Florida Seasonal Growing Guide
Florida doesn't follow the traditional spring-plant, fall-harvest cycle. It has three distinct growing windows, and the trick to year-round food is rotating between them.
Most people assume Florida is one endless summer. For you, maybe. For plants, 95-degree days with 80% humidity will destroy lettuce, broccoli, and most of the vegetables you're used to. But plenty of others thrive right through it. Start here: How to start a garden in Florida.
Florida's Three Growing Seasons
Cool Season (October-February): The best time to garden in Florida. Temps drop to 50-80 degrees, humidity eases, pest pressure backs off. Grow the stuff northerners plant in spring: lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peas, beets.
Warm Season (March-May, September): Transition months. Phase out cool crops, start warm ones. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers go in. Widest variety.
Hot Season (June-August): Survival gardening. Only heat-specialists survive — sweet potatoes, southern peas, Seminole pumpkin, okra. Everything else wilts, bolts, or gets eaten.
For exact zone-specific timing, see our Florida Planting Calendar.
Cool Season: October-February (Prime Time)
Winter is Florida's real growing season. While the rest of the country stacks firewood, Florida gardeners are harvesting.
What to Plant
Easy — Start Here:
- Lettuce and salad greens. Butterhead, romaine, arugula. Grow fast, tolerate some shade, harvest continuously.
- Kale and collards. Nearly impossible to kill. Actually taste better after a light frost.
- Radishes. Seed to harvest in 25 days. Instant gratification.
- Herbs. Culantro (heat-proof cilantro alternative), parsley, garlic chives. Cilantro works briefly in cool season but bolts fast — culantro is the reliable choice.
Worth the Effort:
- Tomatoes. This is Florida's tomato season. Cherry types are easiest. Everglades tomatoes are practically weeds.
- Peppers. Bell, jalapeno, banana — they love Florida winter temps.
- Carrots and beets. Great in containers with loose potting mix.
If You're Feeling Brave:
- Broccoli and cauliflower. Need consistent cool temps. One heat wave and they bolt.
- Sugar snap peas. Need a trellis. Worth it.
- Strawberries. Florida produces most of the country's winter berries. You can too.
Winter Garden Starter Kit (~$100-$190)
| Category | What to Buy | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Containers | 5-6 grow bags (10-gallon) | $20-30 |
| Soil | Potting mix for 5-6 bags | $30-50 |
| Seeds | Tomato, pepper, lettuce, kale, herbs, radish | $10-20 |
| Watering | Drip kit + solar timer | $50-70 |
| Support | Tomato cages, stakes | $15-25 |
The drip kit and solar timer are one-time costs that carry forward every season. See our shop page for the pre-built cart.
vinmoso 10-Gallon Grow Bags 10-Pack
The foundation of a Florida container garden. Thick fabric handles summer heat, excellent drainage after afternoon storms, and portable enough to move under cover for hurricanes. A 10-pack covers the 5-6 bags in the starter kit above with room to spare. (paid link)
Check price on Amazon (paid link)Solar Water Timer 2-Zone
The single best one-time investment for lazy gardening. Solar-powered means no battery changes, and two zones let you water thirsty tomatoes more often than drought-tolerant herbs. Connects to any standard drip irrigation kit. (paid link)
Check price on Amazon (paid link)Winter Timeline
October: Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors. Direct-sow lettuce, kale, and radishes outside.
November: Transplant seedlings with 2-3 sets of true leaves into grow bags. Set up watering.
December: Start harvesting lettuce, radishes, herbs. Tomatoes and peppers still growing (60-90 days from transplant).
January-February: Peak harvest. Cherry tomatoes producing heavily. Peppers at full size. Get 2-3 rounds of radishes and lettuce.
March: South Florida keeps going. Central Florida transitions to warm-season crops.
Warm Season: March-May, September-November
The shoulder seasons. Widest variety of crops. Phase cool crops out, warm crops in.
What to Plant
Tomatoes — Plant transplants in August-September for fall, February-March for spring. Best Florida varieties: Everglades (cherry), Solar Fire, Florida 91, Heat Master.
Peppers — All types. Plant August through March. Produce for months once established. Among the most rewarding crops for beginners.
Cucumbers — Fast growers. Plant February-April and again in September. Hate real summer heat but thrive in warm spring.
Squash and Zucchini — Plant February-April. Grow so fast you'll be giving them to neighbors in 6 weeks. Watch for vine borers.
Green Beans (Bush) — Plant February-April and September-November. No trellis needed, produce in 50 days. Probably the easiest warm-season crop.
Hot Season: June-August (Survival Mode)
Most gardening advice says give up until fall. But if you plant the right crops, Florida summer is absolutely manageable.
Summer Stars (Nearly Bulletproof)
Okra — Loves heat, humidity, and heavy rain. More productive in Florida than cooler states. Plant May, harvest June-October.
Sweet Potatoes — Plant slips March-June. Sprawl and produce underground while everything above wilts. Harvest 90-120 days.
Southern Peas (Cowpeas) — Direct sow March-August. Fix nitrogen, tolerate drought, produce protein with zero input.
