Hey fellow Florida gardeners! I'm based in central Florida and it feels like a sauna right now. My current garden is limited to luffa, okra, watermelon, and Seminole pumpkins, which are the only ones surviving in this heat. I'm super eager for fall to kick in so I can start growing more delicious veggies that I see everyone else posting about.
My initial plan was to start my seeds indoors in early September and then transplant them outside in October, as that's when the high temps usually drop to 85°F and below. But I'm getting pretty antsy and even thinking about starting the seeds in August instead, with the hope of planting them outside in September. September's highs seem to be hovering around the mid-80s, but I know they'll still be warm enough to potentially stress the plants, especially around midday. I'm curious to hear from other Floridians about your gardening plans. I've got plenty of sponges and some frozen okra lying around, and I'm ready to move on to something new!
1 Answer
I’m up in North Florida, and while the summer temps can be rough, I’m experimenting since it’s my very first year gardening. Aside from okra and Seminole squash, I'm having a blast growing Thai and Genovese basil, corn, and black-eyed peas. For next year, I’ll definitely plant even more! I’ve tried mizuna too, which isn't a total win, but it’s okay for summer greens. I've got some pepper plants and sweet potatoes kicking around, but I hear they won't really produce until fall. Planning on starting broccoli and lettuce indoors in August to hopefully get an earlier harvest!
I also have pepper plants but didn't realize they didn't all love the heat. Mine are really struggling, too!