Gardening in Florida?

Finally the temps have cooled off here. I'm going to try to start my veggie garden and plan on doing some flower gardening also. I have so much energy now! Does anyone have any Florida gardening tips.

Hardiness Zone: 9a

Lorraine from Zolfo Springs, FL

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Jennifer Kelley

December 3, 20050 found this helpful

Your best bet for 'customized' Florida gardening info is to check your library or the 'cooperative extension agency' in your county. Check the phone book. Also the U of F probably has info.

Jim

December 9, 20050 found this helpful

I am in Jacksonville... I looked you up on a map and thought how could we be in the same ag zone.... Well we are!

I believe most of the winter crops in our area need to be in by early September. I have not tried planting this late in the season.

You should be looking ahead to March 1 as this will be the spring planting date. If you are sowing seeds inside, think January 15th.

Good luck!

Jim in Jax

By Lorraine (Guest Post)

December 9, 20050 found this helpful

I have some tomato seedlings growing, they are about 12". Peppers are about 6".
All new to this FL gardening, from MD. I will eventually get the hang of it.
Thanks for the advice!!!!

Suan Boone

January 31, 20090 found this helpful

I'vefound over the years not to trust the seed packet instructions. Full sun down here tends to burn the plants up! The only veggies that seem to do well in full sun are beans,greens (which gtow year round here),melons and tomatoes. Squash loves the sun too.Rhubarb doesn't grow here at all it's treated as an annual).Everybody in my zone (8) plants potatoes on Feb 14th.With everything else Mar 1 (hoping we don't have any more freezes!).

A trick I just learned from a friend at church is to take those tiny tomatoes and just squish them over a container of dirt. She gots lots of seedlings this way. I'm going to try it too.
Sue in Perry

Bridget

April 27, 20090 found this helpful

Hi , I'm in Orlando, Fl. I've got squash, 1 broccoli plant, green beans coming up slowly , sunflowers and herbs. My husband has agreed to let my 9 year old and I plant watermelon in the back yard, since it's been a wreck since the hurricanes. Here's a website you might want to try EDIS.IFAS.UFE.EDU. It's our county extension office they have tips and bunch of other stuff.

two tips I use are when you plant seeds for suns (sunflowers) gently crack the seed like you are going to eat them, this speeds along sprouting time. And the other tip I put dried chilies in my bird feeder the squirrel don't like the peppers, but the birds do and they are high in vitamin C. I sprinkle ground chili on seedlings to keep squirrels at bay.

Angela

August 5, 20100 found this helpful

Hi,
I'm also in Jacksonville, FL. You might want to hold off on planting tomato's, it's hornworm season. I have 5 tomato plants left that haven't been affected yet. I'll be starting more tomato plants in a couple weeks.

My onions are doing well. I went to Ohio and my Aunt gave me some wild onions that are thriving in the florida heat. Although I have to water them every day if it doesn't rain. Happy Gardening!

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