Vegetable Garden

Warm Weather Plants

• Okra
• Southern Peas – black-eyed, yard long, crowder
• Peanuts
• Sweet Potatoes
• New Zealand and Malabar Spinach (neither of which are really spinach)
• Most herbs

Best Summer Plants for So You’re Gardening in Florida—Now What?

If you’re new to gardening—or just new to gardening in Florida—you’ve probably already discovered that the Sunshine State isn’t as simple as it seems when it comes to growing plants. Sure, we don’t have harsh winters, and it may feel like we can garden all year long… but Florida has its own unique challenges.

While year-round vegetable gardening is possible, the growing seasons here don’t follow the same rhythm as in other states. Our mild winters can be productive, but brutal summers—with intense heat and high humidity—make it tough to grow many traditional cool-season crops. What works up north in spring and summer can quickly wilt under our sun.

The key to successful gardening in Florida lies in understanding two things: the climate and the soil.

Much of Florida’s land was once underwater, part of ancient seabeds and coastal ecosystems. Over millions of years, this resulted in soil made up largely of sand, crushed shells, and coral fragments. And while it might be great for beach days, Florida’s sandy soil doesn’t hold water or nutrients well, making it one of the first things gardeners need to work on improving.

I’ve been gardening here for about five years, and I’ll be honest—it took a while to get the hang of it. That’s why I’m writing this blog: to share what I’ve learned and hopefully help other new Florida gardeners avoid the trial-and-error I went through.

Gardening in Florida is absolutely worth it—but it takes a bit of local knowledge, patience, and the right tools. Let’s dig in and grow something beautiful, together.

While year-round vegetable gardening is possible, the growing seasons here don’t follow the same rhythm as in other states. Our mild winters can be productive, but brutal summers—with intense heat and high humidity—make it tough to grow many traditional cool-season crops. What works up north in spring and summer can quickly wilt under our sun.

The key to successful gardening in Florida lies in understanding two things: the climate and the soil.

Much of Florida’s land was once underwater, part of ancient seabeds and coastal ecosystems. Over millions of years, this resulted in soil made up largely of sand, crushed shells, and coral fragments. And while it might be great for beach days, Florida’s sandy soil doesn’t hold water or nutrients well, making it one of the first things gardeners need to work on improving.

I’ve been gardening here for about five years, and I’ll be honest—it took a while to get the hang of it. That’s why I’m writing this blog: to share what I’ve learned and hopefully help other new Florida gardeners avoid the trial-and-error I went through.

Gardening in Florida is absolutely worth it—but it takes a bit of local knowledge, patience, and the right tools. Let’s dig in and grow something beautiful, together.