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.

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 Micro Tom Tomato is the perfect little cherry tomato variety for growing in tight places, ideal for windowsills and patios! This unusual, tiny plant grows to be just 4" tall. This variety produces good yields of tiny sized red tomatoes that everyone will love, especially kids!

Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper seeds produce one of the hottest chili peppers in the world, known for its intense heat and distinctive fruity flavor. Originating from Trinidad, this pepper earned its spot in the Guinness World Records as the hottest pepper in 2011, with heat levels reaching over 1.4 million Scoville Heat Units (SHUs). The peppers grow on compact plants and mature into small, wrinkled, reddish-orange pods that pack a fiery punch. Despite their extreme heat, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T peppers are also prized for their complex flavor profile, offering a slightly sweet, citrus-like taste before the intense heat kicks in. Ideal for hot sauce production, spicy foods, or daring pepper enthusiasts, these seeds are best suited for experienced gardeners who are prepared to handle the intense heat and care required for growing this fiery pepper.

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 Italian Ice is a small white to cream-yellow tomato variety with a sugary sweet flavor that is bursting with flavor! This variety produces high yields of up to 1" sized fruits that ripen from green to white to cream-yellow color. The tomatoes are edible once they turn their famous yellow white. The ripened tomatoes are incredibly sweet, which makes this variety a double threat! This tomato plant is a heavy producer that will grow and produce tomatoes up until the first frost. This variety should be staked well as it will grow large and vine off! The Italian Ice will be one of the first tomato varieties to ripen in the garden.

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 Super Sugar Pea is an improved original tall snap pea that is bursting with a sugary sweet flavor! This plant variety has a very high yield potential and even better flavor than before being improved, making it a favorite to add to many dishes.

The Big Beef Tomato is an All American Selection winner beefsteak tomato variety that has been a farm favorite for a reason! This tomato variety produces delicious 12 ounce, deep oblate to globe shaped red fruits. This high yielding, high quality tomato is crack and highly disease resistant.

Little Finger carrot is a baby gourmet Nantes type that develops color quickly for early pulling. The most popular variety of baby carrots. Tender, sweet miniature carrots are ideal for eating fresh, canning or pickling. Organic seed available.

The Parks Whopper is one of the juiciest, best tasting tomatoes around and a must-have staple for home gardens! This Improved CR tomato has been the standard for taste, size and production for many years. This improved Parks Whopper offers an earlier (5 days) harvest and a more diseases resistant tomato.

Mortgage Lifter tomatoes are a legendary heirloom variety with a rich history and exceptional qualities. Originating from the 1930s, this tomato was famously developed by M.C. "Radiator Charlie" Byles, a farmer who sold the plants to pay off his mortgage, hence the name. These large, beefsteak-style tomatoes are known for their deep pink to reddish color and meaty texture, with fruits often reaching up to a pound or more. The flavor is renowned for its sweet, rich taste with a balanced acidity, making it ideal for slicing, sandwiches, and sauces. Mortgage Lifter tomatoes typically take about 80 to 85 days to mature and feature an indeterminate growth habit, meaning they continue to produce fruit throughout the growing season. The plants are vigorous and sprawling, requiring staking or caging to support the heavy, abundant fruit. Their historical significance, combined with their impressive size, flavor, and productivity, makes Mortgage Lifter tomatoes a prized addition to any garden.

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!

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.

The Hot and Happy Mix is a blend of hot pepper, all colors, shapes and heats. This mix of peppers are bold and adventurous! This assortment of hot peppers includes habaneros, jalapeños, chilies, poblanos, anchos and more! Hot and Happy Mix is perfect for any hot pepper lover!

The Knight Pea is the highest yielding, early maturing pea that we have! This pea variety's vines are short and therefore require no staking. Its huge pods can grow to be 4 inches with up to 10 peas in each pod! Knight is a favorite for its tender and sweet flavor, making it the perfect side dish.

The Progress No. 9 Pea is a very prolific and early yielding shelling pea! This wrinkle-seeded pea is fast growing and produces plump dark green pods. Enjoy 7-9 delicious peas per pod that are perfect for soups or as a side dish. The Progress No. 9 holds well on the vine and is also disease resistant. Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.

The Big Jim is the largest of all chile peppers! This hot-medium pepper can get up to 12 inches long and tastes amazing in many different types of cuisine. The Big Jim yields 24-30 peppers per plant. This organic pepper will turn from green to red once ready to be harvested. The Big Jim pepper plant flowers well, even when hot. Certified Organic Learn more about our organic seeds.

The All Seasons Cabbage is a very heat resistant cabbage that is resistant to yellowing and will offer a nice flavor in any dish. This cabbage produces fine heads that are about 10-11" across and average about 11-14 pounds.