The Florida Plant Guide
Rooted in J's · Central Florida Zone 10a
A Field Guide for
Florida Gardeners
Vegetables · Herbs · Fruit Trees · Flowers · Native Plants · Soil · Water · Pests · Weather
How to Use This Guide
The first section covers the stuff that applies to all of Florida: climate, soil, water, pests, fertilizing. Read that first, then go straight to your region's month-by-month calendar.
Variety names follow each plant name directly. They're not random picks, every one was chosen for Florida's conditions: heat tolerance, disease resistance, humidity, and how we actually grow here. In Florida, variety choice matters more than technique.
🌱 Beginner Note
If you're new to Florida gardening, read the Climate and Soil sections first, then find your region and today's month. That's your starting point.📚 Experienced Growers
The month-by-month sections include timing nuance, succession notes, and variety comparisons that go well past basic guidance. Flip to your region and look for the deeper notes.Florida's Climate
Before variety selection, before soil prep, before anything else — understand what Florida's climate actually asks of you. It's the single biggest reason that gardening advice written for the rest of the country doesn't work here.
The Three Regions
| Region | Zones | Character |
|---|---|---|
| North Florida | 8a–9a | Four seasons, frost likely Nov–Mar, chill hours available |
| Central Florida | 9a–9b | Mild winters, light frost possible Dec–Feb, long fall season |
| South Florida | 10a–11 | Tropical, frost rare, year-round growing, distinct rainy/dry seasons |
Summer: June–September
The hardest stretch. Temps in the low-to-mid 90s, humidity that makes it feel worse, and afternoon thunderstorms rolling in almost daily. The experienced Florida gardener plans around summer, not through it. Summer is for heat-tolerant crops, mulching, soil building, and patience.
🌱 Beginner Note
If your garden is struggling in summer, that's completely normal. Knock it back to just okra, sweet potatoes, and southern peas. Mulch everything else 4 inches deep and look forward to October.Hurricane Season: June 1 – November 30
Harvest anything ripe as soon as a storm enters the forecast. Don't fertilize in the two weeks before a predicted storm. Stake tall plants before the season. Move containers indoors or lay them on their sides. After the storm, wait two to three weeks before replanting into waterlogged soil.
Winter Freezes: The New Reality
The winters of 2022, 2023, and 2024 brought freezes well outside historical norms. Keep frost cloth within reach from November through March, regardless of your region.
🌡️ Weather Note
Cover plants before sunset on freeze nights, not after the temperature drops. Wet the soil around vulnerable plants the evening before — moist soil holds heat significantly better than dry.Minimum Safe Temperatures
| Plant | Minimum Safe Temp |
|---|---|
| Citrus (mature) | 26°F briefly |
| Satsuma / Kumquat | 20°F |
| Avocado (Lula, Brogdon) | 28°F |
| Mango (most varieties) | 32°F |
| Banana (above-ground) | 26°F — top dies, roots usually survive |
| Papaya | 32°F — very sensitive |
| Basil | 50°F — damage starts here |
| Tomatoes | 32°F |
| Collards / Kale | 20°F — frost actually improves flavor |
Soil
Florida soil is mostly fine sand. It drains fast, warms quickly, and is easy to work. What it lacks is organic matter, nutrient-holding capacity, and structure. Plants in unamended Florida sand will look perpetually hungry no matter how much fertilizer you add — the nutrients wash straight through.
🌱 Beginner Note
Do one thing before your first season: mix three to four inches of compost into your beds and work it in eight inches deep. That single step addresses most of Florida's soil problems.Building Soil Over Time
The goal over multiple seasons is to push organic matter from Florida's typical 1% or less up to 4–5%. Tools: compost before each season, wood chip mulch on top of beds, and occasional cover crops between seasons.
Cover crops worth using in Florida: Sunn hemp (summer, fixes nitrogen), cowpeas (summer, edible and soil-building), crimson clover (winter, nitrogen-fixing, cold tolerant in North FL). Cut and drop at flowering — don't let them set seed.
📚 Experienced Growers
Test pH every season. To lower pH in South Florida, apply elemental sulfur in fall and retest in spring. For iron deficiency on alkaline soils, use chelated iron — not iron sulfate — it's the only form that absorbs properly at high pH.Water
Florida gets 50 to 60 inches of rain per year — but sandy soil drains it within hours, and the dry season (November through April) can go weeks without meaningful rainfall. You cannot assume rain is watering your garden.
How to Water
Water in the morning, always. Evening watering leaves foliage wet overnight — open invitation to fungal disease. Water deeply and less frequently. The best test: stick a finger an inch or two into the soil before you turn on the hose. Still moist? Skip it.
📚 Experienced Growers
Drip irrigation with a timer and rain sensor cuts water use by 30–50% compared to overhead sprinklers, eliminates wet foliage, and delivers water right to the root zone.Four inches of wood chips or pine straw cuts your watering frequency in half, keeps roots from cooking in August, and builds your soil as it breaks down.
Pests & Disease
Florida's warmth means pests and pathogens never get a hard winter reset. Walk your garden weekly, turn leaves over, look for frass and stippling and slime trails — combined with the gentlest effective treatment.
