July in the Florida Garden: What To Do Right Now Before the Heat Takes Over
July gardening is not for the weak. The heat, the rain, the bugs, the yellow leaves, and the tired plants all show up at the same time, usually in the same week. If your garden looks a little rough right now, you are not alone. Mine has opinions too.
In my newest video, we walk through the whole garden together so you do not give up too soon. What to water. What to stop watering. What to harvest. What to protect from the heat. And the harvest signs to look for on watermelon, sweet potatoes, roselle, cassava, Seminole pumpkin, peanuts, pigeon peas, muscadines, and more.
Watch: July Garden Tips, What To Do Now Before The Heat Takes Over
What you all asked in the comments
The comments on this one made my whole week, so let me answer a few right here.
Can you really eat sweet potato leaves? Yes. Cook them like spinach. One viewer said they taste like spinach with a sweet little aftertaste, and she is right.
Why are my watermelons splitting? That is usually the heavy rain coming in fast after a dry spell. The fruit drinks faster than the skin can stretch. It happens to all of us in a wet July. Harvest close to ready before a big storm if you can.
My peppers and cucumbers are not setting fruit. That is the heat, not you. A lot of crops press pause on fruiting when nights stay hot. Keep the plants alive and shaded, and they will pick back up when things ease.
July is the month of protecting, not pushing
This is the season where we adjust, protect what is still producing, and help the garden make it to the other side of summer. Shade cloth earns its keep this month. I use my Vego covers and beds, and you can grab them here: Vego Garden. Code ROOTEDINJS10OFF gets you $10 off sitewide, and ROOTEDINJS30OFF takes $30 off orders over $400.
Do not let this heat bully you out of your harvest. Watch the video, take one lap around your garden with new eyes, and then come tell me in the comments what is still producing at your house.
You're not a real gardener until you've lost a few. Keep growing.
— Toni