Believe it or not, there are seasons in Florida. These four different seasons are important to remember if you are interested in growing your food.

• Spring Garden
• Hot Summer Garden
• Fall Garden
• Winter Garden

Spring Garden

March through Mid-June

The Spring Garden in Florida is similar to gardening in cooler states, except everything happens
much earlier in the year. It's the time to plant the quinessential spring plants: tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots, eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumber, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, melons and most other spring fruits and vegetables you can think of.

Hot Summer Garden

Mid-June through August

We all know the Hot Summer Garden is the blazing hot couple of months in the summer when the weather is unbearable and most outdoor activities are miserable during the heat of the day. These months are the dog days of summer. During this time, you can just let the garden grow and keep it watered and fertilized. Unless you enjoy sweating and the risk of heat stroke, the Hot Summer Garden makes for a great opportunity to spend time indoors appreciating the invention of air conditioning, while you watch your garden through the windows.

Fall Garden

September through November

Low humidity and finally the blast of cooler weather puts everyone in a good mood after the sweltering heat of summer. September is a good time to keep the weeds down and to clear out exhausted plants. October is the time for planting lettuce, onions, carrots, turnips and peas, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and garlic.

Winter Garden

December through February

It goes without saying that winter in Florida is mild. This cold season is a great time to be growing a variety of fruits and vegetables that will tolerate the cooler temps and a few hard freezes. There is not much outdoor planting going on during the winter, except potatoes are best to have in the ground during February. Otherwise, this is the time to maintain your plants and protect sensitive varieties from the cold weather. Most plants will survive during the day, but overnight when the temp dips below 30 degrees, many plants must be covered. Here in Flagler County, the hard freezes during winter will last from December through January. Most of the freezing is over by the end of February, although care must be taken in the beginning of March if temps rise and you think it's safe to plant sensitive spring plants, such as tomatoes. Cover tender seedlings with small, empty pots during the colder nights in March. We try to avoid buying our plants from big box stores, but just because the tomatoes are on sale at Lowe's doesn't mean it's safe to plant them yet. Remember these stores are in the business of
selling plants, the wise gardener knows when and where to plant them. I have found that healthy and heavy producing plants come from local nurseries, which also helps small business and your community.

Monthly Guide to Gardening in Florida

Zone 9, Flagler County

January 1-15

Prepare for your Spring Garden. Start seeds indoors for transplanting in March:
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant.

End of January

Start cucumbers, melon and squash seeds indoors.

February

Plant potatoes and cabbage.

March 1 - Spring Garden Begins

Begin transplanting everything you've started indoors. Remember to keep an eye on the weather and cover the seedlings with small, empty pots during the cold nights.

March 15

During the first hot week of March, plant your pole beans, lima beans, cowpeas (blackeyed peas), sweet potatoes
and melons such as watermelon and cantaloupe, swissh chard, collard greens, eggplant, corn and sunflower.

May 1 - Height of Spring Garden

This should be your first harvest of spring plants including tomatoes and squash. The next few weeks will be plentiful and you will be canning and storing the surplus during June and July.

June 15 - Hot Summer Garden Begins

You'll want to have your planting finished When the mercury rises above 90 degrees everyday, so the hot peppers, spinach and okra should all be planted during the first week of June. Any second planting should happen now also, such as swiss chard and collard greens.

Mid-June - August

Let your garden grow wild, remember it needs plenty of water and fertilizer according to the appropriate schedule.

August 15 - Height of Hot Summer Garden

Heat and disease tolerant tomatoes should be started now for the fall garden. Grapes and bananas are ready to harvest. Start lettuces, mustard greens and brassicas indoors for Fall Garden transplant.

Mid-September - October 1

September is garden cleanup month, the first week of October is the time for planting lettuce, onions, carrots, turnips and peas, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts and garlic.

December

Protect plants from the hard freeze, temps below 30 degrees. Young citrus trees and tropical fruit such as pineappele must be fully protected from the cold weather with Christmas lights or blankets, sheets and plastic. Please use common sense and don't start a fire by using the Christmas lights in combination with blankets, sheets or plastic. Harvest citrus fruit through the end of January.