Common Pests
Pest · Year-round
Whiteflies
Florida's most universal garden pest. Yellow sticky traps help with monitoring. Neem oil (applied early morning) suppresses them. Reflective silver mulch physically confuses them.
Pest · Warm weather
Aphids
Cluster on tender new growth. Knock off with a hard water spray, then follow with neem oil. Attract or release ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps — your best long-term allies.
Pest · Hard to spray
Leaf-Footed Bugs & Stink Bugs
Hand-pick into soapy water in early morning when sluggish. Row covers on young plants prevent infestation.
Pest · Caterpillar
Tomato Hornworm
A massive green caterpillar that can strip a plant overnight. Hand-pick; apply Bt at first sign. Don't kill a hornworm covered in white cocoons — those are parasitic wasp eggs doing the work for you.
Pest · Soil
Root-Knot Nematodes
Nearly universal in Florida sandy soil. Stunted plants, knobby swollen roots. Rotate crops every season. Dense French marigolds as a cover crop measurably suppress nematode populations.
Pest · Hot dry weather
Spider Mites
Fine webbing and stippled bronze leaves. Increase humidity, apply neem oil. Avoid miticides early — they kill the predatory mites that would control the problem naturally.
Fungal & Disease Problems
Fungal
Powdery Mildew
White powder on leaves. Improve airflow. Avoid overhead watering. Apply potassium bicarbonate or neem oil at first sign.
Fungal · Tomatoes
Early & Late Blight
Brown spots and yellowing, working up from lower leaves. Remove affected leaves immediately. Apply copper fungicide. Choose resistant varieties.
Disease · Citrus
Citrus Greening (HLB)
Mottled yellow leaves and lopsided bitter fruit. Incurable, spreads by Asian citrus psyllid. Control the psyllid aggressively.
Fungal · Tropical Fruit
Anthracnose
Black spots on mango and avocado during rainy season. Apply copper fungicide preventatively before the rains arrive in May. By the time you see symptoms, it's too late.
Fertilizing
Florida's sandy soils drain nutrients fast. Light, frequent applications work better than one heavy feeding. Split your annual fertilizer budget into three or four applications through the growing season.
| Plant Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Vegetables | Balanced 10-10-10 or 6-6-6 every 4–6 weeks. Side-dress with blood meal mid-season for nitrogen boost on heavy feeders. |
| Tomatoes & Peppers | Low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus starter at transplant (5-10-5). Switch to balanced or high-potassium once fruiting. Calcium foliar spray prevents blossom-end rot. |
| Citrus | Citrus blend with full micronutrients (8-4-8 typical). Apply February, June, October. Never fertilize after September in North FL. |
| Mango & Avocado | 6-6-6 plus micronutrients. February, June, October. Back off nitrogen once trees mature — too much suppresses flowering. |
| Blueberries | Acid-specific fertilizer (ammonium sulfate or azalea blend). Light in early spring, skip summer, apply again in early fall. Sensitive to overfeeding. |
| Native Plants | None after the first season. Over-fertilizing produces lush, pest-prone growth. |
| South FL Alkaline Soil | Supplement with chelated iron and micronutrient blend regardless of NPK levels. Alkalinity locks out trace elements. |
Month-by-Month Planting Calendar
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Cool Season — Sow & Transplant
🥦 Vegetables
SOWKale
Lacinato, Red Russian, Winterbor
Frost sweetens the flavor
SOWCollards
Georgia Southern, Vates, Flash Hybrid
Most reliable N. FL winter green
SOWMustard Greens
Florida Broadleaf, Southern Giant Curled, Tendergreen
Fast, frost tolerant
SOWSpinach
Melody, Tyee, Bloomsdale Long Standing
Needs cool soil, direct sow
SOWSwiss Chard
Rainbow, Bright Lights, Fordhook Giant
SOWBeets
Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia, Bull's Blood, Golden
Thin to 3 inches apart
SOWCarrots
Nantes, Chantenay, Scarlet Nantes, Cosmic Purple
Loose soil essential
SOWRadishes
Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Daikon
Ready in 25 days
SOWTurnips
Purple Top White Globe, Hakurei, Tokyo Market
Hakurei eaten raw
SOWArugula
Astro, Rocket, Sylvetta
TRANSPLANTBroccoli
Waltham 29, Green Comet, Belstar, Di Cicco
Di Cicco side-shoots for weeks
TRANSPLANTCauliflower
Snow Crown, Cheddar, Graffiti, Amazing
Tie leaves to blanch white types
TRANSPLANTCabbage
Copenhagen Market, Stonehead, Savoy Ace
SOWPeas
Sugar Snap, Wando, Green Arrow, Little Marvel
Provide trellis
TRANSPLANTOnion
Granex, Yellow Granex, Red Burgundy
Short-day types only in FL
SOWGarlic
Creole Red, Ajo Rojo, Inchelium Red
Plant 2 in. deep, 6 in. apart
🌿 Herbs
SOWCilantro
Slow Bolt, Santo, Calypso
Succession sow every 3 weeks
SOWParsley
Giant of Italy, Moss Curled
Slow germinator, worth the wait
SOWDill
Fernleaf, Bouquet, Dukat
🌴 Fruit Trees
PLANTPeaches
TropicBeauty, UFSun, Flordaprince, Tropic Snow
Best planting month of the year
PLANTBlueberries (Rabbiteye)
Climax, Premier, Tifblue, Brightwell
2 varieties for cross-pollination
PLANTFig
