Zone 9 - What to Plant in September

Zone 9 - What to Plant in September

September is one of the best months to start gardening in Zone 9. You're just past the dog days of summer and the weather is starting to cool down a bit. The typical first frost in Zone 9 is mid December but even then it can be very mild. This allows for easy winter growing of several crops. Below is a list of items that can be planted in zone 9 in September.

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.

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.

The Cimarron is a very beautifully colored romaine lettuce! This tasty lettuce has bright green-red leaves that fade to deep red tips. This romaine type lettuce has good disease and bolt resistance. Cimarron is a favorite among gardeners for its beautiful hue and crispy texture in salad mixes!

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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 Jing Orange Okra is a very tender Asian variety that is known for its breathtaking red-orange hue that is sure to stand out in the garden. This okra is drought tolerant and produces 6-7 inch pods. The Jing Orange is not a canning okra, but it is absolutely delicious in soups, stir fries and stews or fried up.

The Purple Plum is an amazing purple skinned radish with a crisp, mild and sweet white flesh! This unique radish is different from the "typical" radish coloring. This small round shaped radish is early to harvest, which makes it great for home and market growers. Purple Plum is a nice variety to blend with other colors in mixes!

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 Chrystal Batavian Lettuce is known for its beautifully colored leaves! This lettuce's coloring has a bright purplish red contrast on broad green loose leaves. The Chrystal Batavian is a summer crisp type of lettuce.

The Red Burgundy Okra is a deep red variety that produces a tender and delicious pod. This productive burgundy red okra adds a nice crunch, delicious flavor and beautiful color to any soup or stew, especially gumbo!

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.

Triton F1 is well known for its superb taste and texture. This carrot has strong tops that are erect and dark green in color. Its roots are nine to ten inches long and .5-1 inch in diameter. This carrot is medium-orange and quite cylindrical in shape with a semi-blunt tip.

Round blue green 7-8 in. heads, 5-7 lb, standard storage type, does well in mountain areas, will adapt to Northeast, excellent yields, keeps until the late spring, very dependable.

The Oakleaf Lettuce gets its name for having very tender leaves that resemble the white oak leaf. This variety is an old time favorite that tastes great in mixed salads. The Oakleaf is perfect for planting late in the season. This lettuce will stay tasty and non-bitter well into the heat of summer!