Many people love the year-round warmth of Florida. This may even be the reason why you’ve chosen to live there. The year-round warmth not only means warmth for you, but warmth for your plants! This ongoing growing season is both a blessing and a challenge. It can leave new gardeners with never-ending questions about what to grow and when. To add to it all, in Florida, there are three distinct climate zones: tropical south, subtropical central, and temperate north. While each zone has a few differences, the key to success in a Floridian garden depends on planting the right crops at the right time and continuing to flow with the rhythm of the seasons.

Understanding Florida’s Gardening Climate

One of the most important things to understand as a Florida gardener is what climate you’re working with.

Northern Florida experiences the most distinct seasons with a cooler, yet still very mild winter and hot, humid summers.

Central Florida features milder winters than North Florida and very hot, humid summers. It is somewhat of a transition zone between the temperate north and tropical south.

Southern Florida is the only true tropical climate in the continental U.S. It has only two primary seasons: hot and wet (summer), and warm and dry (winter). Depending on where you are in each of these zones, soil, rainfall, pests, and humidity levels will vary.

If you’re a gardener in Florida, I recommend becoming very familiar with the University of Florida’s Extension Service and all of the informational materials they have available to help you grow a successful garden.

Winter Gardening in Florida: The Unassuming Prime Planting Season

For the bulk of Florida growers, the wintertime (December to February) is the best time of year to grow most vegetables. Crops such as lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, carrots, beets, cabbage, onions, and herbs will easily grow during these months. In northern Florida, you may want to protect against rare frosts with row covers, but most of these cool-season vegetables can tolerate these lower temperatures.

If your garden experiences shorter days, be sure your plants have at least 6 hours of full sun exposure. There are fewer pests during the winter months (even in Florida), but thanks to the rarity of frost, they are not gone altogether. Watch out for aphids and whiteflies most of all. Don’t forget to start seeds for your spring garden as well!

Spring Gardening in Florida: Transition and Abundance

Throughout the months of March, April, and May, temperatures will be rising quickly for Floridian residents, and we want to make sure your cool-season crops reach maturity and are harvested before daytime temperatures remain consistently above 85 F. The best crops to grow during this time are tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers, corn, and melons. Start seeds early indoors in trays or pots if you like. Use mulch to keep the soil moist during dry spells and monitor rainfall. You may need to supplement with hose water. Be mindful of when the intense heat of summer kicks in for your area. Many plants can’t handle consistent temperatures over 85-95 F and should be harvested before then.

Summer Gardening in Florida: Surviving the Heat

While summer for the rest of the United States is the prime gardening season, that is not the case for Floridians. The intense, consistent heat is too much for many typical garden plants to bear. However, if you know what to plant and how to protect from heat damage, you can still have a successful garden.

Heat-tolerant crops that may still flourish from June through September include okra, lima beans, sweet potatoes, southern peas (cowpeas), malabar spinach, and tropical herbs like lemongrass or basil. Use shade cloths to protect the soil from getting too hot. If you do not want to bother with planting a tropical summer garden, consider planting a heat-tolerant cover crop or native plants to improve soil health or protect against erosion. Maintain good irrigation practices and pest control vigilance.

Fall Gardening in Florida: Reboot and Renew

The autumn season in Florida is often described as the second spring for gardeners there. Cooler (or at least not sweltering) temperatures are returning, which can allow for another crop of vegetables. Depending on the fall weather in your area, you can plant greens, root crops, cruciferous vegetables, or even tomatoes and peppers again. Before planting your fall garden, I highly recommend nourishing your beds with compost or organic matter. Start seedlings inside or in shady areas until temperatures calm down. Don’t forget to rotate crops to reduce pest and disease pressure! You don’t want to plant the same crop family in the same place multiple years in a row (or twice in one year)! If you’re using containers, it is best practice to replace the potting soil after each crop.

Prepare to Succeed in Your Florida Garden

Whether you’re new to gardening in Florida or a seasoned professional looking to up your game, the key is timing and choosing the right plants for the right time. Even within the state of Florida, there are many microclimates. I highly recommend talking to your local extension office if you want more specific information about what to plant and when. The end result could be a year-round harvest of delicious produce! Once you understand the seasonal rhythms and changes, gardening in Florida will feel like second nature. So dig in and keep growing, you’ve got this!

Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I currently reside. I love all things plants! After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture, I found a dream work-from-home job that allows me to share my passion. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!