Brown Turkey, Celeste, LSU Purple, Alma
PLANTCitrus
Satsuma (Owari), Meyer Lemon, Kumquat
Plant against south-facing wall
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Full Cool-Season Production
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
Heatmaster, BHN 602, Solar Fire, Celebrity
Start indoors mid-Jan for Feb transplant
START INDOORSPeppers
Cubanelle, Aji Dulce, King Arthur, Datil
8 weeks to transplant size
SOWLettuce
Jericho, Buttercrunch, Nevada, Muir, Oakleaf
Jericho most heat tolerant
SOWKale & Collards
Lacinato, Vates, Red Russian, Redbor
SOWSpinach
Melody, Tyee, Bloomsdale
SOWBeets
Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia, Bull's Blood
SOWCarrots
Nantes, Chantenay, Cosmic Purple, Solar Yellow
TRANSPLANTBroccoli
Belstar, Waltham 29, Arcadia
Arcadia good for warmer climates
TRANSPLANTCauliflower
Snow Crown, Attribute, Cheddar
Attribute resists downy mildew
SOWPeas
Sugar Snap, Wando, Oregon Sugar Pod II
TRANSPLANTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival, Sweet Charlie, Florida Radiance
Harvest Feb through April
🌿 Herbs
SOWCilantro
Slow Bolt, Calypso
🌴 Fruit Trees
PLANTCitrus
Meyer Lemon, Orlando Tangelo, Hamlin Orange, Blood Orange (Moro)
Oct–Feb is ideal planting window
PLANTBlueberries (S. Highbush)
Emerald, Jewel, Star, Springhigh
Plant 2 varieties together
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHFreeze Risk
Keep frost cloth ready for mango, papaya, basil.
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Prime Dry Season — Plant Everything
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
BHN 602, Heatmaster, Tycoon, Juliet, Sungold, Mortgage Lifter
Harvest window Dec–March
TRANSPLANTPeppers
Aji Dulce, Cubanelle, Scotch Bonnet, Rocoto, Fish Pepper
Aji Dulce essential for Caribbean cooking
TRANSPLANTEggplant
Ping Tung Long, Thai Long Green, Rosa Bianca
SOWBeans
Yard-long: Red Noodle, Green Noodle; Bush: Provider, Dragon Tongue
SOWCucumbers
Marketmore 76, Dasher II, Armenian, Yard Long
SOWLettuce
Jericho, Summer Crisp, Buttercrunch, Lollo Rossa
SOWBeets & Carrots
Detroit Dark Red, Chantenay, Chioggia
Short-rooted types for raised beds
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival, Camarosa
Peak harvest Jan–Feb
ONGOINGMoringa
M. oleifera
Harvest young leaves continuously
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHFreeze Risk
Jan freeze nights possible. Frost cloth ready for mango, papaya, basil.
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Direct Sow + Start Indoors for March
🥦 Vegetables
SOWAll January cool-season crops
Window closing for slow crops like cauliflower
SOWLettuce
Buttercrunch, Black-Seeded Simpson, Oakleaf, Jericho, Muir
Jericho most bolt-resistant as spring nears
SOWKohlrabi
Early White Vienna, Purple Vienna, Kossak
SOWBok Choy
Joi Choi, Pak Choi, Toy Choi
Fast maturing, tolerates light frost
SOWFava Beans
Aquadulce, Sweet Lorane, Windsor
Cool weather only — harvest April
PLANTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival, Camarosa
Harvest May–June
PLANTIrish Potatoes
Red LaSoda, LaChipper, Yukon Gold
4 in. deep; harvest late May
START INDOORSTomatoes (for March transplant)
Celebrity, Solar Fire, Heatmaster, Sungold, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Better Boy, Juliet
6–8 weeks before transplant date
START INDOORSPeppers, sweet
King Arthur, Cubanelle, Jimmy Nardello, Shishito, Lunch Box
8–10 weeks to transplant size
START INDOORSPeppers, hot
Cayenne, Jalapeño, Serrano, Datil, Habanero, Tabasco
Datil is St. Augustine's native pepper
START INDOORSEggplant
Black Beauty, Ichiban, Fairy Tale, Listada de Gandia
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Start Indoors + Direct Sow Warm Crops
🥦 Vegetables
START INDOORSTomatoes (indoors)
Heatmaster, Solar Fire, BHN 602, Tycoon, Brandywine, Sweet 100, Sungold
6 weeks before late-March transplant
START INDOORSPeppers (indoors)
Jimmy Nardello, Pimento, Cubanelle, Paprika, Aji Dulce, Datil
Jimmy Nardello has extraordinary flavor
START INDOORSEggplant (indoors)
Fairy Tale, Hansel, Ichiban, Rosa Bianca
SOWCucumbers
Straight Eight, Dasher II, Marketmore 76, Lemon Cucumber
SOWBeans (bush & pole)
Provider, Blue Lake 274, Dragon Tongue, Henderson's Lima
Provider best disease resistance for FL
SOWSummer Squash
Black Beauty, Costata Romanesco, Saffron, Sunburst patty pan
SOWKohlrabi
Kossak, Purple Vienna
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTBroccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage
Side-shoot broccoli after main head
HARVESTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival
February is peak harvest month
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Peak Dry Season Production
🥦 Vegetables
SOWBeans
Provider, Contender, Yard-long Red Noodle, Wing Bean, Hyacinth Bean
Wing Bean is a perennial tropical legume
SOWCalabaza Squash
Seminole Pumpkin, Bonita Hybrid, Cuban Calabaza
Year-round in South FL
SOWBitter Melon
Chinese White (milder), Indian (deeply ridged)
Harvest young for mildest flavor
SOWChayote
White-skinned or green-skinned
Plant the whole fruit. All parts edible.
