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.

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.

Cylindra beets, also known as "Formanova" or "Butter Slicer," are a unique variety of beetroot known for their elongated, cylindrical shape. These beets have a fascinating history, originally hailing from Europe, particularly Denmark, where they were developed in the early 20th century. Their distinctive shape was cultivated to make them easier to slice and can, a practical innovation that has made them popular among home gardeners and commercial growers alike. In terms of taste, cylindra beets are mild and sweet, with a slightly earthy flavor. They are known for their tender, non-fibrous texture, making them excellent candidates for pickling, roasting, or slicing thinly for salads. Their deep red-purple skin contrasts beautifully with the vibrant, dark red flesh inside, adding an attractive element to culinary dishes. Cylindra beets typically grow to be 6-8 inches in length and 2 inches in diameter. They are ready for harvest in approximately 55-65 days from planting, making them a relatively quick-growing beet variety. They thrive in well-drained, loamy soil with full sun exposure. When it comes to disease resistance, cylindra beets tend to be more resistant to common beet diseases like leaf spot and powdery mildew than some other beet varieties. Proper spacing is crucial, with about 2-3 inches between each plant and rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. With the right care and growing conditions, cylindra beets can yield a bountiful crop of these delicious and uniquely-shaped vegetables, making them a favorite among gardeners and chefs.  

The Petite Mix Bell is a blend of our favorite mini bell peppers that are a sweet flavor explosion! These tiny peppers ripens to a rich yellow, red and purple colors when mature. The Petite Mix Bell blend is high yielding and produces 2-3 ounce peppers that make the perfect snack sized pepper. This mix is excellent for market selling or home growing for adding into salads!

The classic Burpee's Bush Big Boy Tomato is the same large, juicy favorite but has been made even better, especially for small-space gardeners. With this variety, you get the same number of tasty, big red tomatoes (10 to 11 oz. each), with the same sweet, aromatic, melt-in-your-mouth juiciness as the original, but the compact plants are only half the size!

The Red Bhut Jolokia (Ghost Pepper) is among the world's hottest pepper! In 2006, the Guinness Book of Records confirmed that New Mexico State University had discovered the world's hottest chile pepper, the wrinkled, scarlet Bhut Jolokia. At 1,001,304 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), the Red Bhut Jolokia is nearly twice as hot as Red Savina, the Chile pepper variety it replaced as the world's hottest. In comparison, a New Mexico Green chile contains about 1,500 SHUs and an average jalapeno measures at about 10,000 SHUs. Use with caution.

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 Napoli Tomato is an exceptional, bright red Italian paste type that is perfect for slicing, freezing and canning or making into sauce, soups or paste! This tomato plant variety produces heavy yields of 1.5 x 3 inch fruits that weigh around 3 ounces. The Napoli is a favorite for being juicy and meaty.

Calabrese Green Sprouting broccoli is a popular and nutritious vegetable known for its tender florets and robust flavor. Originating from Italy, specifically the Calabria region, this variety was cultivated for centuries before gaining popularity worldwide, especially in home gardens and markets. Calabrese broccoli include its sturdy, upright stalks and large, vibrant green heads that typically form in loose clusters. The color is a rich, dark green, with tightly packed florets that can range from small to medium-sized. When cooked, Calabrese broccoli offers a slightly sweet and earthy flavor, making it a versatile ingredient in a variety of dishes, from stir-fries to soups. An appealing attribute of Calabrese is its ability to produce side shoots after the main head is harvested, providing multiple harvests throughout the season. This variety is also valued for its nutritional benefits, being rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants. Its hardiness and adaptability make Calabrese green sprouting broccoli a favorite among gardeners and cooks alike.

Snowball Y Improved cauliflower is a popular open pollinated variety! This cauliflower is known for its vigorous, rapid growth and long harvest. Its head is snow-white and measures 7-8" inches across. Give this cauliflower fertile soil, full sun and steady moisture and you'll be rewarded with large, delicious heads that are high in vitamin C.

