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SP 103
Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide1
Sydney Park Brown, J.M. Stephens, Danielle Treadwell, Susan Webb, Amanda Gevens, R.A. Dunn, G. Kidder, D. Short, and G.W. Simone2
1. This document is SP 103, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date December 1999. Revised December 2010. Reviewed February 2012. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. Sydney Park Brown, Extension associate professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, and consumer horticulture specialist, Gulf Coast Research and Education Center--Plant City, FL; J.M. Stephens, professor emeritus, Horticultural Sciences Department; Danielle Treadwell, assistant professor, Horticultural Sciences Department, and organic farming specialist; Susan Webb, associate professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; Amanda Gevens, former assistant professor, Plant Pathology Department; R.A. Dunn, retired professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; G. Kidder, retired professor, Soil Science Department; D. Short, retired professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; G.W. Simone, retired professor, Plant Pathology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611. The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information. It is not a guarantee or warranty of the products named and does not signify that they are approved to the exclusion of others of suitable composition.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean
Vegetable gardening offers fresh air, sunshine, exercise, enjoyment, mental therapy, nutritious fresh vegetables, and economic savings, as well as many other benefits. Vegetables can be grown year-round in Florida if attention is paid to the appropriate planting dates. While this guide provides recommendations primarily for home gardens, the information may be useful in other situations, such as container, community, and market gardens.
Steps in GardeningSiteFor convenience locate the garden near the house, on a well drained site, close to a source of water, and in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. With proper care, vegetables may also be included in the landscape among ornamental plants. Coastal sites are also suitable. Where possible, rotate the garden from place to place to help control soil diseases and other pests.
PlanBefore planting, draw a garden plan that includes the name, location, and planting date(s) of the vegetables you want
to grow. Use the Planting Guide (Table 3) to develop your plan. Make a list of supplies and order or purchase seeds early if you intend to grow your own transplants. The Plant-ing Guide lists which vegetable seedlings transplant easily and which do not. Vegetables that are difficult to transplant should be seeded directly into the garden or started in containers first.
Soil PreparationGardeners often plant on whatever soil type is available, but it is usually worthwhile to improve the garden plot with additions of organic matter (see below). Spade or plow the plot at least three weeks before planting. At planting time, rework the soil into a smooth, firm surface.
OrGanic MatterMost Florida soils benefit from the addition of organic matter, such as animal manure, rotted leaves, compost, commerical soil mixes, and cover crops. Thoroughly mix liberal amounts of (un-composted) organics in the soil well in advance of planting, preferably at least a month before seeding. If you do not plan to use inorganic fertilizer, spread 25 - 100 pounds of compost or composted animal
2
manure per 100 square feet. Composted organics may be applied at planting time. However, aged or raw manures should be worked into the soil 90-120 days before havest-ing. Due to inconsistent levels of nutrients in compost, accompanying applications of inorganic or organic fertilizer may be beneficial. To avoid plant stunting, organic amend-ments low in nitrogen (such as composted yard debris) must be accompanied by fertilizer. See EDIS Publication CIR375 Organic Vegetable Gardening, (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH019).
cOMPOStCreate your own “garden gold” by converting yard wastes to compost. Composting is easy to do and yields a manure-like, organic fertilizer/soil conditioner, which highly benefits Florida’s infertile native soils. See EDIS Publication ENH 1065 - Compost Tips for the Home Gardener (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP323).
1. Buy a compost unit or build one from recycled wood pallets, concrete block, sturdy wire, etc. The minimum size should be 3’x3’x3’.
2. Make successive, 12-inch-thick layers of plant waste -- such as leaves, lawn clippings, shredded branches, and wood chips. Kitchen scraps may also be used.
3. Animal (not pet) manure, finished compost, blood meal, or fertilizer can be added to each layer if desired.
4. Moisten each layer and keep the pile moist.
5. Turn the pile frequently to add oxygen and help the decomposition process.
6. Depending on how intensively it is managed, compost should be ready for use in two to twelve months, when plant parts are decomposed.
7. Cover the pile to keep rain from leaching nutrients from it.
cOVer crOPS/Green ManureGreen manure is fresh plant material turned into the soil. Planting and plowing in green-manure crops during the off-season is beneficial. The following cover crops are recommended: cowpea, velvet bean, soybean, and sun-flower in summer and cereal rye (FL 401), crimson clover, and Austrian winter pea in winter.
For more information, see EDIS Publication ENY012 Managing Nematodes for the Non-Commercial Vegetable Garden (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/NG005).
adjuStinG SOil PHSoil pH is important because it governs how available nutrients are to plants. The best pH range for vegetable gardens on sandy soil is between pH 5.8 and 6.3. If your soil pH is between 5.5 and 7.0, no adjustment in pH needs to be made.
If your soil pH is below 5.5, apply lime at a rate recom-mended by a reliable soil testing facility, such as the IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (http://soilslab.ifas.ufl.edu/). Two to three pounds of finely ground dolomitic limestone per 100 square feet will usually raise the pH one point. Caution: Application of lime when it is not needed may cause plant nutritional problems. Lime is best applied two to three months before the garden is to be planted. However, lime may be applied as late as one or two weeks before planting. Make sure the lime is thoroughly mixed into the soil to a depth of 6 - 8 inches and then water the soil to promote the chemical reaction.
