Florida Planting Calendar: What to Grow Month by Month
Florida gardening is backwards from the rest of the country — and that's a feature, not a bug.
While the rest of America is buried under snow in January, Florida gardeners are harvesting tomatoes. By July, when every other state is at peak growing season, Florida gardeners are sweating it out in survival mode.
This calendar is your cheat sheet. It covers zones 9b and 10a, which includes most of South Florida, the Gulf Coast (including North Port and the Sarasota area), and Central Florida. New gardener? Start with our beginner guide first.
How to Use This Calendar
Two simple rules:
- Cool season = November through March. This is your prime growing window. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, leafy greens, cucumbers — grow them now.
- Hot season = June through September. Survival mode. Grow only heat-tolerant crops or take a partial break.
Spring (April–May) and fall (October–November) are transition months — good for warm-season crops that can tolerate some heat without dying.
Month-by-Month Guide
January
Best planting month of the year.
Florida winter is mild, dry, and basically perfect for vegetables.
Plant now:
- Tomatoes (transplants)
- Peppers (transplants)
- Beans (direct sow)
- Cucumbers (direct sow)
- Squash (direct sow)
- Cabbage (transplants)
- Lettuce, Malabar spinach, kale (direct sow — regular spinach bolts fast in Zone 10a; Malabar spinach handles heat)
- Carrots, radishes, beets (direct sow)
- Herbs: Thai basil, culantro, parsley (cilantro bolts quickly — culantro is the heat-proof alternative)
Avoid: Heat-loving crops like sweet potatoes, okra. They'll just sit there.
What to expect: Fast germination, steady growth. January starts are usually your most productive plants of the year.
Tomatoes and peppers need transplants — don't start from seed if you're a beginner. Pick up healthy starts from your local nursery or garden center. Look for stocky plants with dark green leaves, about 6-8 inches tall.
February
Still excellent. Push your luck in a good way.
February is almost as good as January. Temperatures are slightly warmer, rain is still minimal.
Plant now:
- Everything from January still applies
- Start sweet potatoes slips indoors (they'll be ready to plant out in April)
- Melons (start indoors — they'll need a jump before heat arrives)
Watch for: Cold snaps. February occasionally brings a hard freeze to Central Florida. Have row cover ready for nights below 40°F.
March
Last call for cool-season crops.
March is the tail end of cool season. Temperatures start climbing mid-month. What you plant now will finish before summer heat kills it — barely.
Plant now:
- Beans, cucumbers, squash (direct sow — fast growers that can finish before heat sets in)
- Herbs: Thai basil, culantro, parsley (Thai basil survives summer; culantro handles heat unlike cilantro)
- Cherry tomatoes if you haven't already — they're more heat tolerant than large varieties
Skip: Broccoli, cabbage, lettuce. You're too late. They'll bolt in the warming temperatures.
Harvest push: March is prime harvest month for anything planted in November–January.
April
Transition month. Go warm-season.
Cool season is over. Warm season has begun.
Plant now:
- Sweet potatoes (slips, direct in-ground or large containers)
- Okra (direct sow — it loves heat, start now)
- Southern peas / cowpeas (heat-tolerant legumes)
- Herbs: rosemary, thyme, oregano (these will thrive all summer)
Skip: Tomatoes, peppers (they'll struggle in the building heat and humidity if you're starting now)
Watering: April is dry season. Set up irrigation or be prepared to water daily.
Drip Depot Drip Irrigation Kit - Standard
A drip irrigation kit pays for itself in April when the dry season hits. The Standard kit waters up to 10 containers — plenty for a starter garden. Connect to your outdoor spigot, add a solar timer, and your containers water themselves through the hottest months.
Check price on Amazon (paid link)May
Heat arrives. Adapt accordingly.
May brings real Florida heat — 85–90°F daily, rising humidity. Your cool-season crops are done. Pivot to summer survivors.
Plant now:
- Okra (if you haven't already — it's a summer workhorse)
- Sweet potatoes (still time)
- Tropical herbs: lemongrass, moringa, Cuban oregano
- Calabaza squash (native to Caribbean, handles Florida summer well)
Maintenance mode: Focus on watering, mulching, and keeping existing summer crops alive.
June
Survival season begins.
June kicks off the rainy season. Afternoon thunderstorms are daily. Humidity is extreme. Most things want to rot or bolt.
What can survive:
- Okra (actually thrives)
- Sweet potatoes (set it and forget it)
- Tropical plants: moringa, lemongrass, ginger, turmeric
- Calabaza squash
What to skip: Tomatoes, peppers, beans — they won't produce in this heat.
Smart move: Use June to prep your fall garden beds. Clean containers, refresh potting mix, plan what you're planting in October.
July
Full summer. Minimal planting.
Peak heat and humidity. Florida gardening in July is about maintaining what you have, not starting new things.
Survivors:
- Okra
- Sweet potatoes
- Tropical plants
Project: Start planning your fall garden. Research which tomato and pepper varieties you want, and look for transplants at local nurseries starting in September.
August
Start planning fall now.
August is still hot, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. The rainy season continues, but evenings start cooling slightly by late August.
Plan ahead:
- Research tomato and pepper transplant varieties for October planting
- Check local nurseries for fall transplant availability
- Cabbage starts will appear at nurseries in September (skip broccoli and cauliflower in Zone 10a — they need consistent cool temps)
Direct sow outdoors:
- Okra (last call)
- Southern peas / cowpeas
September
Transition into fall season.
September is still warm but it's time to start putting the fall garden in motion. Hurricane season peaks, which can disrupt plans — keep containers mobile if possible.
