Warm-season vegetables...those that will produce through mid-June (some longer) are:
Beans (bush and pole), corn, cucumbers, eggplants, melons, peppers, potatoes, yellow squash, tomatoes and zucchini.
Herbs:
Basil, dill, fennel, marjoram, Mexican tarragon, oregano and parsley.
Garden Tip: Rosemary is a great year round herb to plant in the garden...even if you don't cook with it. It doesn't freeze, it's fragrant and it makes a great looking landscape plant.
Planting seeds is most economical, but to harvest tomatoes before summer's heat and humidity arrive, you'll need to start your seeds in pots the first two weeks in January, and bring them indoors to protect them from cold weather. If you're just getting started now, buy already established plants from a local nursery and plant directly into the garden.
Garden Note: You can still plant cool-season varieties such as: broccoli, carrots, lettuce and radishes that should produce into May (better to get them planted by February 15th). But, if you have limited garden space, you may want to stick with warm-season varieties for a longer harvest time.
To extend the tomato season into summer, try the new heat-resistant varieties available such as: Solar Set and Sunmaster, or plant some cherry tomato varieties which will do better during the hot months. My favorites are chocolate cherry, black cherry and sun gold.
For the total scoop on growing tomatoes in Florida see the University of Florida Extension's article: Tomatoes in the Florida Garden.
To the seasoned Florida vegetable gardeners...
What advice would you give to someone planting vegetables for the first time?
9 comments:
Be patient and don't worry if your fail.
Great post.
We need to not give up and just keep trying.
FlowerLady
Great advice. I may need to force myself to go and buy a tomato plant. Got a late start on that. I want homemade gravy in the freezer.
Great tips here.
This is great!! I thought I had missed my window of opportunity to plant my square garden beds. Now I just need to find some rock dust to supplement my soil.
Thank so much for getting me inspired to put the garden in.
Peace and Raw Health,
Elizabeth
Regarding Tomatoes, my humble advice to folks would be: Sunmaster Tomatoes do well both in pots and in the soil. If you are going to put them in the soil, line the hole with newspaper, add a cup of dog food, some slow release fertilizer or fish emulsion, water well then put good potting soil with the tomato. I have found Sunmaster (zone 10/11) still produces through July. Transplant young tomatoes either on a cloudy day or in the morning. If you are growing on a patio, put a banana in the potting soil and watch them take off.
Lots of sun, fertilizer, and ample moisture are the keys to success. You also should plant only what you want, and not too much of what you want. Use pots for moisture control and to make future plantings easier: just replace with clean soil and plant.
Just hold your patient and this blog would be the number one blog within couple of days
I am new to Florida veggie gardening, but a veteran to them in Canada & VA. I am curious how one gets anything to grow in sand. I have brought in awesome dirt two years ago and the sand ate it like it was starving, leaving nothing to plant in but more sand.
I am curious if people use raised beds or magic in planing.
Many thanks.
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