If your soil pH is naturally above 7.0 (alkaline), where limestone, marl, or shells are present, there is no practical way of permanently lowering soil pH. Additions of acidic organic matter will help, but only temporarily. Use a fertilizer that contains micronutrients. If the high pH is the result of previous over-liming, application of granular sulfur (1 lb/100 sq ft) will lower soil pH.
FertilizingUnless very large quantities of organic fertilizer materials are applied, commercial synthetic fertilizer is usually needed for Florida gardens. Gardeners find it convenient to use commonly available fertilizer grades, such as 6-6-6 or 10-10-10. However, some Florida soils contain adequate phosphorus (the middle number), and additional amounts should not be added as phosphorus is a pollutant in surface water, such as lakes and rivers. A soil test can determine whether phosphorus is needed. See EDIS Publication Cir 1248 UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SS312).
The quantities shown in Table 1 are usually sufficient. If a different fertilization recommendation accompanies your soil test results, use those specific recommendations rather than the general ones given here.
3
Broadcast the indicated amount of fertilizer over the entire garden plot before planting. Band the other portion at planting time along the plant rows. The fertilizer should be applied 2 - 3 inches to the side of, and 1 - 2 inches below the seed level or plant row.
In addition, during the growing season, it may be neces-sary to apply fertilizer two or three more times at half the banded rate shown in the table. Apply the fertilizer just beyond the outside leaves.
irrigation and drainageVegetables cannot tolerate standing water from excessive rainfall or irrigation. Yet, at the same time, vegetables need soil moisture to grow and produce. Frequency of irrigation depends upon the age of the crop and your soil type. Young plants need frequent but light irrigation; maturing crops need more water but less often. Sandy soils demand more frequent irrigation than clay, muck or amended soils. Conserve water by using mulch, organic matter, and techniques such as drip irrigation. Make a slight depression at the base of plants to hold water until absorbed by the soil.
Pest Management‘Pests’ in the vegetable garden include weeds, insects, mites, diseases, nematodes – and even animals such as raccoons and birds that might reduce yields.
A gardener has many options for reducing pest problems. Pesticides can be harmful to people, pets, beneficial insects, and the natural environment and should be used only after all other pest-management steps have been taken.
no-Pesticide approaches• Follow the recommended planting date(s) listed for each
vegetable. Vegetables planted “out of season” are very susceptible to many pests. Plant as early in the spring (or as late in the fall, depending on the crop) as is safely possible. Use protective covers for cold-sensitive plants.
• Rotate vegetables so that the same vegetable (or members of the same vegetable family) are not planted repeatedly in the same areas. The plant family for each vegetable is listed in Table 3.
• Till or hand-turn the soil well in advance of planting. Insects, such as mole crickets and wireworms, for which there is no good control, are commonly more abundant in gardens that have recently been in grass. The garden
should be well tilled and free of weeds, grass, and woody material at least 30 days before planting.
• Control weeds in and around the garden because they can be a source of insects and diseases. Weed control is best accomplished by mulching and hand-pulling or hoeing small weeds. Recommended mulches are straw, fallen leaves, and unfinished compost. Wood mulches and un-decomposed sawdust should not be used. Weeds around the outside of the garden and between rows can be reduced by putting down several layers of newspaper and then covering them with leaves.
• Choose adapted varieties with resistance or tolerance to nematodes and the diseases common in your area.
• Purchased transplants should be free of insects and disease symptoms (such as leaf spots or blights). Avoid transplants that are already flowering. Consider growing your own from seed.
• Plants can be protected from cutworms by placing a “collar” around the plant. The collar can be made from a bottomless plastic cup or a waxed cardboard carton. The collar should extend a few inches above and at least an inch below the surface of the ground.
• Lightweight row covers (also called floating row covers) can be used as a barrier to insects. Put in place at plant-ing, with lots of excess material to leave room for the growing plant. Remove the cover when plants that need bees for pollination begin to flower (i.e., vegetables listed in Table 3 as members of the Cucurbitacae Family).
• Keep plants vigorously growing and in a state of good health by supplying appropriate amounts of water and fertilizer. A healthy plant is often able to survive insect attacks. Too much nitrogen, however, can make plants more inviting to aphids and whiteflies.
• Monitor or scout the garden twice weekly for pest prob-lems. This includes inspecting the plants from the bud to the soil, including both upper and lower leaf surfaces. Record notes on pest problems and the performance of different varieties. Include photographs of insects, diseases, and beneficial insects that you find.
• Learn to identify beneficial insects (praying mantis, spiders, big-eyed bugs/assassin bugs, lady beetles, and all wasps). Some of these insects can be purchased, but keep in mind that many beneficial insects exist naturally in
4
Florida, and purchased beneficials will leave if there are no insects for them to eat.
• Plant flowers in the vegetable garden. They provide nectar and pollen that attract beneficial insects.