Small Sugar pumpkin seeds produce a beloved heirloom variety that has been grown in North America since the 1800s, cherished for its manageable size and excellent eating quality. These compact, vigorous plants yield round, deep orange pumpkins averaging 6–8 inches across and weighing 5–7 pounds, making them easy to handle and perfect for smaller gardens. Known for their fine-grained, sweet, and flavorful flesh, Small Sugar pumpkins are a classic choice for pies, soups, and baking, often referred to as “pie pumpkins.” They mature in about 95–100 days, thrive in well-drained soil with full sun, and are prized not only for their culinary uses but also for their attractive appearance in autumn decorations.

White Stem Pak Choi, also known as Bok Choy or Pak Choi, is a versatile and popular Asian cabbage variety with origins in China. This leafy green vegetable has been cultivated for centuries, appreciated for its tender leaves and crisp, white stems. Characterized by its vibrant green, broad leaves and smooth, white stalks, White Stem Pak Choi is both visually appealing and nutritious. The flavor is mild and slightly sweet, making it a popular choice in stir-fries, soups, and salads. Harvesting typically occurs 45-60 days after planting, when the plants reach a height of about 12-18 inches, and can be done by cutting the entire plant or picking individual leaves. White Stem Pak Choi thrives in cooler weather, preferring well-drained soil and full sun, making it suitable for spring and fall planting. Its rapid growth and ability to produce multiple harvests, combined with its rich content of vitamins A, C, and K, make it a favorite among gardeners and cooks alike. Overall, White Stem Pak Choi is valued for its crisp texture, mild flavor, and adaptability in a variety of dishes.

The Long Red Slim Cayenne Pepper is a traditional medium heat cayenne pepper with a great flavor! This variety is a long and thin pepper that produces unbelievably high yields. These peppers will mature red and are wrinkled with a mixture of straight and curly fruits. Long Red Slim is excellent for drying, pickling and fresh eating to spice up your chili or salsa. This pepper plant is bushy and reaches 26" tall.

Scarlet kale seeds are a vibrant and intriguing choice for any garden enthusiast looking to add a splash of color and a touch of nutrition to their harvest. These seeds produce kale with striking red and purple leaves that not only brighten up your garden but also provide a visually stunning addition to your plate. Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, scarlet kale is as beneficial as it is beautiful. Its bold flavor, with a slightly peppery bite, can elevate a variety of dishes from salads to soups. Easy to grow, these seeds thrive in cooler weather and are resilient to frost, making them a versatile option for extending the growing season. With scarlet kale, you're not just cultivating a nutritious vegetable; you're enhancing your garden's aesthetic appeal with a vibrant, healthful crop.

The Purple Bumble Bee Tomato is part of the beautiful and tasty Artisan tomato collection with a sweet fruity flavor that is great for fresh eating! This variety produces tomatoes with a purple color and a metallic green striping. The Purple Bumble Bee is beautiful when mixed with the other Artisan tomatoes.

The French Breakfast Radish has a delicate flavor and is an excellent variety for home gardens. This radish variety is an attractive uniquely shaped radish with elongated roots and red tops with white tips. The French Breakfast has an excellent flavor and texture, that is perfect for dips or as a garnish.

The Snow Crown cauliflower is a delicious, mild and sweet hybrid. This cauliflower's head will get to 7-8 inches across and 1-2 pounds. The Snow Crown is extra early and adaptable and can be harvested in summer or fall. Be careful not to under-fertilize or water, stress can cause a purplish discoloration on the undersides of the head.

Michihili cabbage is great for those who love stir-fry or pickling cabbage. A tight-head type with well blanched, crisp and tender interior. Michihili produces a cylindrical, leafy head. A high yielding cabbage with excellent flavor. Chinese cabbage nutrients include vitamins A and C.

The Red Russian Kale is a very tender, colorful specialty kale for salad mix and bunching. This variety is a special, refined strain. Its stems are purple and leaves are deep gray-green with purple veins. This flat, noncurled, and tooth-edged kale has a wonderful taste. Red Russian matures medium-tall and leaves are tender compared to other kales.