SOWLeafy Greens
Taiwanese A-choy, Okinawan spinach, Malabar spinach
Heat-tolerant alternatives to lettuce
🌿 Herbs
SOWCulantro
Eryngium foetidum
Perennial cilantro substitute, grows in shade
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTAvocados
Monroe, Booth 7 (depending on variety timing)
HARVESTCarambola
Arkin, Kary, Sri Kembangan
Peak season through February
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Transplant Outdoors After Last Frost (Mid-March)
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
Celebrity, Heatmaster, Better Boy, Mortgage Lifter, Sungold, Sweet 100, Juliet, Black Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine
Bury 2/3 of stem; cage or stake at planting
TRANSPLANTPeppers, sweet
King Arthur, Jimmy Nardello, Shishito, California Wonder, Cubanelle, Lunch Box
Shishito extremely productive in FL
TRANSPLANTPeppers, hot
Jalapeño (Early, Mucho Nacho), Cayenne, Datil, Habanero, Serrano, Tabasco
TRANSPLANTEggplant
Fairy Tale, Ichiban, Listada de Gandia, Black Beauty
18–24 in. apart; mulch heavily
SOWCucumbers
Straight Eight, Marketmore 76, Dasher II, Lemon Cucumber, Armenian
Trellis for air circulation
SOWSummer Squash
Black Beauty zucchini, Costata Romanesco, Saffron, Sunburst
50 days seed to harvest
SOWBeans, bush
Blue Lake 274, Provider, Contender, Dragon Tongue
SOWBeans, pole
Kentucky Wonder, Rattlesnake Pole, Yard Long (Red Noodle)
Pole types produce far longer
SOWWinter Squash
Butternut, Seminole Pumpkin, Delicata, Spaghetti
Seminole Pumpkin is a FL native variety
SOWWatermelon
Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby, Jubilee, Orangeglo, Yellow Doll
SOWCantaloupe
Athena, Hales Best Jumbo, Edisto 47
Edisto 47 bred for southeastern humidity
🌿 Herbs
SOWBasil
Genovese, Nufar, Thai (Siam Queen), African Blue, Holy Basil
Nufar resists fusarium wilt common in FL soil
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Transplant & Sow Warm-Season Crops
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
Heatmaster, Solar Fire, BHN 602, Tycoon, Sungold, Sweet 100, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple
Fall tomatoes often outperform spring
TRANSPLANTPeppers
All varieties — sweet and hot
Central FL spring excellent for peppers
TRANSPLANTEggplant
Ping Tung Long, Fairy Tale, Hansel, Rosa Bianca
SOWCucumbers
Marketmore 76, Tasty Jade, Straight Eight, National Pickling
SOWWatermelon
Crimson Sweet, Sugar Baby, Mickeylee, Black Diamond
Mickeylee is a Central FL favorite
SOWBeans
Provider, Blue Lake, Dragon Tongue, Henderson's Lima
🌿 Herbs
SOWBasil
Nufar, Genovese, Italian Large Leaf, Red Rubin, Thai, Holy Basil
PLANTLemongrass
East Indian, West Indian
Perennial in Central FL once established
PLANTCuban Oregano
Plectranthus amboinicus
Stronger than Mediterranean oregano, loves heat
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Transition to Warm Season
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes (last window)
Heatmaster, Solar Fire, BHN 602 — heat-set only
March planting produces through May
SOWOkra
Clemson Spineless, Cajun Delight, Jing Orange, Burgundy Red
Begin now, harvest through November
PLANTSweet Potatoes
Beauregard, Boniato, Purple Okinawan, Murasaki, Japanese
Year-round crop; plant slips or cuttings
PLANTRoselle (FL Cranberry)
Victor, Thai variety
Calyxes ripen Oct–Nov for hibiscus tea
SOWCalabaza, Yard-long Beans
Seminole Pumpkin; Red Noodle, Green Noodle
🌿 Herbs
PLANTTurmeric
Common turmeric (Curcuma longa), White turmeric
Plant rhizomes; harvest fall
PLANTGinger
Culinary ginger, Blue Hawaiian, Galangal
Galangal perennial in South FL
PLANTHoly Basil
Kaprao (Thai holy basil)
Year-round in South FL; essential for Thai cooking
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTLychee (late varieties)
Brewster, Mauritius
Depending on variety and year
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Plant Now — Spring in Full Swing
🥦 Vegetables
SOWSweet Corn
Silver Queen, Peaches and Cream, Honey Select, Florida Staysweet
Plant in blocks of 4+ rows for pollination
SOWOkra
Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Star of David, Jing Orange, Bowling Red
Direct sow only — roots resent transplanting
PLANTSweet Potatoes
Beauregard, Covington, Garnet, O'Henry, Stokes Purple, Murasaki
Plant slips 12 in. apart
SOWLuffa
Smooth luffa, Angled luffa (better eating)
Strong trellis needed; harvest young for food