Seminole Pumpkin — Florida native. Vigorous vine that laughs at summer heat. Needs space or trellis.
Everglades Tomatoes — The only tomato that doesn't care about Florida summer. Semi-wild cherry type, self-seeding, produces through 95+ degree heat.
Heat-Tolerant With Some Care
Hot Peppers — Habaneros, Thai chilis, Datil peppers keep producing through August.
Malabar Spinach — Tropical vine, thick leaves, works as spinach substitute. Needs trellis.
Yard-Long Beans — Tropical bean thriving above 80 degrees. Needs tall trellis.
Lemongrass — Grows into massive clumps. Harvest stalks for cooking. Doubles as mosquito deterrent.
Summer Survival Strategy
Watering:
- Water early morning only (before 8 AM). Evening watering = fungal disease.
- Containers may need daily watering. A 10-gallon bag in full sun dries in 24 hours.
- Automated drip on a solar timer is the single best summer investment.
Shade:
- 30% shade cloth over fruiting crops prevents sunscald without reducing production.
- Morning sun + afternoon shade from a building or tree is the ideal summer position.
- Move containers to the east side of your house — morning sun, afternoon shade.
Pests (summer peak):
- Whiteflies: yellow sticky traps + neem oil every 7-10 days. See our pest prevention guide for the full organic spray schedule.
- Caterpillars: BT spray (organic, targets only caterpillars).
- Nematodes: grow in containers with clean potting mix (avoids the problem entirely).
Disease prevention:
- Space plants farther apart for air circulation.
- Water soil, not leaves. Drip irrigation beats overhead sprinklers.
- Remove infected leaves immediately. Copper fungicide every 2 weeks as preventive.
Preparing for Fall (August)
August is still hot, but start planning:
- Start seeds indoors: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers.
- Refresh soil: clean out spent crops, add perlite and compost. See our soil setup guide for the ideal Florida mix ratios.
- By September: transplants ready to go when daily highs drop below 90.
Vegetables That Grow Year-Round
These crops handle both Florida heat and cool weather:
| Crop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Green onions / scallions | Plant anytime. Regrow from kitchen scraps. Harvest in 3-4 weeks. |
| Herbs (mint, rosemary, oregano, Thai basil) | Nearly indestructible year-round. Sweet basil bolts in summer — Thai basil 'Siam Queen' is the year-round variety. See our herb growing guide for the full list. |
| Sweet potatoes | March-August planting. Love heat, tolerate poor soil. |
| Southern peas | March-September. Drought-tolerant, fix nitrogen. |
| Everglades tomatoes | Self-seeding cherry type. Produce through summer heat. |
Month-by-Month Quick Reference
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | Lettuce, peas, beets, carrots | Lettuce, kale, broccoli |
| February | Tomatoes, peppers, beans | Lettuce, peas, carrots |
| March | Tomatoes, peppers, squash, sweet potatoes | Cool-season crops finishing |
| April | Beans, cucumbers, southern peas | Early spring crops |
| May | Okra, sweet potatoes, southern peas | Beans, squash, cucumbers |
| June | Okra, yard-long beans, Seminole pumpkin | Okra, peppers |
| July | Sweet potato slips, Malabar spinach | Southern peas, okra |
| August | Tomatoes (fall), peppers (indoors) | Okra, sweet potatoes, Everglades tomatoes |
| September | Tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers | Summer crops finishing |
| October | Lettuce, broccoli, kale, carrots | Early fall tomatoes, peppers |
| November | Lettuce, peas, beets, herbs | Kale, collards, lettuce |
| December | Lettuce, carrots, radishes | Broccoli, cauliflower, greens |
Tips for Year-Round Success
Rotate crops. Don't plant tomatoes in the same container season after season. Rotate plant families to prevent disease.
Succession plant. Instead of 10 lettuce plants at once, plant 3 every two weeks for continuous supply.
Mulch everything. Keeps roots cool, retains moisture, suppresses weeds. In Florida, it's not optional.
Grow in containers. Move plants into shade during heat waves, protect from heavy rain. The most flexible approach for Florida's unpredictable weather.
Automate watering. A solar timer + drip system means you never forget. This is lazy gardening.
FAQ
What is the easiest vegetable to grow year-round in Florida?
Green onions and herbs (mint, rosemary). They tolerate heat and cool weather with almost no effort.
Can you grow tomatoes year-round in Florida?
Not standard types — they stop above 90 degrees. Everglades tomatoes produce through summer. For other varieties, plant fall and spring for two harvests per year.
What vegetables survive Florida summer?
Okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, Malabar spinach, yard-long beans, Seminole pumpkin, and Everglades tomatoes.
When should I start my fall garden in Florida?
Start seeds indoors late July to early August. Transplant in September when highs drop below 90.
Is it too late to plant in December?
December is perfect for cool-season crops. Lettuce, radishes, carrots, and greens all do well.
Related Guides
- Florida Planting Calendar: What to Grow Month by Month — exact timing by zone and month
- How to Start a Garden in Florida for Beginners — the complete step-by-step for new Florida gardeners
- Easiest Vegetables to Grow in Grow Bags (Florida) — best beginner crops for container gardens
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.