Plant outdoors:
- Beans (direct sow — fast enough to produce before December)
- Squash (direct sow)
- Herbs: Thai basil (it will love the slight temperature drop), culantro, rosemary
Indoor starts for October: Continue tomato and pepper seedlings started in August.
October
The second best planting month of the year.
October in Florida is magic. Temperatures drop. Humidity breaks. The gardening reset has arrived.
Plant now:
- Tomato transplants (start your cool season right)
- Pepper transplants
- Beans, cucumbers, squash (direct sow)
- Lettuce, kale, Malabar spinach (direct sow — regular spinach struggles in Zone 10a warmth)
- Cabbage (transplants — broccoli and cauliflower need consistent cool temps that Zone 10a rarely delivers)
- Carrots, radishes (direct sow)
- Herbs: culantro, parsley (cilantro bolts fast even in fall; culantro thrives year-round in Zone 10a)
This is essentially January Part 2. Most winter crops get two windows in Florida — October start or January start.
November
Full cool season. All systems go.
November is peak planting time. Everything you wanted to grow all summer? Now's the time.
Plant anything cool-season:
- Full vegetable list from October applies
- Add: strawberries (Florida's strawberry season starts now — plant transplants)
- Snap peas, snow peas (they love cool weather)
Harvest: If you planted in October, you should be harvesting leafy greens already.
December
Cool season in full swing.
December is one of Florida's best gardening months. Low humidity, mild temperatures, minimal pests compared to summer.
Plant now:
- Everything from November
- Garlic (direct sow cloves — needs cool weather; Zone 10a may not get cold enough for full bulbs. Grow garlic chives year-round instead)
- Onions (transplants or sets)
Holiday gift idea: A container herb garden or a small raised bed kit. See our beginner garden setup guide for sub-$100 options.
Quick Reference Table
| Month | Season | Best Crops |
|---|---|---|
| January | Cool | Tomatoes, peppers, beans, kale, Malabar spinach |
| February | Cool | Same as January + start sweet potato slips |
| March | Cool (ending) | Beans, cucumbers, squash (fast finishers) |
| April | Warm | Sweet potatoes, okra, cowpeas |
| May | Hot/transition | Okra, sweet potatoes, tropical herbs |
| June | Hot/rainy | Okra, sweet potatoes, moringa |
| July | Peak summer | Okra, sweet potatoes, maintain only |
| August | Late summer | Start tomato/pepper seeds indoors |
| September | Pre-fall | Beans, squash, indoor starts |
| October | Cool (beginning) | Tomatoes, peppers, kale, Malabar spinach |
| November | Cool | Everything + strawberries, snap peas |
| December | Cool | Everything + garlic, onions |
Florida-Specific Tips
Zone 9b vs 10a: If you're in South Miami, the Keys, or coastal Broward, you're in zone 10a or 10b — your summers are hotter and your "winters" are shorter. The cool-season window is roughly November–February only. If you're in the North Port / Sarasota area or inland Central Florida, you have a slightly longer cool season (October–March works well).
Sandy soil is the enemy. Florida's native soil drains like a sieve. Grow bags and containers are not a workaround — they're often better than in-ground for most vegetables. See our grow bag gardening guide for setup.
Pests follow the rain. Summer rainy season brings aphids, fungus gnats, and whiteflies. Winter is mostly pest-free. This is another reason cool-season gardening in Florida is so rewarding.
Mulch everything. Florida sun bakes bare soil dry in hours. A 2-inch mulch layer on containers and in-ground beds cuts watering frequency in half.
What to Plant First If You're New
Just starting? Plant in October or January. Pick one vegetable you actually eat. Cherry tomatoes or green beans are the easiest wins.
Start with containers — one 5-gallon pot or grow bag per plant. You can move them. You can control the soil. You'll see results faster than in-ground.
vinmoso 10-Gallon Grow Bags 10-Pack
The best starting point for Florida container gardening. Thick non-woven fabric, sturdy handles, great drainage. A 10-pack at ~$1.80/bag covers your first garden with room to expand.
Check price on Amazon (paid link)Grab potting mix from Lowes or Home Depot (Sta-Green Vegetable and Flower Garden Soil, ~$5-8 for 2 cu ft). Quality potting mix has enough nutrients for your first season — no fertilizer needed.
See our first garden guide for Florida beginners to get set up for under $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to plant vegetables in Florida?
October and January are the two best planting months. Both kick off the cool season when temperatures are ideal for tomatoes, peppers, beans, and greens. October gives you a head start; January gives you a second window.
Can I garden in Florida during summer?
Summer gardening in Florida is survival mode. Only heat-specialists survive June through August: okra, sweet potatoes, southern peas, and tropical herbs like lemongrass and moringa. Most vegetables can't produce in 95°F+ heat.
What is the difference between Zone 9b and Zone 10a planting?
Zone 10a (South Florida, coastal areas) has a shorter cool season (November–February) and hotter summers. Zone 9b (North Port, inland Central Florida) has a longer cool season (October–March). Adjust your planting windows accordingly.
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Florida?
For beginners, skip seed starting and buy transplants from a local nursery in late September or October. They'll have varieties suited to your zone. If you want to grow from seed (a year-2 project), start indoors in late July or August for October transplanting.
What vegetables grow year-round in Florida?
Very few grow truly year-round. Everglades tomatoes, sweet potatoes, okra, and tropical herbs like lemongrass and Cuban oregano come closest. Most vegetables follow the cool-season (Oct–Mar) or warm-season (Apr–May) windows.
Related Guides
- Florida Seasonal Growing Guide — what to plant every month, year-round
- How to Start a Garden in Florida for Beginners — the complete step-by-step for new gardeners