• Large insects can be removed by hand and destroyed. Place them in a container of soapy water, where they will sink and drown.
• Watch for early disease symptoms. Remove any diseased leaves or plants to slow spread.
• Most plants that produce fruits, pods, or ears can stand a 10 – 20 percent loss of leaves without loss of potential yields. Do not panic and start spraying at the first sign of leaf feeding.
• Harvest crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, and beans as soon as they are ripe. Allowing over-ripe fruits to remain on the plants often invites additional insect problems.
• As soon as a plant or crop is no longer productive, remove it from the garden and compost or dispose of it.
• Reduce nematode populations temporarily by “soil solarization” – a technique that uses the sun’s energy to heat the soil and kill soil-borne pests. To “solarize” soil, first remove vegetation, then break up and wet the soil to activate the nematodes. Cover the soil with sturdy, clear-plastic film. Weight down the edges with additional soil to keep the plastic in place. Soil solarization should be done during the warmest six weeks of summer. High temperatures (above 130°F) must be maintained for best results.
• Add organic matter to the soil to help reduce nematode populations - microscopic worms that attack vegetable roots and reduce growth and yield. Organic matter im-proves the capacity of the soil to hold water and nutrients and, in turn, improves plant vigor and resistance to pests.
• See also EDIS Publication CIR375, Organic Vegetable Gardening (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH019).
using Pesticides WiselyIf you choose to use pesticides, refer to Table 2 and follow pesticide label directions carefully.
• Learn to properly identify garden pests and use chemicals only when a serious pest problem exists. Your county
Extension office can provide information about insect identification. Organic gardeners can use certain prod-ucts (Bt, for example).
• Not every off-the-shelf pesticide can be used on every vegetable or on vegetables at all. Make sure the vegetable and the pest are on the label before purchasing the product.
• Follow label directions for measuring and mixing, and pay attention to any ‘pre-harvest interval’ - the time that must elapse between application of the pesticide and harvest. For example, broccoli sprayed with carbaryl (Sevin) should not be harvested for two weeks.
• Spray the plant thoroughly, covering both the upper and lower leaf surfaces.
• Do not apply pesticides on windy days.
• Follow all safety precautions on the label and keep others and pets out of the area until sprays have dried.
• Apply insecticides late in the afternoon or in the early evening when bees and other pollinators are less active. Malathion, Carbaryl, and pyrethroids are especially harmful to bees.
• To reduce spray burn, make sure the plants are not under moisture stress. Water, if necessary, and let leaves dry before spraying. Avoid using soaps and oils when the weather is very hot.
• Control slugs with products containing iron phosphate. Products with metaldehyde as the active ingredient are extremely toxic to animals, such as dogs and wildlife that may be attracted to the bait.
• Diseases - Plant fungicide-treated seed. Dust untreated seed with a captan fungicide. Many common diseases can be controlled with sprays of chlorothalonil, maneb, or mancozeb fungicide. Powdery mildews can be controlled with triadimefon, myclobutanil, sulfur, or horticultural oils. Rusts can be controlled with sulfur, propiconazole, or tebuconazole. Sprays are generally more effective than dusts. Begin control efforts early.
5
Table 1. Fertilizer Recommendationsamount to apply
Soil Fertilizergrade
broadcastlb./100 sq ft
10ft/rowbanded oz.
Sand, marl, rock, or clay 4-2-46-6-6
8-10-109-0-9
4322
6544
Organic soils (muck, peat, oramended)
0-12-20 1-2 2
Table 2. Insect Control Recommendationsrefer to the “active ingredient” on product labels to determine which pesticide(s) the product contains.
Pest neeme Spinosade Btae carbaryl Malathion Pyrethroidsb Soapce Oilce imidaclopridd
Aphids X X X X X X
Armyworm X X X X
Bean leafroller X X X X
Cabbage looper X X X X
Col. potato beetle X X X X
Cucumber beetle X X X X
Diamondback moth X X
Corn earworm/fruitworm X X X X
Flea beetle X X X X
Hornworm, pinworm X X X X
Leafminers X
Leafhoppers X X X X
Melon, pickleworm X X X X
Mexican bean beetle X X X
Cowpea curculio X
Spider mites X X
Squash vine borer X X X
Stink bugs X (nymphs) X (nymphs) X (adults)
Thrips X X X X
Whiteflies X X X X XaBacillus thuringiensis (several brands).bIncludes bifenthrin, lamda-cyhalothrin, esfenvalerate, and pyrethrins + PBO.cTest on a few plants first because of potentional leaf burn and do not use in hot weather.dThis pesticide requires a waiting period before harvesting of 7 to 45 days (depending on the crop).eLeast toxic products.
6
Tabl
e 3.
Pla
ntin
g G
uide
for F
lorid
a Ve
geta
bles
crop
Plan
ting
dat
es in
Flo
rida
(o
utdo
ors)
1Pl
ant F
amily
2tr
ansp
lant
abili
ty3
Poun
dsyi
eld
per1
00’
day
s to
Har
vest
4Se
eds/
plan
tsPe
r 100
’
Spac
ing
(inch
es)
Seed
dept
h (in
ches
)n
orth
cent
ral
Sout
hro
ws
Plan
ts
Bean
s, bu
shM
ar-A
pr
Aug-
Sep
Feb-
Apr
Sep
Sep-
Apr
Faba
ceae
III45
50-6
01
lb.
