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 Cherry Belle Radish is the earliest maturing, garden standard radish. This variety is a 1949 All-American Winner and there is no wonder why. This radish retains its fine eating quality all season. The Cherry Belle is a round, smooth, scarlet beauty. This radish is 3/4" inches across with a crisp, white flesh that is ideal for garnishes or use in salads.

Merlin is an early to main season short day yellow variety that produces a firm uniform bulb. It also has the Celebrate plant structure to give it an extra boost against stress and make it grower friendly. These qualities help to make it a good fit for a short day program. Disease Ratings: High Tolerance to Pink Root, Fusarium, and Bolting.

Scout is an early to main season intermediate variety and can make a good transition from intermediate to long days. It is a consistent yielder and a uniform producer of jumbo and colossal bulbs and holds up well to mechanical harvest.

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 Green Towers Lettuce is an easy to grow, tasty green leaf lettuce. This lettuce variety offers a mild flavor with an attractive semi-savoyed texture. The Green Towers is a favorite for its adaptability and dense habit! This lettuce will grow great in any climate!

Storage #4 is a great producer of dark green color cabbage that have excellent storage life. This versatile variety also works great in the late fall for fresh market, especially in muddy and rainy conditions. Due to its earliness when used for storage, we recommend later season plantings for best storage results.

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 Olympia is a top-notch smooth leaf hybrid spinach that has a great flavor. This spinach Hybrid has thick and dark green leaves that grow upright. The Olympia is highly recommended for spring, summer, fall and over wintering crops because it resists bolting under high temperatures and long day conditions. Treated seed.

The Santa Fe Lettuce produces a small blanched head that is surrounded by green outer leaves with a tinged bronze-red tip. This variety is a favorite for being extra crunchy!

De Cicco broccoli, known for its exceptional taste, is a popular heirloom variety of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) that hails from Italy. This Italian heirloom has been cultivated for generations, making it a favorite among gardeners and chefs alike. De Cicco broccoli is classified as a compact, semi-dwarf type of broccoli, and it is highly prized for its versatility in the kitchen and its relatively quick maturity. De Cicco broccoli boasts a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a hint of nuttiness. Its tender, dark green florets are surrounded by a profusion of lush leaves. The compact plant typically reaches a height of 18-24 inches, making it suitable for smaller gardens or container growing. De Cicco is known for its relatively short days to maturity, typically taking around 48-65 days from seed sowing to harvest. This broccoli variety is characterized by its vibrant, dark green color, which is indicative of its high nutrient content. De Cicco broccoli exhibits strong disease resistance, particularly against common broccoli ailments like downy mildew and clubroot, which can be a relief for growers. When properly cared for, De Cicco broccoli can yield a bountiful harvest of small to medium-sized heads, often producing side shoots after the main head is harvested. For optimal growth, it's recommended to sow De Cicco broccoli seeds in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, spacing them about 18-24 inches apart to provide enough room for the plants to mature and thrive. Additionally, consistent watering and adequate fertilization can help ensure a successful De Cicco broccoli crop.  

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.

The Culinary Blend contains a tasty mix of yellow, white, and orange carrots. Each variety is suited for both baby root production and cooking. This blend is excellent roasted in the oven. All three varieties are prized for flavor and color.