SOWSouthern Peas
Pinkeye Purple Hull, Black-Eyed Pea, Zipper Cream, Cream Pea, Whippoorwill
FL's most underrated summer crop
SOWMalabar Spinach
Green stem, Red stem
Best summer spinach substitute
🌿 Herbs
SOWMoringa
Moringa oleifera
Grows 10–15 ft in one FL season
🌸 Flowers
PLANTZinnias
Zahara, Benary's Giant, Profusion, Magellan
Zahara and Profusion best disease resistance
PLANTMarigolds
French: Disco, Safari; African: Crackerjack, Perfection
French types suppress nematodes
PLANTPentas
Graffiti, New Look, Starcluster, Butterfly series
Will bloom through frost
PLANTFirebush
Hamelia patens (native species only)
Hummingbirds arrive immediately
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Warm Season in Full Swing
🥦 Vegetables
SOWOkra
Cajun Delight, Clemson Spineless, Emerald, Star of David
Cajun Delight matures 5 days faster
SOWSweet Corn
Silver Queen, Peaches and Cream, Honey Select
Two plantings 2 weeks apart
PLANTSweet Potatoes
Beauregard, Covington, Porto Rico, Stokes Purple
Porto Rico is compact vine for small spaces
SOWSouthern Peas
Pinkeye Purple Hull, White Acre, Zipper Cream
White Acre sweetest for fresh eating
SOWLuffa
Smooth and angled types
SOWCalabaza Squash
Seminole Pumpkin, Bonita
SOWEdamame
Envy, Midori Giant, BeSweet 292
90-day crop; harvest July
🌸 Flowers
PLANTPentas, Firebush, Zinnias
Peak planting window for summer color
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Deep Into Warm Season
🥦 Vegetables
ONGOINGOkra
All varieties
Harvest every 2 days or pods toughen
SOWEdamame
Envy, BeSweet 292
ONGOINGYard-long Beans
Red Noodle, Green Noodle, Purple Podded
One of the most productive summer crops
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTMango (early varieties)
Haden (early), Gary, Dot
Haden typically first to ripen in S. FL
HARVESTAvocado
Simmonds, Pollock (summer types)
Summer West Indian varieties ripen now
HARVESTLychee
Brewster, Mauritius, Kaimana
Short window — harvest promptly
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Summer Crops Only
🥦 Vegetables
SOWOkra (last planting)
Clemson Spineless, Emerald
Last good window for productive planting
SOWSouthern Peas
Any variety
Plant every 3 weeks through August — most reliable summer crop
SOWCalabaza
Seminole Pumpkin, Bonita
SOWEdamame
Envy, Midori Giant
Harvest late July
🌸 Flowers
PLANTBeautyberry
Callicarpa americana (native)
Purple berries by fall
PLANTPortulaca
Happy Hour Mix, Sundial, Mojave
Thrives in FL's sandy hot spots
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTStrawberries (end of season)
Remove plants in summer; replant fall
HARVESTSpring Tomatoes & Peppers
Pick everything before heat collapses plants
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Summer Transition
🥦 Vegetables
SOWOkra
Cajun Delight, Emerald, Jing Orange
PLANTSweet Potatoes
Beauregard, Porto Rico, Murasaki
SOWSouthern Peas (succession)
Pinkeye Purple Hull, White Acre
Succession plant every 3 weeks
PLANTRoselle
Victor, Thai variety
Harvest calyxes Oct–Nov
🌿 Herbs
PLANTLemongrass, Cuban Oregano
Summer herbs that thrive now
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTSpring Tomatoes (last)
Pick all fruit before heat ends production
HARVESTPeaches (if planted)
TropicBeauty, UFSun
Short window — harvest daily when ripe
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Rainy Season Begins
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHHurricane Season Opens June 1
Review storm prep now. Stake tall plants.
🧺 Harvest
ONGOINGMango Harvest Peak
Carrie, Cogshall, Lemon Zest, Pickering, Angie
Main harvest season May–Aug by variety
HARVESTLongan
Kohala, Biew Kiew
Harvest May–August
🥦 Vegetables
SOWHeat Crops
Okra, calabaza, yard-long beans, bitter melon
Ongoing through rainy season
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Limited Planting
🥦 Vegetables
SOWSouthern Peas (succession)
Pinkeye Purple Hull, Iron & Clay, Cream Pea
Succession sow every 3 weeks through August
PLANTSweet Potatoes (late)
Beauregard, Covington
Late June slips still produce by October
PLANTSuperhot Peppers
Ghost Pepper, Scorpion, Carolina Reaper
Long hot summer is exactly what they want
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTOkra
Harvest every 2 days — pods toughen fast
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHHurricane Season
Open June 1. Stake plants, keep containers movable.