18-3
02-
31-
2
Bean
s, po
leM
ar-A
pr
Aug-
Sep
Feb-
Apr
Aug-
Sep
Aug-
Apr
Faba
ceae
III80
55-7
0½
lb.
40-4
83-
61-
2
Bean
s, lim
aM
ar-A
ugFe
b-Ap
r Se
pt.
Aug-
Apr
Faba
ceae
III50
65-7
52
lb.
24-3
63-
41-
2
Beet
sSe
p-M
arO
ct-M
arO
ct-F
ebCh
enop
odia
ceae
I75
50-6
51
oz.
14-2
43-
5½
-1
Broc
coli
Aug-
Feb
Aug-
Jan
Sept
-Jan
Bras
sica
ceae
I50
75-9
010
0 pl
ts
(1/8
oz.
)30
-36
12-1
8½
-1
Cabb
age
Sep-
Feb
Sep-
Jan
Sep-
Jan
Bras
sica
ceae
I12
590
-110
(70-
90)
100
plts
(1/8
oz)
24-3
612
-24
½ -1
Cant
alou
pes
Mar
-Apr
Feb-
Apr
Aug-
Sep
Feb-
Mar
Cucu
rbita
ccae
III15
075
-90
(65-
75)
½ o
z.60
-72
24-3
61-
2
Carr
ots
Sep-
Mar
Oct
-Mar
Oct
-Feb
Apia
ceae
II10
065
-80
1/8
oz.
16-2
41-
3½
Caul
iflow
erJa
n-Fe
b Au
g-O
ctO
ct-J
anO
ct-J
anBr
assi
cace
aeI
8075
-90
(55-
70)
55 p
lts
(1/8
oz)
24-3
018
-24
½ -1
Cele
ryJa
n-M
arAu
g-Fe
bO
ct-J
anAp
iace
aeII
150
115-
125
(80-
105)
150
plts
(1
/8 o
z)24
-36
6-10
¼ -
½
Chin
ese
cabb
age
Oct
-Feb
Oct
-Jan
Nov
-Jan
Bras
sica
ceae
I10
070
-90
(60-
70)
125
plts
(1
/8 o
z)24
-36
12-2
4¼
- ¾
Colla
rds
Feb-
Apr
Aug-
Nov
Aug-
Mar
Aug-
Feb
Bras
sica
ceae
I15
070
-80
100
plts
(1
/8 o
z)24
-30
10-1
8½
-1
Corn
, sw
eet
Mar
-Apr
Au
gFe
b-M
ar
Aug-
Sep
Aug-
Mar
Poac
eae
III11
560
-95
2 oz
.24
-36
12-1
81-
2
Cucu
mbe
rsFe
b-Ap
r Au
g-Se
pFe
b-M
ar
Sep
Sep-
Mar
Cucu
rbita
ceae
III10
050
-65
(40-
50)
½ o
z.36
-60
12-2
41-
2
Eggp
lant
Feb-
July
Jan-
Mar
Au
g-Se
pD
ec-F
eb
Aug-
Oct
Sola
nace
aeI
200
90-1
10 (7
5-90
)50
plts
1
pkt
36-4
224
-36
½
Endi
ve/
Esca
role
Feb-
Mar
Se
pJa
n-Fe
b Se
pSe
p-Ja
nAs
tera
ceae
I75
80-9
510
0 pl
ts18
-24
8-12
½
Kale
Sep-
Feb
Sep-
Jan
Sep-
Jan
Bras
sica
ceae
I75
70-8
0 (5
5)10
0 pl
ts
(1/8
oz)
24-3
012
-18
½ -1
Kohl
rabi
Sep-
Mar
Oct
-Mar
Oct
-Feb
Bras
sica
ceae
I10
070
-80
(50-
55)
1/8
oz.
24-3
03-
5½
-1
Lett
uce:
Cr
isp,
But
ter-
head
, Lea
f &
Rom
aine
Feb-
Mar
Se
p-O
ctSe
p-M
arSe
p-Ja
nAs
tera
ceae
I75
50-9
010
0 pl
ts(1
/4 o
z.)
