The summer months of Florida are hot, but the sun is always out, which means it’s time to plant that summer garden.
But won’t the heat kill all the plants?
Not all vegetables are suited for the summer months, but some vegetables will thrive from all the sun. So if you want to keep growing vegetables in Florida during the summer, it’s entirely possible.
That said, it does require some work and careful planning.
Take a look at this guide to learn what vegetables to plant and how to take care of them during the summer.
Know When Not to Plant
Growing a thriving vegetable garden during the summer is entirely possible, but only if you’ll be around to put in the work.
If you know you’ll be away on several vacations or don’t think you’ll have very much free time; you may want to skip the garden this year.
Because with Florida’s muggy heat comes bugs. If you spend even a few days away from home, you can come home to a vegetable garden that’s half eaten by insects and full of weeds.
Plan Your Garden in Advance
Before you plant anything, make sure you have a well thought out plan of where each plant will go and when it will go there. Different vegetables may do better if they are planted at different times.
Part of this plan is picking what vegetables you want. Here’s a quick list of some of the best vegetables for summer gardens.
1. Peppers
These can be sweet peppers, bell peppers, or hot peppers. They all grow well during the summer.
2. Cowpeas
Cowpeas thrive in extreme conditions, including heat and even drought. So they’ll do fine in your garden this summer.
They are also good for your soil. Because they bring nutrients to your soil, they can prepare it for your next garden.
3. Eggplant
This vegetable does well during the summer, but just make sure you plant them at the right time. If you want to get a little more creative, you can try planting Dusky, Ichiban, or Black Beauty eggplant too.
4. Lima Beans
You can either pick a pole or brush variety. These beans will grow exuberantly even during the summer.
5. Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes don’t take a lot of work. All you have to do is give them enough room, and they’ll take over your garden if you aren’t careful.
Growing Vegetables in Florida
Once you start growing vegetables in Florida, you have to take care of them. You should weed your garden at least once a week to keep the weeds from getting out of hand. This may sound unneeded, but young weeds are much easier to pull than grown weeds.
Don’t forget to water your garden every week too (if it’s not raining enough). Your garden needs at least an inch or two of water a week to stay healthy. Most likely, the heavy summer rain will be enough though.
If you follow these tips and put in the work, you’ll be picking more vegetables than you can handle.
Do you usually have trouble with your lawn during the summer? Take a look at these summer lawn care tips.