🌿 The Crunchy Moon Florida Gardening Series
What to Plant Each Season in Florida
Florida doesn’t do “four seasons” the way most states do. Forget spring, summer, fall, and winter - here, it’s more like hot, hotter, hurricane, and perfect. But once you learn how to work with the climate instead of fighting it, you can grow food nearly all year long. The trick is planting the right things at the right time for your region.
🌞 North Florida (Zone 8)
North Florida actually gets a touch of winter, so your garden gets a rest - or a chance to shine if you love cool-weather crops.
Spring (Feb–Apr):
- Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, peppers, corn
- Herbs: basil, dill, cilantro, and parsley
- Flowers: marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos for pollinators
Summer (May–Aug):
- Sweet potatoes, okra, southern peas, eggplant, and hot peppers
- Grow cover crops like cowpeas or sunn hemp to build soil
- Mulch heavily to survive the heat
Fall (Sep–Nov):
- Lettuce, kale, carrots, radishes, turnips, beets, broccoli
- Start onions and garlic mid-fall
- Cool-season herbs like chives and sage
Winter (Dec–Jan):
- Leafy greens keep going strong
- Root crops can stay in the ground
- Add compost and mulch to prep for early spring
🌤 Central Florida (Zone 9)
Central Florida’s sweet spot gives you two full growing seasons - a spring and a fall - with a short summer break.
Spring (Feb–May):
- Tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, melons, and corn
- Herbs: basil, oregano, thyme, parsley
- Flowers: sunflowers, marigolds, nasturtiums
Summer (Jun–Aug):
- Tropicals only! Grow okra, sweet potatoes, Seminole pumpkins, and Malabar spinach
- Consider shade cloth to protect young plants
- Mulch like crazy to keep moisture in
Fall (Sep–Dec):
- Start new gardens as the humidity drops
- Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, radishes, kale, lettuce, and herbs like cilantro and dill thrive
- Replant zinnias or cosmos for color
Winter (Jan):
- Continue cool-weather crops
- Prune fruit trees and prep for the early spring season
🌴 South Florida (Zone 10)
South Florida flips the gardening calendar completely - the “growing season” runs from fall through spring, and summer is the off-season.
Fall (Sep–Nov):
- The main planting time! Tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, melons, cucumbers
- Herbs: basil, cilantro, and chives
- Flowers: pentas, marigolds, and sunflowers
Winter (Dec–Feb):
- Cool-weather veggies thrive: lettuce, spinach, kale, carrots, beets, onions
- Add papaya, banana, or pineapple for a tropical touch
- Water early mornings to fight humidity-related diseases
Spring (Mar–Apr):
- Keep your warm-season crops going
- Transition to heat-lovers like okra and sweet potatoes
- Mulch deeply before the rains hit
Summer (May–Aug):
- The rest period - or grow only true tropicals
- Try pigeon peas, cassava, or taro
- Cover crops protect your soil from pounding summer storms
🪴 Bonus Tip: Microclimates Matter
Even within your yard, shade, water, or nearby structures can shift what grows best. Observe before planting - a raised bed on the east side might grow greens all year, while one in full western sun will fry by noon.
🌺
Florida’s garden calendar doesn’t follow anyone else’s rules - and that’s what makes it so rewarding. When the rest of the country is buried in snow, you’re harvesting fresh greens. When everyone else is planting in April, you’re already eating homegrown tomatoes. Once you sync your planting schedule with your local climate, Florida becomes a gardener’s paradise.