12-2
48-
12½
7
crop
Plan
ting
dat
es in
Flo
rida
(o
utdo
ors)
1Pl
ant F
amily
2tr
ansp
lant
abili
ty3
Poun
dsyi
eld
per1
00’
day
s to
Har
vest
4Se
eds/
plan
tsPe
r 100
’
Spac
ing
(inch
es)
Seed
dept
h (in
ches
)n
orth
cent
ral
Sout
hro
ws
Plan
ts
Mus
tard
Sep-
May
Sep-
Mar
Sep-
Mar
Bras
sica
ceae
II10
040
-60
¼ o
z.14
-24
1-6
½ -1
Okr
aM
ar-J
uly
Mar
-Aug
Aug-
Sep
Mal
vace
aeIII
7050
-75
1 oz
.24
-40
6-12
1-2
Oni
ons,
Bulb
ing
Sep-
Dec
Sep-
Dec
Sep-
Nov
Lilia
ceae
III10
012
0-16
0 (1
10-1
20)
300
plts
/ se
ts, 1
oz
seed
12-2
44-
6½
-1
Oni
ons,
Bunc
hing
(G
reen
on
ions
)
Aug-
Mar
Aug-
Mar
Sep-
Mar
Lilia
ceae
III10
050
-75
(30-
40)
800
plts
/se
ts, 1
- 1½
oz
seed
12-2
41-
22-
3
Oni
ons
(Sha
llots
)“
““
Lilia
ceae
III10
0(3
0-40
)“
18-2
46-
8½
- ¾
Peas
, Eng
lish
Jan-
Mar
Sep-
Mar
Sep-
Feb
Faba
ceae
III40
50-7
01
lb.
24-3
62-
31-
2
Peas
, so
uthe
rnM
ar-A
ugM
ar-S
epAu
g-Ap
rFa
bace
aeIII
8060
-90
½ o
z.30
-36
2-3
1-2
Pepp
ers
Feb-
Apr
July
-Aug
Jan-
Mar
Au
g-Se
pAu
g-M
arSo
lana
ceae
I50
80-1
00 (6
0-80
)10
0 pl
ts 1
pk
t20
-36
12-2
4½
Pota
toes
Jan-
Mar
Jan-
Feb
Sep-
Jan
Sola
nace
aeII
150
85-1
1015
lbs.
36-4
28-
123-
4
Pota
toes
, sw
eet
Mar
-Jun
Feb-
Jun
Feb-
Jun
Conv
olvu
lace
aeI
300
(120
-140
)10
0 pl
ts48
-54
12-1
4--
-
Pum
pkin
Mar
-Apr
Au
gFe
b-M
ar
Aug
Jan-
Feb
Aug-
Sep
Cucu
rbita
ceae
III30
090
-120
(80-
110)
1 oz
.60
-84
36-6
01-
2
Radi
shSe
p-M
arSe
p-M
arO
ct-M
arBr
assi
cace
aeIII
4020
-30
1 oz
.12
-18
1-2
¾
Spin
ach
Oct
-Nov
Oct
-Nov
Oct
-Jan
Chen
opod
iace
aeII
4045
-60
1 oz
.14
-18
3-5
¾
Squa
sh,
Sum
mer
Mar
-Apr
Au
g-Se
pFe
b-M
ar
Aug-
Sep
Jan-
Mar
Se
p-O
ctCu
curb
itace
aeIII
150
40-5
5 (3
5-40
)1½
oz.
36-4
824
-36
1-2
Squa
sh,
Win
ter
Mar
Aug
Feb-
Mar
Au
gJa
n-Fe
b Se
pCu
curb
itace
aeIII
300
80-1
10 (7
0-90
)1
oz.
60-9
036
-48
1-2
Stra
wbe
rry
Oct
-Nov
Oct
-Nov
Oct
-Nov
Rosa
ceae
I50
(90-
110)
100
plts
36-4
010
-14
---
Tom
atoe
s, St
ake
Feb-
Apr
Aug
Jan-
Mar
Se
pAu
g-M
arSo
lana
ceae
I20
090
-110
(75-
90)
70 p
lts
1 pk
t36
-48
18-2
4½
Tom
atoe
s, G
roun
d“
““
Sola
nace
aeI
200
90-1
10 (7
5-90
)35
plts
1
pkt
40-6
036
-40
½
Tom
atoe
s, Co
ntai
ner
““
“So
lana
ceae
I20
090
-110
(75-
90)
Turn
ips
Jan-
Apr
Aug-
Oct
Jan-
Mar
Se
p-N
ovO
ct-F
ebBr
assi
cace
aeIII
150
40-6
0¼
oz.
12-2
04-
6½
-1
8
crop
Plan
ting
dat
es in
Flo
rida
(o
utdo
ors)
1Pl
ant F
amily
2tr
ansp
lant
abili
ty3
Poun
dsyi
eld
per1
00’
day
s to
Har
vest
4Se
eds/
plan
tsPe
r 100
’
Spac
ing
(inch
es)
Seed
dept
h (in
ches
)n
orth
cent
ral
Sout
hro
ws
Plan
ts
Wat
erm
elon
, La
rge
Mar
-Apr
Ju
ly-A
ugJa
n-M
ar
Aug
Jan-
Mar
Au
g-Se
pCu
curb
itace
aeIII
400
85-9
5 (8
0-90
)1/
8 oz
.84
-108
48-6
01-
2
Wat
erm
elon
, Sm
all
““
“Cu
curb
itace
aeIII
400
85-9
5 (8
0-90
)1/
8 oz
.48
-60
15-3
0“
Wat
erm
elon
, Se
edle
ss“
““
Cucu
rbita
ceae
III40
085
-95
(80-
90)
70 p
lts48
-60
15-3
0“
1 nor
th: n
orth
of S
tate
Rd
40; c
entr
al: b
etw
een
Stat
e Rd
s 40
and
70; S
outh
: sou
th o
f Sta
te R
d 70
.2 R
otat
e cr
ops t
o av
oid
soil
pest
pro
blem
s; av
oid
plan
ting
vege
tabl
es b
elon
ging
to th
e sa
me
fam
ily in
succ
essi
ve se
ason
s.3 T
rans
plan
tabi
lity
cate
gorie
s: I,
easi
ly su
rviv
es tr
ansp
lant
ing;
II, s
urvi
ves w
ith c
are;
III,
use
seed
s or c
onta
iner
ized
tran
spla
nts o
nly.
