Zone 9 - What to Plant in October

Zone 9 - What to Plant in October

It's finally cooling down a bit in zone 9 and this gives us a good window to grow some crops before the first frost in mid-December. Try growing a mix of fast growing warm and cool season crops. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 9 in October.

New Zealand spinach, known scientifically as Tetragonia tetragonioides, is a unique leafy green vegetable that thrives in warm climates, making it a popular choice in gardens. Unlike traditional spinach, which is a cool-season crop, New Zealand spinach is a perennial plant with succulent, triangular leaves that have a mild, slightly salty flavor. This hardy plant can tolerate heat and drought, making it ideal for summer gardens. It is often used in salads, stir-fries, and as a cooked green, providing a nutritious alternative to other leafy greens. With its ability to grow well in poor soil conditions and its attractive, sprawling growth habit, New Zealand spinach is not only a versatile culinary ingredient but also a valuable addition to edible landscapes.

The Parisian carrot is a little round carrot that is a nineteenth-century French heirloom! this carrot variety is an early orange-red carrot that grows almost more like the shape of a large radish. Excels in clay or rocky soil where other carrots have problems developing properly. Its flavor is legendary and is highly sought after by gourmet restaurants.

Red Acre cabbage is simply the best early maturing red cabbage! Red Acre is a fantastic cabbage that produces reddish-purple heads. Each cabbage head grows to 7 inches in diameter and weighs about 3 pounds. Red Acre is resistant to cabbage yellowing and is great for home gardens that have little space. Red Acre cabbage stores better than just about any other early cabbage variety. Great raw or for coleslaw use.

The Danver 126 is a great tasting favorite that is now also available as organic! This carrot was bred for heat resistance and will produce high yields. This carrot has a beautiful bright color with smooth skin. The Danver 126 is perfect for home gardeners and market growers alike.

Often called Early Coreless, this heirloom carrot is prized for its excellent storage ability and wide adaptability in the garden. It produces smooth, cylindrical roots about 7 inches long with rounded ends and vibrant red-orange flesh that is fine-textured and nearly free of a core. The flavor is notably sweet, crisp, and clean, making it enjoyable fresh or cooked. Harvested young, it works beautifully as a baby carrot, and it also performs exceptionally well for freezing and juicing. With origins dating back to the 1850s, this classic variety was developed in France by the renowned seed firm Vilmorin-Andrieux and remains a favorite for its quality and reliability.

Ailsa Craig Exhibition is a large onion that has a unique mildly sweet flavor! This plant produces on the average a huge 5 lb. sweet white onion that has a delicious flavor in many dishes. Impress your neighbors and try growing this World Record sized onion.

The Lincoln Pea is an extra tender variety with a sweet flavor and high yields. This pea variety was introduced just after World War II during the peace time. Lincoln quickly became a popular home garden variety due to its versatility, as it can be eaten fresh, froze or canned. Its pods can reach 4-5" in length and are full of 6-9 sweet, tender peas. Lincoln does well in heat and should have a small pea fence or some sort of support or its vines.

Wando pea seeds are a popular heirloom variety known for their cold tolerance and early harvest. They produce vibrant green, sweet-tasting peas that are perfect for fresh eating, freezing, or cooking. The seeds grow into plants that are typically 18-24 inches tall, making them ideal for small gardens or containers. Wando peas are well-suited for cooler climates, as they can withstand light frosts and thrive in temperatures between 55°F and 75°F. With a quick maturation time of about 60-70 days, they are a great choice for gardeners looking to enjoy peas early in the growing season. Their resilience and ease of growth make them a favorite among both beginner and experienced gardeners.

Chesnok Red garlic is one of the best baking garlic's available! This variety is a fantastic garlic that holds its shape and flavor well when cooked. Its stores well. Chesnok Red is regarded by some as the best all around garlic variety as it has a very beautiful red color.

The Gabriella is a loose leaf lettuce variety that has beautiful deep wine colored leaves. This variety's purple leaves are frilly and sweet -- perfect for adding a pop of color to salads! The Gabriella's leaves are delicious from mesclun size to maturity. This variety is heat resistant and slow bolting.

The Ruby Queen is an excellent canning and fresh eating beet! A perfectly round beet that has a smooth buttery texture that is more tender than any other beet. An early maturing beet, 52 days, that grows well in any soil type throughout the country. Ruby Queen can be grown close because they hold their shape well. They can also be grown larger than most beets and still hold good flavor making it a great market beet. An All American Selection winner!

Buttercrunch lettuce seeds produce a popular variety known for its crisp, tender leaves and sweet, buttery flavor. This heirloom variety features thick, light green leaves that form a loose, rosette shape, making it visually appealing in the garden and on the plate. Buttercrunch lettuce is known for its ability to tolerate heat better than many other lettuces, which allows for extended growing seasons. The leaves are slightly wavy and have a delicate texture, making them perfect for salads, sandwiches, and wraps. They also hold up well in dressings, adding a delightful crunch. When grown from seed, Buttercrunch lettuce typically germinates quickly, with seedlings developing into lush heads in a relatively short time. It thrives in cooler weather, making it an excellent choice for spring and fall gardens. Overall, Buttercrunch lettuce seeds offer a reliable and delicious option for home gardeners seeking to enjoy fresh, homegrown greens!