with bright red skin and a white flesh. The Early Scarlet Globe is great for both spring and fall planting!

Red Cored Chantenay carrots are a vibrant variety known for their distinct color and shape. They feature a deep orange skin that transitions to a striking red core, creating a visually appealing contrast. The carrots have a stout, conical shape, tapering at the end, which makes them easy to harvest and handle. These carrots are celebrated for their sweet, rich flavor and crisp texture, making them ideal for both raw snacking and cooking. They’re versatile in the kitchen, lending themselves well to roasting, steaming, or incorporating into salads. Red Cored Chantenay carrots are also known for their high nutrient content, providing a good source of vitamins and minerals. Their unique coloration is not only attractive but also indicates a high level of antioxidants, contributing to their health benefits.

The Blush Tomato is part of the beautiful and tasty Artisan tomato collection and has a sweet, fruity flavor that is great for fresh eating. The delicious bright yellow tomato produces red marbling stripes when mature. The attractive Blush mixes beautifully with the other Artisan tomatoes.

The Trip-L-Crop Tomato is an extremely long and productive heirloom tomato plant variety that thrives in a greenhouse setting! This tomato produces huge yields on a 15 foot vine that needs a trellising. The large 1-2 lb. tomatoes are red, meaty and great for canning.