4 Day
s fro
m se
edin
g to
har
vest
: Val
ues i
n pa
rent
hese
s are
day
s fro
m tr
ansp
lant
ing
to fi
rst h
arve
st.
9
Tabl
e 4.
Sug
gest
ed V
arie
ties
for F
lorid
a G
arde
nscr
OP
recO
MM
end
ed V
ari
etie
S1n
Ote
S/re
Ma
rKS
Bean
s, B
ush
Snap
: Bus
h Bl
ue L
ake,
Con
tend
er, R
oma
II, P
rovi
der,
Cher
okee
Wax
Sh
ell:
Hor
ticul
tura
l, Pi
nto,
Red
Kid
ney,
Bla
ck B
ean,
Nav
y
Fert
ilize
at 1
/2 ra
te u
sed
for o
ther
veg
etab
les.
Seed
inoc
ulat
ion
not e
ssen
tial f
or m
ost s
oils
. Fl
ower
s sel
f-pol
linat
ed. U
se sh
ell b
eans
gre
en o
r dry
. Rom
a is
a fl
at p
od ty
pe. C
hero
kee
is a
ye
llow
wax
.
Bean
s, p
ole
McC
asla
n, K
entu
cky
Won
der,
Blue
Lak
eSu
ppor
t vin
es. M
ay b
e gr
own
with
cor
n fo
r vin
e su
ppor
t.
Bean
s, li
ma
Ford
hook
242
, Hen
ders
on, J
acks
on W
onde
r, D
ixie
(S
peck
led)
But
terp
ea, E
arly
Tho
rogr
een
Prov
ide
trel
lis su
ppor
t for
pol
e va
rietie
s. Co
ntro
l stin
kbug
s tha
t inj
ure
seed
s in
pods
. Fo
rdho
ok is
larg
e-se
eded
; Hen
ders
on is
“but
terb
ean”
type
.
Beet
sTa
ll To
p, E
arly
Won
der,
Det
roit
Dar
k Re
d, C
ylin
dra,
Red
Ac
e, Y
ello
w D
etro
itBe
ets r
equi
re a
mpl
e m
oist
ure
at se
edin
g or
poo
r ger
min
atio
n re
sults
. Lea
ves a
re e
dibl
e.
Broc
coli
Early
Gre
en, E
arly
Div
iden
d, G
reen
Spr
outin
g/Ca
labr
ese,
W
alth
am, P
ackm
an, D
e Ci
cco,
Bro
ccol
i Raa
b (R
apin
i)H
arve
st sm
all m
ultip
le si
de sh
oots
that
dev
elop
aft
er m
ain
cent
ral h
ead
is c
ut. B
rocc
oli R
aab
is n
ot re
late
d to
bro
ccol
i.
cabb
age
Rio
Verd
e, F
lat D
utch
, Rou
nd D
utch
, Wak
efiel
d ty
pes,
Cope
nhag
en M
arke
t, Sa
voy,
Red
Acr
eBu
y cl
ean
plan
ts to
avo
id c
abba
ge b
lack
-rot
, a c
omm
on b
acte
rial d
isea
se th
at c
ause
s yel
low
pa
tche
s on
leaf
mar
gins
. Kee
p an
eye
out
for l
oope
r cat
erpi
llars
; use
Bt f
or c
ontr
ol.
cant
alou
pes
and
Hon
eyde
ws
Athe
na, A
mbr
osia
, Gal
ia (g
reen
fles
h)Be
es n
eede
d fo
r pol
linat
ion.
Mul
ch to
redu
ce fr
uit-
rot a
nd sa
lmon
ella
. Har
vest
whe
n th
e fr
uit
clea
nly
sepa
rate
s fro
m th
e vi
ne w
ith li
ght p
ress
ure.
carr
ots
Impe
rato
r, N
ante
s, D
anve
rs, C
hant
enay
Gro
w c
arro
ts o
n a
rais
ed b
ed fo
r bes
t res
ults
. Sow
seed
s sha
llow
and
thin
seed
lings
to
reco
mm
ende
d sp
acin
g.
caul
iflow
erSn
owba
ll St
rain
s, Sn
ow C
row
n, B
roco
verd
eTi
e le
aves
aro
und
the
head
whe
n it
is 2
-3 in
ches
to p
reve
nt d
isco
lora
tion.
