Summer is an exciting time to grow in Florida! Our typical ‘northern garden’ season is over, and we switch to tropicals. Traditional tomatoes don’t do well in summer, so try something new and exciting. In this post, I share my best tips for growing during summer and my personal list of what to grow.
My Summer Growing Tips
NUTRIENTS: Please also cut down to 1/2 strength nutrients when the temperatures are in the 80s and 1/4 strength in the 90s!
PEST CONTROL: You will also want to spray your plants weekly IN SUMMER with my Neem and soap spray, adding in Bt or Spinosad when you see pests. Please download this document.
Click on the picture below to listen to this PODCAST about Summer Vegetables in FL on Better Lawns and Gardens:
How To Start Your Seeds
Summer Seed Suggestions
(If there is no link, this plant is available at Whitwam Organics www.whitwamorganics.com - Use code BROOKS10 to save 10% off $25 or more, single-use only, no bulk items)
TOMATOES
Everglades tomatoes will produce in early spring and late summer and possibly even through the dead of summer.
LETTUCE
Muir Lettuce (grows in even the hottest weather)
SQUASH Desert Zucchini Squash-Aehobak Korean Squash Teot Bat Put Avocado Tatume Squash Calabaza (AKA Seminole Pumpkin)
GREENS
Tokyo Bekana (delicious green that has a lettuce-like texture)
Dinosaur Kale (comes with the Tower Garden)
Swiss Chard (comes with the Tower Garden)
CELERY
HERBS
Mojito Mint (please trim the roots on this every month)
Peppermint (please trim the roots on this every month)
THYME
PEPPERS
Sweet specialty peppers (like sweet banana and Italian frying peppers do very well in summer)
Pepper-Big Red (May not produce well in the dead of summer
Hot peppers thrive in our FL summers)
EGGPLANT
Chinese Bride Eggplant:
Mizuno Takumi Japanese Eggplant:
Shoya Long Japanese Eggplant:
FLOWERS (for attracting pollinators and preventing pests)
BEANS AND PEAS
Bush Bean Tendergreen (plant this up until about June)
FRUIT
Poha Berry (these don’t always produce well in summer but will start producing in fall when it cools down a little. They like to germinate in hot weather and produce in spring and fall):
Watermelon (I have trouble growing good watermelon – hopefully, you will do better than me!)
Happy planting!
Feel free to message me here with any questions or concerns.
~ Leah Brooks
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