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.

The Red Velvet Lettuce produces very dark maroon to greenish-bronze tinged colored leaves that have a nice chewy texture. This beautifully unique variety is a great choice for mixed salad greens. This lettuce is slow to bolt and will become bitter in the heat.

The Sparkler Radish is a bright scarlet colored radish with a sweet, juicy flesh and snappy flavor. This variety's scarlet skin fades to white on lower 1/3 of its round, to round oval bulb. This radish's medium tops are perfect for both home and market gardens. Sparkler can grow up to 1.5" diameter.

China Express is a chinese cabbage that is a widely-adapted and can be grown throughout. This is a very uniform cabbage with tightly wrapped heads. Medium-sized that are fast maturing.

The White Albino beet plants produce good yields of very sweet white beets. The beets are white and will never stain again! This gourmet beet is ideal for boiling, pickling, baking, and freezing.

The Rudolph Radish is known for being a "cute" smaller variety that has a very deep red hue and a nice uniform globe shape. It is only 1.5 inches round! Rudolph might be tiny, but it is bursting with lots of flavor! These crisp, sweet radishes will give any salad or dish an extra kick.

New 50 day maturing bright green mini cabbage. Excellent uniformity, mild flavor and crispness are true bonuses with this extremely early maturing cabbage. Can be sown directly in Fall gardens or transplanted in Spring.

The Avalanche beet, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris var. conditiva 'Avalanche,' is a popular variety of beetroot that has gained recognition for its exceptional characteristics. Historically, beets have been cultivated for thousands of years, with evidence of their consumption dating back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Greeks. The Avalanche beet is a modern cultivar that has been selectively bred for its unique attributes. Avalanche beets are renowned for their mild, sweet flavor and tender texture. They are typically harvested at a smaller size, around 2-3 inches in diameter, making them ideal for salads, roasting, and pickling. The days to maturity for Avalanche beets range from 45 to 50 days, making them a relatively quick-growing crop. These beets are characterized by their crisp, pure white flesh and skin, giving them their distinctive appearance. They are also known for their resistance to common beet diseases such as Cercospora leaf spot and Rhizoctonia root rot, which can help ensure a healthy yield. When growing Avalanche beets, it's essential to provide them with well-draining, loose soil that is rich in organic matter. They thrive in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Proper spacing is crucial, with rows spaced about 12-18 inches apart and individual beets planted 2-4 inches apart within the rows. Adequate watering is necessary to keep the soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. With the right care and growing conditions, Avalanche beets can yield an abundant harvest of these delightful, mild-flavored, and visually striking vegetables.

The Confetti Mix is a fast maturing, colorful bled of the classic red, white, and bi colored radishes, all with a remarkable flavor! This fun mix is a beautiful addition to any assortment. These classic bright colors are perfect for any market grower or home gardener.

The Champion Radish is slow to become pithy. This radish is an excellent cooler weather variety, especially for short season climates. This bright red, crisp, round radish has large tops and is a good choice for early or late plantings. This highly recommended radish is great for eating fresh, in salads or for garnishes.

Thomas Laxton is an heirloom pea plant that is big and productive. At Urban Farmer we have trialed these a few times and they are always are favorite shelling pea. The peas are always sugary and delicious. This pea variety is named after the famous pea breeder, Thomas Laxton. This old heirloom pea is over a century old and has withstood the test of time. Each pod contains at least 8 peas and often up to 10! Make sure to support the Thomas Laxton's 3' vines with a trellis.

Crunchy Royale is a dark red, round radish ideal for bunching or cello pack. It yields high quality and extremely uniform roots. Overall, Crunchy Royale offers excellent internal and external color and a high pack-out rate for growers.

This cabbage is known for its solid head and excellent flavor. Early Flat Dutch is a big cabbage, it is a good keeper and the standard early season variety. Heads form up to 12 inches and weigh as much as 15 pounds. Early Flat Dutch has an excellent flavor.

China King is a miniature (baby) type of Chinese cabbage. Excellent for planting in close spacing as it has a compact frame. It has barrel-shaped heads with yellow interior color. Early maturing and slow to bolt.

The Mini Greens Blend is a colorful mixture of red and green leaf lettuce varieties that creates a wonderful bright combination. This blend is neither considered a sprout nor true baby leaf lettuce either, these delicious mini greens are somewhere in between! The Mini Greens Blend will give you greens in just 2 weeks from germination to harvest!

The Bistro Blend is a component mixture of loose leaf lettuce and batavian varieties. All the varieties in this blend have been selected for sweet flavor and thick leaves that stand up well in a rough chopped salad. This blend's colors range from red, bronze, dark green and bright green. This Bistro Blend is a garden favorite with production all year long.

The Lunar White is a rare white carrot with high yields! This is a very productive carrot with creamy white roots. The Lunar White has a mild, but delicious flavor with small core.

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 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!