For many gardeners and newcomers, growing vegetables can be a challenge in Florida. But now is a great time to start thinking about planting a fall vegetable garden.
You can be a more successful vegetable gardener, if you keep in mind some key guidelines.
To begin, remember the first principle of Florida Friendly LandscapingTM: right plant, right place. This applies to vegetable gardens, because it is important to know the right time of year to plant the vegetable you want to grow.
(Photos courtesy of Nicole Pinson)
For example, every year our office answers questions about tomatoes. Many people think the best time to plant tomatoes is in the summer. However, the ideal time to plant tomatoes in Florida is in September and again in February through March.
Other vegetables to plant in September include beans, cabbage, corn, kale, lettuce, radishes and turnips.
You can know exactly when to plant vegetables by using the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide as your reference.
The Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide is available at edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/VH/VH02100.pdf.
Using this guide, check Table 3 for information on crops and proper planting dates.
Be sure to match the planting date to your region, which in our case is Central Florida.
Another guideline for successful vegetable gardening in Florida is planting recommended varieties whenever possible.
Table 4 of the guide lists suggested varieties for Florida gardens. Examples of tomato varieties that perform well in Florida include Sweet 100, Mortgage Lifter, Sun Gold, Better Boy and Beefmaster. You may want to print the guide and take a copy of it with you (or search for and save the pdf on your mobile phone) when you buy seeds and transplants at the garden center. That way, you can make sure you are choosing vegetables for the right time of year, and purchasing the varieties recommended for our area.
The third most important thing about Florida vegetable gardening is scouting your garden regularly. Be on the lookout for pests and problems. Keep in mind, you may be able to avoid many insect and disease problems just by planting your vegetables at the right time of the year.
Being vigilant and scouting regularly can help you catch problems early and enable you to deal with them proactively.
When treating for pests, follow the first step in integrated pest management: properly identify the pest. Contact your local Extension office for help identifying insects, and advice on when and how to treat pests. Know that it is impossible to eradicate them, and it is important to use pesticides responsibly to prevent resistance.
Most plants can tolerate 10 percent to 20 percent, and sometimes as much of 30 percent, of foliage loss without affecting yield.
Whenever possible, use the least toxic method of control, and rotate pesticides. Rotating pesticides can keep the pests guessing, and maintain the effectiveness of products.
Don’t forget, the least toxic methods also include physical and cultural controls, such as handpicking and applying the proper amount of water and fertilizer. Find the least toxic pesticides by consulting the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide. Table 2 provides insect control recommendations, and the least toxic products include neem, spinosad, Bt, insecticidal soap and horticultural oil.
The best place to locate your fall vegetable garden is in a sunny location that is also close to a water source.
Properly prepare the area by removing all weeds and grass. Mix in compost and other soil amendments to improve the soil texture and add nutrients. Mulch and micro irrigation can reduce disease by keeping water off leaves. Prior to planting, you may also want to test your soil pH. Soil pH is a measure of the soil’s acidity or alkalinity.
Soil pH is important because it governs how available nutrients are to plants. The University of Florida Soil Testing Lab, and some county Extension offices, can test your soil for pH. The cost per sample is $3.
Homeowners can use soil pH information in determining if existing plants are suited to a location, choosing new plant material best suited to the site, and in applying fertilizer and soil amendments.
Most vegetables prefer a soil pH of 5.5 – 6.3, but if your soil pH is between 5.5 and 7.0, no adjustment in pH is necessary.
Always test your soil first, before adding lime or sulfur, and consider using raised beds if you have a high soil pH.
By planting vegetables at the right time, using recommending varieties, scouting regularly, locating your garden in a sunny spot close to water, and testing soil pH, you will be on your way toward successful vegetable gardening in Florida.
For additional information, contact or (813) 744-5519, ext. 54145.
Nicole Pinson is an Urban Horticulture Agent in Hillsborough County.
Published August 26, 2015
