Hey there, fellow green thumbs! If you’re in North Florida—think Tallahassee, Jacksonville, or the Panhandle—you know our climate is a bit of a rollercoaster. Mild winters give way to scorching summers, with the occasional frost sneaking in to keep things interesting. But that’s what makes vegetable gardening here so rewarding: you can harvest fresh produce nearly year-round if you time it right. Drawing from reliable sources like the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension guides, this month-by-month breakdown will help you plan your plot, dodge pests, and maximize yields. Whether you’re a newbie with a raised bed or a seasoned pro battling sandy soil, let’s dig in (pun intended).
We’ll cover what to plant, key maintenance tips, and when to harvest for each month. Pro tip: Always test your soil pH (aim for 5.5–7.0) and amend with compost for success. Ready? Let’s grow!
January: Kick Off with Cool-Season Staples
January’s cooler temps (average lows around 40°F) are perfect for hardy greens and roots. Frost is still a risk, so have row covers handy.
- What to Plant: Arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collards, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, mustard, onions (bunching), radishes, spinach, and turnips. Start Irish potatoes from seed pieces. Use transplants for broccoli and cabbage to speed things up.
- Maintenance Tips: Water deeply but infrequently—check soil moisture every few days. Mulch with straw or leaves to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Scout for aphids; hand-pick or use insecticidal soap. Fertilize lightly with a balanced 10-10-10 if growth stalls.
- Harvesting: Pull radishes in 20–30 days; harvest spinach and lettuce as leaves reach 6–8 inches. Expect broccoli heads in 75–90 days.
Yields can hit 4–15 lbs per 10 ft row, depending on the crop.
February: Bridge to Spring with Peas and More
As days lengthen, transition from winter holdovers to early spring crops. Last chance for some cool-season favorites before heat ramps up.
- What to Plant: Continue with January’s cool crops, plus bush/pole/lima beans, cantaloupes, corn, cucumbers, eggplant (transplants), English/snow peas, peppers (transplants), summer/winter squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes (transplants), and watermelons.
- Maintenance Tips: Protect against late frosts with cloches or blankets. Side-dress leafy greens with nitrogen. Rotate crops to prevent disease buildup—don’t plant the same family in the same spot two years running. Mulch heavily to conserve water.
- Harvesting: Snip English peas at 60–80 days; early beets and turnips when roots are 1–2 inches. Cabbage heads form in 70–90 days from transplant.
Aim for 4–12 lbs per 10 ft; peas yield about 4 lbs.
March: Warm-Season Wake-Up Call
Frost risk fades mid-month (average last frost ~March 15), so it’s go-time for heat-lovers. Our long growing season shines here.
- What to Plant: Beans, broccoli (late), Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, lettuce, mustard, okra, peas (southern), peppers, potatoes (Irish), radishes, Southern peas, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, and watermelons.
- Maintenance Tips: Water transplants well to avoid shock. Companion plant with marigolds to deter nematodes. Apply compost for phosphorus and potassium boosts. Watch for cucumber beetles—use row covers early.
- Harvesting: Early potatoes in 85–110 days; beans and peas as pods fill out. Tomatoes ripen in 90–110 days.
Yields: Corn up to 10 ears per 10 ft; squash around 10–15 lbs.
April: Full Steam Ahead into Summer
Temperatures climb (highs 80°F+), so focus on quick-maturing warm crops. Humidity brings fungal risks—keep foliage dry.
- What to Plant: Beans, cantaloupes, corn (last chance), cucumbers, eggplant, lima beans, okra, peppers, Southern peas, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and watermelons.
- Maintenance Tips: Drip irrigate to target roots and reduce evaporation. Mulch 2–3 inches deep with pine straw. Monitor for squash vine borers; hand-pick eggs. Fertilize fruiting plants with a high-potassium mix.
- Harvesting: Cucumbers in 40–65 days (pick young for tenderness); early squash daily to encourage production. Peppers and eggplant start in 60–80 days.
Expect 7.5–15 lbs per 10 ft for most.
May: Heat Builds, Plant Heat-Tolerant Champs
Summer heat intensifies, but you can still squeeze in some crops. Consider shade cloth for sensitive starts.
