South Florida Planting Guide

With mild winters and long, warm summers, the state of Florida offers a diverse opportunity for those looking to start or expand their garden. With year-round gardening opportunities, the topic of what to plant and when to plant them can feel both overwhelming and seemingly endless. 

Regardless of if you’re an avid gardener, or are newly trying to develop your green thumb, we’re here to help you along the way and navigate the potential options for your planting endeavors. Be ready to mark your plant calendars and join us as we glide through this article, providing helpful information that makes the process of determining what to grow during each month of the year.

What to plant and achieve in South Florida by month

To begin, we’re going to break down this planting guide by month to simplify the potential options and thoroughly explain what to expect. While this guide may not be a fully comprehensive list of every plant, herb, flower, or tree available to the public, it should cover a wide range of landscape plants, plants that help with butterfly gardening, as well as plants that would be found while vegetable gardening.

January

Let’s begin our gardening journey with the start of the year: the month of January. In south florida, the month of January is considered the dry season. Cooler weather is still present and rainfall is not as abundant as it usually can be later on in the coming months. As January brings cooler weather and less moisture, it is important to keep these two factors in mind when determining what plant you’re hoping to grow.

For most, January can be a great time to begin growing vegetable and bedding plants that are resistant to any potential of frost. Cool season crops include produce such as carrots, kale, spinach, and lettuce. Additionally thyme, dill, and begonias are popular plants to add to your garden.

February

As the temperatures surrounding the Southern Florida region remain on the cooler side, gardeners should be mindful of the mild weather, while also planning ahead for the warmer climates. Pairing this month’s planting schedule with a resilient crop that can manage both the potential for frost, as well as warmer, wetter weather, will make for the best outcomes.

If you’re contemplating what seeds should be planted during the month of February, consider these  gardening favorites. For vegetables, we have broccoli, and eggplants. Marigolds and amazon lilies can also be planted around this time to brighten up your garden.

March

As march comes along, so does the change in seasons. Cool, mild winters begin to give way to warmer spring weather, the change slowly ushering in the inevitable future of heat and humidity that is to come. As such, the month of March marks the start of the busy season for gardeners across the state.

As warmer weather becomes more prevalent, a wide range of seeds become readily available to be planted. Crops such as cantaloupe, okra, watermelon, beans, onions, and peas can all start the growing process as they are generally heat tolerant plants. If you’re looking to brighten up your garden with some beautiful flowers, consider planting sunflowers, geraniums, periwinkle, and scarlet sage.

April

The peak of spring has arrived and arbor day is just around the corner! As the sun brings warm weather and plenty of rainfall, it’s time to consider what plants will thrive with the coming heat of summer. WIth substantial amounts of steady sunlight, let’s review some of the best plants to bring to your garden during the beautiful month of April. 

Most of the vegetables and flowers listed for the month of March, can also be planted during the month of May. Additionally, cucumbers are a notorious warm weather crop that thrive during the peak summer seasons. The month of April also presents itself as a good time to plant peanuts, southern peas, squash and potentially even pumpkin seeds. When it comes to pumpkins, timing will be critical depending on what your goal is for the fall harvesting season.

May

Rainy season is officially here! When planning out the planting calendar, try to always be mindful of how much water your soil is exposed to if your garden is located outside. Although the increase in rain and humidity can help with keeping vegetation hydrated, avid gardeners know that overwatering or improper soil drainage  can result in a number of issues for your plants - mainly root rot.

Adding to the list of heat tolerant crops, May ushers in the perfect time to continue your pumpkin and squash endeavors, while also presenting a nice window to add tomatoes, spinach, and gourds to your garden.

June

As the rainy season begins to peak, planting new crops can become increasingly difficult. While the weather may present new challenges for those looking to change up their garden, it is still possible to add to it. For crops being tended to in the month of June, simply ensure that your garden area is equipped with the appropriate means to provide sufficient drainage. 

In the month of June, peanuts and sweet potatoes dominate as the gardening potential, with the ability to also plant char and green beans. Looking to add some flowers? Petunias are the perfect addition during your June gardening endeavors. 

