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.

Spring Raab broccoli, also known as rapini, has roots in Mediterranean cuisine, particularly in Italy, where it has been cultivated for centuries. This unique vegetable is characterized by its slender, green stalks topped with small yellow flowers and dark green leaves, which are edible and packed with nutrients. The flavor of Spring Raab is distinctively bitter and nutty, which softens with cooking, making it a versatile addition to dishes like stir-fries and pasta. Harvesting typically occurs 40-60 days after planting, ideally before the flowers fully open for optimal taste. This cool-season crop thrives in well-drained soil and prefers cooler temperatures, making it perfect for early spring or fall planting. Its rapid growth and ability to produce multiple harvests make Spring Raab a favorite among gardeners, while its rich vitamin content adds to its appeal for health-conscious cooks.

The Crnkovic Yugoslavian Tomato is a full flavored, mid-sized bright red tomato that has a perfect beefsteak shape that is juicy inside. This variety produces heavy yields of pink beefsteaks that rarely cracks and can weigh up to a pound each. Fruits have perfect shape and a juicy flavor.

The Lucky Tiger Tomato is a sweet and fruity tomato that is part of the beautiful and tasty Artisan tomato collection and is great for fresh eating! The elongated green striped cherry tomato has red blush bottoms that mixes beautifully with the other Artisan tomatoes.

The Oregon Giant Pea plant has excellent yield potential. This variety is a home garden favorite that offers a great flavored pod if eaten while young and its peas have a great sugar flavor!

The spicy flavor, attractive purple stems, and green leaves of the Hong Vit Radish makes it the perfect addition to any salad! This radish is a longtime favorite that is now available in organic form. A very fast growing microgreen! Grows straight and attractive purple stems that are hairless. Micro radish leaves add spicy flavor, visual appeal, and bulk to mixes.

The Bolivian Rainbow Pepper is a beautiful rainbow variety of chili peppers that will a pop of color to any garden or dish. The small naturally bushy plant produces hundreds of small, teardrop shaped, hot chillies that start life creamy, turn purple, then golden, then orange and finally fire-engine red! These peppers produces early and continuously throughout the season.

The Pink Beauty Radish is named after its beautiful, uniformed light pink exterior that is crisp and jam packed full of flavor. This round beauty has a bright white flesh that is crunchy and with the perfect radish taste. This quick-growing variety is a great addition to any garden! The Pink Beauty will add a nice pop of color to any garden or dish.

The Connecticut Field pumpkin is a historic heirloom variety dating back to the 1700s, traditionally grown by Native Americans and among the earliest cultivated pumpkins in the United States. It produces large, round, bright orange fruits with shallow ribbing, typically weighing 15–25 pounds. Well-suited for gardens across much of North America, it thrives in full sun, well-drained soil, and requires ample space for its long vines to spread. With a maturity time of about 100–110 days, this variety benefits from consistent watering and mulching to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Connecticut Field pumpkins are widely used for carving, seasonal decoration, and in cooking—especially for pies and purees—thanks to their classic shape and flavorful flesh.

The China Rose Radish is a tasty rose colored radish with peppery undertones. This long radish variety with 5 inch long roots is one of the oldest heirloom radishes around. The China Rose is a very hardy type that can be grown year round.

Interior texture is smooth and dense with bright white color, even when roots get large. Exceptional quality and taste when picked young, but still tasty if allowed to sit in the garden longer, giving gardener an extended harvest opportunity.

The Bullnose Pepper is an early American pepper variety that was grown by Thomas Jefferson in the mid-to-late 1800s and is gaining popularity again. This variety is one of the first medium-large "bell"-type peppers, although this strain may be larger than the strain that was grown by Mr. Jefferson. Bullnose is a delicious good-sized pepper that is great for fresh eating in salads or for cooking!

Captain Jack is an extra-large, dark orange Jack O’Lantern-type pumpkin. Its thick flesh and flat bottom enables the fruit to stand on its own. Extremely large, thick embedded handles match the large size of this pumpkin. Large and vigorous plants can support several fruit. Grows to 35-45lbs. in size.

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!

Easter Egg Blend radishes offer a cheerful mix of red, white, rose pink, purple, and striking bi-color roots with red tops and white bases, turning harvest time into a fun search for the brightest colors. Best grown during the cool weather of spring and fall, these radishes develop quickly and stay crisp, mild, and flavorful without becoming woody, hollow, or overly spicy. They’re excellent eaten fresh, adding crunch and color to salads and sandwiches, and they resist bolting better than many varieties. Beloved by kids and adults alike, this vibrant blend is a longtime favorite of home gardeners and a reliable choice for market growers who value uniform, attractive bunches.

Purple Sun produces Uniform roots with smooth shoulders. Dark purple carrots that grow up to 10" in length. A great production carrot for fields, bunching and mechanical harvest.

The Sweet Hungarian Wax is a great pepper for pickling and adding into salads or sandwiches. This pepper variety produces light yellow peppers that can be picked early or let ripen to an orange-red color.

Little SnowPea Purple produces dwarf-sized vines with beautiful purple flowers. This pea plant is tiny yet productive and does well in small gardens or containers. The pods mature early and have a crunchy bite. Plants will reach a maximum height of 24 inches. For pea shoots, matures in 10 days. Expect slender, tight greens with minimal side branching, upright habit, and ease of harvest and stack.

The Copia Tomato is a yellow and red striped beefsteak variety that is a cross between the Green Zebra and Marvel Striped. This sweet and juicy tomato is perfect for slicing and adding to salads and sandwiches for a sweet and tangy kick! This beefsteak can weigh 10-12 ounces each.