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Maintenance Month
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTOkra, Sweet Potatoes, Southern Peas
These carry you through summer
🥦 Vegetables
SOWSouthern Peas (succession)
White Acre, Zipper Cream, Pinkeye Purple Hull
Every 3 weeks
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHFungal Disease Pressure Peaks
Alternate copper and neem oil every 10 days on susceptible plants
WATCHHurricane Season Opens
Tampa Bay area: review storm prep
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Full Rainy Season
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTMango (main season)
Cogshall, Lemon Zest, Pickering, Angie, NDM
Stagger harvests by variety; freeze excess
HARVESTAvocado
Choquette, Booth 7
ONGOINGOkra, Calabaza, Yard-long Beans
Primary food garden crops now
🌿 Herbs
ONGOINGTropical Herbs
Lemongrass, turmeric, ginger, holy basil, culantro
All growing strongly now
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHAnthracnose on Mango
Copper fungicide preventatively. Too late to apply reactively.
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Minimal Planting
🥦 Vegetables
SOWSouthern Peas (succession)
Any variety
Only vegetable that genuinely thrives with no complaint in July
PLANTSweet Potatoes (last window)
Beauregard, Covington
Early July only; smaller yield from short window
SOWSunflowers
Soraya, Valentine, Pro-Cut Bicolor
50-day types bloom in late August
🌸 Flowers
PLANTGomphrena
QIS Mix, Fireworks, Buddy series
Blooms nonstop July through frost
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTOkra, Southern Peas
Daily harvest keeps production going
MAINTAINMulch All Beds
4 inches; reapply if thin. Keeps roots from cooking.
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Hold Steady
🥦 Vegetables
SOWSouthern Peas (succession)
Any variety
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTOkra, Sweet Potatoes, Calabaza
MAINTAINMulch, Water, Watch for Pests
Spider mites surge in heat and drought
🌸 Flowers
PLANTGomphrena, Portulaca
Heat-tolerant ornamentals only
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Rainy Season Full Force
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTMango (mid-season)
Haden, Tommy Atkins, Keitt (August)
Keitt is one of the last FL mangoes to ripen
HARVESTCarambola, Jackfruit (begins)
Arkin; Black Gold, Cheena
ONGOINGMoringa, Yard-long Beans, Okra
Most productive now
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHFungal Disease
Wet season peak. Remove diseased foliage. Improve airflow.
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Start Indoors Mid-August for Fall
🥦 Vegetables
START INDOORSTomatoes
Celebrity, Heatmaster, Solar Fire, Sweet 100, Juliet, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Sungold
Fall tomatoes often most productive of the year
START INDOORSPeppers
All sweet and hot varieties
Established spring plants can be cut hard and will regrow
START INDOORSEggplant
Fairy Tale, Ichiban, Listada de Gandia
SOWBush Beans (late Aug)
Provider, Blue Lake 274, Contender
Late Aug sow produces in October as temps drop
SOWCucumbers
Marketmore 76, Dasher II, Spacemaster
SOWSummer Squash
Black Beauty, Costata Romanesco
Quick crop before fall proper
SOWSouthern Peas (last)
Pinkeye Purple Hull
Last succession planting
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Begin Fall Prep
🥦 Vegetables
START INDOORSTomatoes (indoors)
Heatmaster, BHN 602, Tycoon, Sungold, Brandywine, Juliet
Transplant September
START INDOORSPeppers, Eggplant (indoors)
All varieties
SOWBeans, Cucumbers
Provider; Marketmore 76
Late August for October harvest
🧺 Harvest
MAINTAINSummer Crops
Okra, sweet potatoes ongoing
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Late Rainy Season
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTKeitt Mango (last of season)
Keitt, Nam Doc Mai
Some years Keitt bears into September
HARVESTCarambola
Arkin, Kary
Production increases Aug–Feb
HARVESTJackfruit
Black Gold, Cheena, J33
Harvest when spines soften and it gives slightly
🥦 Vegetables
PLANPlan Dry Season Beds
Amend raised beds with compost now; plant in October
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHHurricane Peak Season
August–October is peak. Keep nothing unprotected.