July

The month of July marks a challenging feat for those looking to add to their garden during these hot months. With heat and humidity becoming an ever present staple for the climate, placing new additions can be a true test of skill. When attempting to plant in the month of July, consider resilient plants that are prepared to weather through the oppressive climate. 

For the most part, it’s not recommended to add to your garden during this time. If you’re interested in changing things up, there is a potential to include edible plants like collard (which can almost always be planted year round), as well as celery. The addition of flowers is a bit easier, as floral plants such as milkweed, periwinkle, sunflowers, amaranthus, and zinnia thrive in these conditions.  

August 

The apex of the summer season has arrived as the month of august rolls in, bringing the hottest of temperatures with it. Similar to the month of July, August can present some challenges when it comes to building up your garden, but it’s not impossible! With heat being a primary concern, it’s also important to consider pest management. While Florida vegetable gardening can be a fun experience, both heat and natural plant predators present themselves as significant problems during the warm season. Although beneficial insects will also be out in force, it is critical to learn the differences and how to manage unwelcome guests for a successful gardening experience. 

When it comes down to what should be added during this month, many may choose to begin their tomato journey, as well as add pepper plants to their edible gardens. Floral gardens offer more of an opportunity as many flowering plants thrive with plenty of sunlight and appropriate watering. Additions such as Chrysanthemums, butterfly weeds, and angelonium make for wonderful heat-resistant additions to your space. 

September

Although heat is still present, the month of September brings slightly cooler weather as the prime of summer slowly transitions into the welcoming weather that fall brings. As the weather begins to cool, it is critical to plan out your new additions in a way that accounts for their ability to develop under cooler conditions and less sunlight as they grow. Cool season crops and flowers generally begin their planting season(s) with the month of September. 

When it comes to your Florida vegetable garden, onions, mustard plants, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts can all begin their journey in the month of September.  The planting guide for floral gardening during this month practically mirrors the options available in the early spring, with marigolds, begonias, and periwinkle being prime candidates for the coming cooler weather. 

October

As the fall season comes to a peak, it’s time to celebrate! WIth the climate slowly becoming increasingly more mild in temperature, as well as less humid, it means that the month of October opens up the realm of possibilities for gardeners looking to add to what they’re growing. 

Some may choose to continue their planting of cool-season vegetables such as kale, collards, and turnips, but additions such as arugula, carrots, and radishes may also be added to the garden for a wide range of vegetable planting options. For Florida landscape plants, bulbous flowers such as tulips begin their window of planting, stretching well into the month of November to december. Additionally, petunias are a wonderful addition to your Florida garden in the month of October.  

November

The month of November marks the start of Florida’s dry season. While South Florida may never truly have a full dry season, the  rain certainly seems to lighten up throughout the month. It is important to keep in mind that not only is the weather slowly becoming cooler, the humidity is also slowly becoming less prevalent which can, in turn, have an effect on some of the plants you choose to add to your garden. 

For safe additions to your garden in November, radishes, turnips, and squash can all still be planted during this time. Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beets, and tomatoes are also still prime candidates for your edible gardening plans. On the floral side, Daisies and Dahlias take the lead as some of the most popular floral plants whose seeds can be sown in the month of November. 

December

Lastly, we have the festive month of December! Full of celebrations and holidays that some of us look forward to, December is a great time to not only add cool-season crops to your grow, but also a great time to plan out next year's growing opportunities! While Florida’s temperatures may not drop as much as other, more northern states, planting any type of plant life during the month of December requires that each new addition be cold-hardy. 

Planting during the last month of the year should be restricted to resilient plants such as carrots, radishes, and brussel sprouts.  Decorative plants can include pansies and petunias. 

Whitwam Organics is here to guide you through the planting process in South Florida

Florida friendly landscaping and gardening advice has never been simpler. Here at Whitwam Organics, we understand the Sunshine State and what it takes to garden year round. With a wide range of plant selections, Florida residents can count on us to provide the tools, seeds, and equipment needed so that they can plant the garden of their dreams. 

From tree pruning and landscape tree selections, to simple tools to get the job done, trust Whitwam Organics to be your number one location for gardening services and supplies. For a full list of services and offerings, please visit our website to learn more.