Bro
cove
rde
is
gree
n-he
aded
.
cele
ryU
tah
Stra
ins
Cele
ry re
quire
s ver
y hi
gh so
il m
oist
ure
durin
g se
edin
g/se
edlin
g st
age.
chin
ese
cabb
age
Mic
hihi
li, B
ok C
hoy,
Nap
a, B
aby
Bok
Choy
, Pak
-cho
i, Jo
i Ch
oiBo
k Ch
oy is
ope
n-le
af ty
pe, w
hile
Mic
hihi
li an
d N
apa
form
tigh
ter h
eads
.
colla
rds
Geo
rgia
, Geo
rgia
Sou
ther
n, To
p Bu
nch,
Vat
esTo
lera
tes m
ore
heat
than
mos
t oth
er b
rass
icas
. Har
vest
low
er le
aves
.
corn
, sw
eet
Silv
er Q
ueen
(whi
te),
How
Sw
eet I
t Is (
whi
te),
Swee
t Ice
(w
hite
), Sw
eet R
iser
(yel
low
), Ea
rly S
ungl
ow (y
ello
w)
Sepa
rate
supe
r-sw
eets
from
stan
dard
var
ietie
s by
time
and
dist
ance
to a
void
cro
ss-
polli
natio
n. S
ucke
r rem
oval
not
ben
efici
al. P
lant
in b
lock
s of 2
-3 ro
ws.
cucu
mbe
rsSl
icer
s: S
wee
t Suc
cess
, Poi
nset
t, As
hley
, Mar
ketM
ore
76, S
trai
ght E
ight
, Spa
ce M
aste
r Pi
ckle
rs: L
iber
ty H
ybrid
, Eur
eka,
Bos
ton
Pick
ling
Pick
ling
type
s can
als
o be
use
d fre
sh. L
iber
ty H
ybrid
and
Sw
eet S
ucce
ss a
re b
urpl
ess t
ypes
. M
any
new
hyb
rids a
re g
ynoe
ciou
s (fe
mal
e flo
wer
ing)
, whi
ch m
eans
mor
e fr
uit s
et. B
ees
requ
ired
for p
ollin
atio
n
eggp
lant
Blac
k Be
auty
, Dus
ky, L
ong,
Ichi
ban,
Clo
ud N
ine
(whi
te)
May
nee
d st
akin
g. H
arve
st in
to su
mm
er. R
equi
res w
arm
wea
ther
.
endi
ve/e
scar
ole
endi
ve: G
reen
Cur
led
Ruffe
c es
caro
le: B
atav
ian
Broa
dlea
fEx
celle
nt in
gred
ient
in to
ssed
sala
ds. E
scar
ole
is a
sele
ctio
n of
end
ive
also
kno
wn
as B
atav
ian
endi
ve.
Kale
Vate
s Dw
arf B
lue
Curle
d, T
usca
n, W
inte
rbor
, Red
bor
Ther
e is
als
o a
colla
rd v
arie
ty n
amed
Vat
es.
Kohl
rabi
Early
Whi
te V
ienn
a, P
urpl
e Vi
enna
Both
red
and
gree
n va
rietie
s are
eas
y to
gro
w. U
se fr
esh
or c
ooke
d. L
eave
s are
edi
ble.
lett
uce
cris
phea
d: G
reat
Lak
es
Butt
erhe
ad: E
rmos
a, B
ibb,
Tom
Thu
mb,
But
terc
runc
h,
loos
e le
af: S
imps
on ty
pes,
Sala
d Bo
wl,
Red
Sails
, New
Re
d Fi
re
Oak
lea
f: Sa
lad
Bow
l, Ro
yal O
ak
rom
aine
: Par
ris Is
land
Cos
, Out
redg
eous
Gro
w c
risph
ead
type
in c
oole
st m
onth
s for
firm
er h
eads
. Sow
seed
s ver
y sh
allo
w a
s the
y ne
ed li
ght f
or g
erm
inat
ion.
Inte
rcro
p le
ttuc
e w
ith lo
ng-s
easo
n ve
geta
bles
.
Mus
tard
Sout
hern
Gia
nt C
urle
d, F
lorid
a Br
oad
Leaf
, Ten
derg
reen
, G
iant
Red
, Gre
en W
ave,
Miz
una
Cons
ider
pla
ntin
g in
a w
ide-
row
syst
em. B
road
leaf
type
s req
uire
mor
e sp
ace.
Coo
k as
“g
reen
s.” M
izun
a is
a Ja
pane
se g
reen
use
d in
sala
ds. I
t is d
amag
ed b
y fre
ezin
g te
mpe
ratu
res.
10
crO
Pre
cOM
Men
ded
Va
riet
ieS1
nO
teS/
reM
arK
S
Okr
aCl
emso
n Sp
inel
ess,
Emer
ald,
Ann
ie O
akle
y II,
Caj
un
Del
ight
Prod
uces
wel
l in
war
m m
onth
s. H
ighl
y su
scep
tible
to ro
ot-k
not n
emat
odes
.