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Transplant to Garden
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
Celebrity, Heatmaster, Better Boy, Juliet, Sungold, Sweet 100, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, Mortgage Lifter
Mulch heavily; plant deep
TRANSPLANTPeppers
Banana (Sweet Banana, Hungarian Wax), Paprika (Alma), Shishito, all hot types
Peppers outlast tomatoes into December
TRANSPLANTEggplant
Fairy Tale, Ichiban, Listada de Gandia
SOWBeans (bush & pole)
Provider, Blue Lake, Contender, Henderson's Lima, Fordhook 242 Lima
September beans produce beautifully through October
SOWCucumbers
Marketmore 76, Poinsett 76, Lemon Cucumber
Poinsett 76 bred for southeastern conditions
SOWSummer Squash
All types
Best fall squash window
SOWOkra (final)
Clemson Spineless
Short fall window; October harvest
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Peak Fall Planting Window
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
Heatmaster, BHN 602, Tycoon, Celebrity, Sungold, Sweet 100, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple
September fall tomatoes are often spectacular
TRANSPLANTPeppers & Eggplant
All varieties
Long production window ahead
SOWCucumbers, Beans, Squash
Marketmore 76; Provider; Black Beauty
SOWWatermelon (bush types)
Sugar Baby, Icebox types
Short-season varieties only for Sept start
PLANTStrawberries (begin)
Chandler, Festival, Florida Radiance
Early September for longest harvest window
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Dry Season Approaches
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
BHN 602, Heatmaster, Tycoon, Juliet, Sungold, Champagne Bubbles
October is better, but Sept works for heat-set types
SOWOkra, Calabaza, Yard-long Beans
Continue summer crops into fall
🌴 Fruit Trees
PLANTFruit Trees
Avocado, carambola, sapodilla, jackfruit
Rainy season helps establishment
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTRoselle Calyxes Begin
Victor, Thai variety
Harvest when calyxes are bright red and plump
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Full Planting Season — Plant Everything Now
🥦 Vegetables
SOWBroccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage
Waltham 29, Di Cicco, Belstar; Snow Crown, Cheddar, Graffiti; Stonehead, Savoy Ace, January King
Di Cicco broccoli side-shoots for weeks
SOWKale
Lacinato, Winterbor, Red Russian, Redbor, Prizm
SOWCollards
Georgia Southern, Vates, Flash Hybrid, Morris Heading
SOWSpinach
Melody, Tyee, Bloomsdale Long Standing, Spargo
SOWLettuce (head)
Buttercrunch, Ermosa, Jericho, Nevada, Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb perfect for containers
SOWLettuce (loose leaf)
Black-Seeded Simpson, Oakleaf, Red Sails, Salad Bowl, Bronze Mignonette
SOWSwiss Chard
Rainbow, Bright Lights, Peppermint
SOWBeets
Detroit Dark Red, Chioggia, Golden, Bull's Blood
SOWCarrots
Nantes, Chantenay Red Core, Cosmic Purple, Solar Yellow, Dragon
SOWTurnips
Hakurei, Tokyo Market, Purple Top, Just Right
Hakurei & Tokyo eaten raw
SOWRadishes
Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Watermelon, Daikon
PLANTOnion Transplants
Granex, Yellow Granex, Red Burgundy, White Granex
PLANTGarlic
Creole Red, Ajo Rojo, Inchelium Red, Artichoke types
Plant cloves 2 in. deep, 6 in. apart
PLANTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival, Camarosa, Treasure
🌿 Herbs
SOWCilantro, Parsley, Dill
Slow Bolt; Giant of Italy; Fernleaf
Main cool-season herb window
🌸 Flowers
PLANTSnapdragons
Rocket Mix, Madame Butterfly, Potomac, Twinny
Madame Butterfly open-faced, unique look
PLANTPansies & Violas
Delta Mix, Matrix, Sorbet, Penny (viola — most heat tolerant)
PLANTLarkspur
Giant Imperial Mix, Fancy Mix, Frosted Skies
Direct sow only; blooms spring
PLANTDianthus, Alyssum
Telstar; Easter Bonnet
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Prime Cool-Season Planting — Equivalent of Spring Elsewhere
🥦 Vegetables
SOWAll Brassicas
Broccoli: Belstar, Arcadia; Cauliflower: Attribute, Snow Crown; Cabbage: Stonehead, Rio Verde
Warm-tolerant varieties matter more here than N. FL
SOWAll Greens
Kale (Lacinato), Spinach (Tyee), Lettuce (Jericho, Buttercrunch), Chard (Rainbow), Arugula
SOWRoot Crops
Beets (Chioggia, Bull's Blood), Carrots (Nantes, Cosmic Purple), Radishes, Turnips (Hakurei)
PLANTOnions, Garlic
Granex, Texas Grano 1015; Creole Red, Ajo Rojo
Texas Grano 1015 mild enough to eat raw
PLANTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival, Sweet Charlie, Florida Radiance
Harvest Dec–March
SOWPeas
Sugar Snap, Wando, Oregon Sugar Pod II
🌸 Flowers
PLANTSnapdragons, Pansies, Petunias
Rocket; Penny violas; Wave, Supertunia
Peak cool-season flower planting window
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Dry Season Begins — Prime Planting
🥦 Vegetables
TRANSPLANTTomatoes
BHN 602, Tycoon, Heatmaster, Juliet, Sweet 100, Sungold, Mortgage Lifter, Yellow Pear
October is the ideal tomato planting month in South FL
TRANSPLANTPeppers
Aji Dulce, Cubanelle, Scotch Bonnet, Datil, Habanero, Rocoto
SOWBeans
Provider, Dragon Tongue, Yard-long, Wing Bean, Hyacinth Bean
SOWCucumbers, Calabaza
Marketmore 76, Armenian; Seminole Pumpkin
SOWGreens
Jericho lettuce, A-choy, Okinawan spinach, arugula, Swiss chard
SOWRoot Crops (raised beds)
Chantenay carrots, Chioggia beets, Daikon
Raised beds essential over marl/rock
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTRoselle Calyxes
Victor, Thai variety
Harvest when plump and bright red
🌴 Fruit Trees
PLANTFruit Trees
Mango, avocado, lychee, longan, jackfruit
Oct–Feb is best planting window statewide
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Plant Now — Earlier is Better
🥦 Vegetables
SOWAll cool-season crops
Window still open for fast crops like greens
Earlier is better for cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage
PLANTGarlic, Shallots
Creole Red, Ajo Rojo; French Red, Ambition Hybrid
SOWFava Beans
Aquadulce, Sweet Lorane, Windsor
Harvest March
PLANTStrawberries
Chandler, Camarosa, Festival
Nov planting for Dec–April production
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHFreeze Prep
Bananas: mulch base, wrap stems. Citrus: cover young trees if <28°F. Basil: harvest and make pesto before first frost.