- What to Plant: Bush/pole/lima beans, okra, Southern peas, sweet potatoes, and summer squash. Sow cover crops like cowpeas if skipping veggies.
- Maintenance Tips: Water deeply 1–2 times weekly; morning is best. Scout for aphids and whiteflies—encourage ladybugs. Add organic matter post-harvest to rebuild soil. Avoid over-fertilizing to not attract pests.
- Harvesting: Sweet potatoes in 90–120 days (harvest before frost); okra pods daily at 4–6 inches. Beans yield 5–10 lbs per 10 ft.
June: Summer Siesta with Select Sowers
Blazing heat (90°F+) and pests peak—take it easy and focus on tough varieties or cover crops.
- What to Plant: Okra and Southern peas. Start basil indoors if needed.
- Maintenance Tips: Mulch aggressively to cool soil. Use IPM: Bt for caterpillars, neem for broad pests. Solarize bare soil to kill nematodes. Water consistently but check for bans in rainy season.
- Harvesting: Okra continuously (50–60 days to first pick); Southern peas in 60–70 days. Melons and squash if planted earlier.
Yields drop in heat, but okra can give 10+ lbs per 10 ft.
July: Mid-Summer Pivot to Fall Prep
Rainy season helps, but humidity fuels diseases. Start prepping for cooler months.
- What to Plant: Okra (last chance), cucumbers, peppers, Southern peas, and tomato/pumpkin seeds indoors for fall.
- Maintenance Tips: Prune spent plants and add compost. Monitor for stink bugs. Solarize soil for 4–6 weeks to prep fall beds. Conserve water with rain barrels.
- Harvesting: Late spring tomatoes and peppers; eggplants at peak glossiness.
August: Cool-Season Comeback Begins
Heat lingers, but shortening days signal fall. Last warm-season push.
- What to Plant: Lima beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, peppers, and tomatoes (for fall crop).
- Maintenance Tips: Fertilize palms and lawns if needed, but check local bans. Mulch new transplants. ID beneficial insects like lacewings.
- Harvesting: Summer squash and okra wind down; early fall greens in 40–60 days.
September: Fall Favorites Take Root
Cooler nights arrive—prime time for brassicas.
- What to Plant: Broccoli, cabbage, carrots, collards, kale, lettuce, onions (bulbing), spinach, and strawberries.
- Maintenance Tips: Pre-emergent herbicides for winter weeds when nights hit 55–60°F. Last fertilizer app mid-month. Rotate to brassicas after legumes.
- Harvesting: Late watermelons and cantaloupes; collards in 50–70 days.
Yields: Cabbage 10–12 heads per 10 ft.
October: Salad Season Supreme
Mild days (70s) and cool nights boost leafy greens.
- What to Plant: Arugula, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, mustard, radishes, spinach, and turnips.
- Maintenance Tips: Cover for early frosts. Scout armyworms in lawns. Mulch to insulate roots.
- Harvesting: Fall tomatoes if planted in August; radishes quick at 20–30 days.
November: Cozy Cool-Season Close
Thanksgiving table fresh from the garden!
- What to Plant: Kale, collards, carrots, and late broccoli. Overwinter onions.
- Maintenance Tips: Insulate with mulch. Reduce watering as rains increase. Hand-pull weeds.
- Harvesting: Brussels sprouts (90–120 days); kale ongoing.
December: Winter Warriors
Short days, but hardy crops thrive.
- What to Plant: Overwinter lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Start peas indoors.
- Maintenance Tips: Frost protection essential. Compost spent crops. Plan next year’s rotation.
- Harvesting: Root veggies like carrots (70–120 days); greens as needed.
Here North Florida Vegetable Gardening month by month pdf
Wrapping Up: Sustainable Success All Year
North Florida’s veggie gardening is all about succession planting, soil health, and staying vigilant against our humid, pest-prone weather. Start small, learn from each season, and you’ll be trading surplus zucchini for neighborly favors in no time. For the full PDF deep dive, check out UF/IFAS’s North Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide—it’s a game-changer. Happy planting, and may your harvest be as sunny as our skies! What’s your go-to crop? Drop a comment below.