If you’re new to Florida vegetable gardening, you probably don’t understand why your friends are so excited about cooler weather. It might be time to start winding down vegetable crops in most of the country, but it’s time to start planting them here, or at least planning where to plant them.
“The thing about vegetable gardening in Florida is that most people don’t really get the concept of planting with the seasons,” said Kitty Wallace, co-founder of the Coalition of Community Gardens in Tampa. “They’re asking me if they can plant something now, and of course they can, but it might not do well.”
While some crops, like English peas, should wait for cooler weather, many vegetables can be planted in September to be harvested later this year. “Now is the time to put green beans in the ground for Thanksgiving, or you can plant broccoli for Christmas,” she said. Other plants that can be started now include tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, lettuce, onions and peppers…