By Amanda Rose Newton
In much of the country, gardening follows a familiar rhythm: plant in spring, enjoy the garden through summer, clean up in fall, and wait for warmer weather to return. In Florida, things work a little differently.
Our mild winters and long growing season mean there is almost always something you can plant. The trick is choosing plants that match the season. Some plants thrive during our cool, dry winters, while others seem to come alive when summer brings heat, humidity, and afternoon rain.
Whether you are adding color to a flower bed, starting a vegetable garden, or tackling a larger landscape project, timing your planting can make a big difference.
Fall: Florida’s Second Spring
If you think spring is the best time to plant, Florida may surprise you. Fall is one of the BEST times of year to add many permanent plants to the landscape.
As temperatures begin to moderate, newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials experience less heat stress while still having plenty of time to establish roots. Plants installed in fall can spend the cooler months developing a strong root system before the heat of the following summer arrives.
Good choices for fall planting include:
- Trees and shrubs
- Native perennials and wildflowers
- Cool-season herbs such as cilantro, parsley, dill, and fennel
- Vegetables including lettuce, kale, broccoli, carrots, radishes, and peas
- Cool-season annual flowers as temperatures begin to drop
Fall is also an excellent time to rethink areas of the landscape that struggled through summer. A plant that constantly wilts, scorches, or needs extra water may simply be in the wrong place.
Winter: Don’t Put the Garden to Bed
While gardeners farther north may be looking at seed catalogs and waiting for spring, Central Florida gardens can still be very much alive.
Winter is our opportunity to grow many plants that cannot tolerate Florida’s summer heat. This means all the fun colorful annuals that are generally planted closer to Summer up North. Vegetable gardens can be especially productive, and flower beds can be filled with cool-season color.
Try planting:
- Pansies and violas
- Snapdragons
- Dianthus
- Petunias
- Lettuce and other leafy greens
- Broccoli and other cool-season vegetables
- Carrots and radishes
- Cilantro and parsley
Winter can also be a good time to install many trees and shrubs. Cooler temperatures reduce stress on new transplants, and roots can begin establishing before summer.
Just remember that “Florida winter” can still occasionally mean actual cold weather. Keep an eye on the forecast when planting tender tropical plants, particularly if a cold front is expected.
Spring: Plant Before the Heat Arrives
Spring brings warmer temperatures, longer days, and plenty of choices at the garden center. It is tempting to plant everything at once, but timing matters.
Early spring is a particularly useful window for larger landscape projects. Trees, shrubs, and perennials planted before temperatures soar have time to begin establishing before summer heat puts them under additional stress.
It is also time to transition from cool-season vegetables and flowers to plants that enjoy warmer conditions.
Spring planting possibilities include:
- Tomatoes, peppers, beans, and other warm-season vegetables
- Basil and other heat-loving herbs
- Pollinator-friendly perennials
- Native wildflowers
- Warm-season annuals
- Trees and shrubs
- Tropical and subtropical landscape plants
If you are creating a pollinator garden, spring is also a great time to think beyond flowers. Include host plants for caterpillars as well as nectar sources for adult butterflies, and choose a mixture of plants that will bloom at different times of year.
Summer: Choose Plants That Can Take the Heat
Florida summer can be tough on both gardeners and plants. High temperatures, intense sunlight, humidity, heavy rain, and periods of surprisingly dry weather can all occur within the same season.
That does not mean you have to stop planting. It means you need to choose wisely.
Heat-loving options include:
- Pentas
- Vinca
- Coleus
- Sweet potato vine
- Tropical sage*
- Firebush*
- Porterweed*
- Blanketflower*
*Native and Florida-friendly plants adapted to our climate can be especially valuable during this time of year.
Summer is also a season when the idea of “right plant, right place” really matters. A sun-loving plant placed in deep shade may become thin and weak, while a shade-loving plant exposed to intense afternoon sun may scorch. Plants that dislike wet soil can struggle during the rainy season, while moisture-loving plants may flourish.
And even during the rainy season, don’t assume Mother Nature is watering your new plants for you! Recently installed plants need consistent moisture while their root systems become established, so check the soil rather than relying solely on the weather forecast.
There Really Is a Plant for Every Season
One of the best things about gardening in Florida is that there really isn’t an “off season.” Instead, our gardens are constantly changing.
Winter gives us vegetables and cool-season flowers that would struggle in July. Spring offers a window for establishing new plants before the heat arrives. Summer belongs to the heat lovers. And fall gives us another opportunity to plant many of the trees, shrubs, flowers, herbs, and vegetables that will carry the garden into the next year.
Rather than asking, “Is it time to plant?” Florida gardeners can ask a better question:
What’s in season to plant right now?
Choosing the right plant at the right time gives it a much better chance to do more than simply survive. It gives it the opportunity to thrive!
Wondering what’s in season to plant right now? Stop by the garden center and ask! Our team can help you find the right plants for your garden, your growing conditions, and any of Florida’s seasons.