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Cool Season Peak Production
🥦 Vegetables
ONGOINGAll October crops
Still planting; broccoli and cauliflower most time-sensitive
PLANTGarlic
Creole Red, Ajo Rojo
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTFall Tomatoes & Peppers
First harvest of fall crops
🌸 Flowers
PLANTPetunias, Snapdragons, Pansies
Wave; Rocket, Madame Butterfly; Penny violas
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHLight Frost Possible Inland
Lakeland and north: cover papaya, basil, tropical herbs on freeze nights
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Dry Season Production
🥦 Vegetables
ONGOINGAll October crops
Continue planting vegetables from October list
PLANTStrawberries
Chandler, Festival, Camarosa
November planting for Feb–March harvest
🌸 Flowers
PLANTSnapdragons, Pansies, Zinnias
Rocket; Penny violas; Zahara
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTMamey Sapote Begins
Magaña, Pantin
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHUnexpected Cold Possible
Keep frost cloth ready. 2022 showed South FL is not freeze-proof.
North Florida
Zones 8a–9a · Still Plant + Major Harvest
🥦 Vegetables
PLANTOnion Transplants
Granex, Yellow Granex, White Lisbon (green onions)
Through December for spring harvest
PLANTGarlic
All varieties
December planting fine
SOWCool-Season Greens
Kale, collards, mustard, turnip greens
Direct sow viable early December
SOWPeas
Wando, Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugar Pod II
Last planting window before hard winter
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTLoquat Begins
Big Jim, Champagne, Gold Nugget
One of the few fruits ripening in December
HARVESTSatsuma Mandarin
Owari, Brown Select
Peak harvest month
HARVESTAll Winter Vegetables
Kale, collards, broccoli, carrots, beets, lettuce
At peak flavor in cool weather
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHHard Freeze Risk
Frost cloth ready at all times. Protect citrus, bananas, any tropical plants left outdoors.
Central Florida
Zones 9a–9b · Cool Season in Full Production
🥦 Vegetables
PLANTOnion, Garlic
Short-day onions; Creole Red garlic
Through December
SOWFava Beans
Aquadulce, Sweet Lorane
Excellent winter crop
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTStrawberries Begin
Chandler, Festival
First berries from October/November planting
HARVESTTomatoes, Peppers
Fall planting peak production window
HARVESTAll Brassicas, Greens, Root Crops
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHFreeze Nights Possible Dec–Feb
Lakeland to Ocala: cover papaya, basil. Young citrus protect at 28°F.
South Florida
Zones 10a–11 · Peak Dry Season
🥦 Vegetables
SOWContinue All Oct/Nov Plantings
Root crops, greens, beans, cucumbers still productive
🧺 Harvest
HARVESTTomatoes (fall peak)
BHN 602, Tycoon, Juliet, Sungold
December through February is peak harvest
HARVESTCarambola Peak
Arkin, Kary
Dec–Feb is best carambola season
HARVESTMamey Sapote, Sapodilla
Magaña; Brown Sugar, Tikal
🌴 Fruit Trees
PLANTFruit Trees (ideal window)
Avocado, lychee, longan, carambola, sapodilla, jackfruit
Dry season establishment is best
⛈️ Weather Watch
WATCHCold Nights Possible
Frost cloth for mango, papaya, basil on any night forecast below 45°F.
Resources
The University of Florida's UF/IFAS Extension is the single most valuable resource for Florida gardeners. Every county has a free extension office with Master Gardener volunteers who know your exact soil type, pest pressure, and growing conditions.
📚 Extension & Research
- UF/IFAS Publication Library — edis.ifas.ufl.edu
- County Extension Offices — sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu
- Florida Native Plant Society — fnps.org
🌱 Seed Sources
- Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
- Sow True Seed
- Florida Seed and Garden
🌴 Tropical Fruit
- Truly Tropical — South FL fruit trees
- Going Bananas Nursery — rare tropical fruit
- Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida
🍓 Specialty Plants
- Lara Farms — blueberry and strawberry plugs
- Florida Blueberry Growers Association
✦ Final Word
Lean on your local extension office. Talk to your neighbors about what's working. Grow something new every season. And when the freeze or the hurricane comes, rebuild. That's Florida gardening.
From the Garden to the Page
Want to Go Deeper?
Toni & Jermaine wrote the books Florida gardeners actually needed — no fluff, no advice written for Ohio. Just what works here.
⭐ Best Value
Florida Gardening Book Bundle
Rooted In J's + Grow Food Not Lawns — two books, one mission.
$75
Get the Bundle →
📖 Signed Edition
50+ Plants That Won't Let You Down
The Florida Grow List
$35📱 Digital
Florida Container Garden Guide
Grow It Where You Are
$19.99📱 Digital
Managing Garden Pests Naturally
Organic pest control
$15.99Stay in the Garden
Sign Up for Updates
Seasonal planting reminders, new guides, and Florida gardening tips — straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.