Oni
ons
Bulb
ing:
Gra
nex
(yel
low
) Bu
nchi
ng (G
reen
): Ev
ergr
een
Bunc
hing
, Whi
te L
isbo
n Bu
nchi
ngle
eks:
Am
eric
an F
lag
Mul
tipl
iers
: Sha
llots
Plan
t sho
rt-d
ay b
ulbi
ng v
arie
ties.
Bulb
ing
onio
ns m
ay b
e se
eded
in th
e fa
ll, th
en tr
ansp
lant
ed
in Ja
n-Fe
b. F
or b
unch
ing
onio
ns, i
nser
t set
s upr
ight
for s
trai
ght s
tem
s. D
ivid
e an
d re
set
mul
tiplie
rs.
Peas
, eng
lish
or S
now
Wan
do, G
reen
Arr
ow, S
ugar
Sna
p, O
rego
n Su
garp
od II
Trel
lis. T
he p
ods o
f Sug
ar S
nap
and
Ore
gon
type
s are
edi
ble.
Peas
, Sou
ther
n (a
ka F
ield
Pe
as, c
ow P
eas,
cro
wde
r Pe
as, c
ream
Pea
s)
Calif
orni
a Bl
acke
ye N
o.5,
Pin
keye
Pur
ple
Hul
l, Tex
as
Crea
mG
ood
sum
mer
cov
er c
rop.
Cow
pea
curc
ulio
– a
tiny
whi
te g
rub
that
infe
sts s
eeds
in p
od –
is a
co
mm
on p
est.
‘Cal
iforn
ia N
o.5
Blac
keye
’ is re
sist
ant t
o ro
ot-k
not n
emat
odes
.
Pepp
ers
Bell:
Cal
iforn
ia W
onde
r, Re
d Kn
ight
, Big
Ber
tha
Oth
er S
wee
t: Sw
eet B
anan
a, G
iant
Mar
coni
, Mar
iach
i, Cu
bane
lle
jala
peno
: Ear
ly Ja
lape
no, J
alap
eno
M
Spec
ialt
y H
ot: C
herr
y Bo
mb,
Hun
garia
n H
ot W
ax,
Big
Chile
II, N
umex
, Anc
ho, T
hai,
Anah
eim
Chi
le, L
ong
Caye
nne,
Hab
aner
o, C
arib
bean
Red
Hab
aner
o
Mul
chin
g es
peci
ally
ben
efici
al. W
ill o
ften
pro
duce
into
sum
mer
. Mos
t sm
all-f
ruite
d va
rietie
s ar
e ho
t. Pe
pper
hea
t is m
easu
red
in S
covi
lle u
nits
. Hab
aner
os a
vera
ge 2
59,0
00 S
covi
lles;
Carib
bean
Red
s are
a li
ttle
ove
r 445
,000
Sco
ville
s. In
com
paris
on, J
alap
enos
rank
2,5
00-1
0,00
0 Sc
ovill
es, d
epen
ding
on
the
varie
ty.
Pota
toRe
d Po
ntia
c, Y
ukon
Gol
d, G
old
Rush
Plan
t 2-o
unce
seed
pie
ces w
ith e
yes.
Do
not u
se “s
tore
bou
ght”
for s
eed.
Rem
ove
tops
two
wee
ks b
efor
e di
ggin
g to
“tou
ghen
skin
.” Var
ietie
s pla
nted
by
seed
s pro
duce
less
than
from
se
ed p
iece
s.
Pota
toes
, Sw
eet
Cent
enni
al, B
eaur
egar
d, V
arda
man
Swee
t pot
ato
wee
vils
are
a se
rious
pro
blem
. Sta
rt w
ith c
ertifi
ed-fr
ee tr
ansp
lant
s. U
se v
ine
cutt
ings
to p
rolo
ng se
ason
. ‘Var
dam
an’ is
a b
ush
type
for s
mal
l gar
dens
.
Pum
pkin
Big
Max
, Con
nect
icut
Fie
ld, P
rizew
inne
r, Ja
ck B
e Li
ttle
, Ja
ck O
Lan
tern
Bees
requ
ired
for p
ollin
atio
n. F
olia
ge d
isea
ses a
nd fr
uit-
rot a
re c
omm
on.
radi
shCh
erry
Bel
le, W
hite
Icic
le, S
park
ler,
Cham
pion
, Dai
kon
The
win
ter t
ype
(Dai
kon)
gro
ws w
ell i
n Fl
orid
a, to
o. In
ter-
crop
fast
-gro
win
g ra
dish
es w
ith
slow
-gro
win
g ve
geta
bles
to sa
ve sp
ace.
Spin
ach
Mel
ody,
Blo
omsd
ale
Long
stan
ding
, Tye
e, S
pace
Gro
w o
nly
durin
g th
e co
oles
t mon
ths.
New
Zea
land
spin
ach
and
Mal
abar
spin
ach,
alth
ough
no
t tru
e sp
inac
h, g
row
wel
l dur
ing
war
m m
onth
s in
Flor
ida2 .
Squa
shSu
mm
er: E
arly
Pro
lific
Stra
ight
neck
, Sum
mer
Cr
ookn
eck,
Ear
ly W
hite
Sca
llop
Win
ter:
Spag
hett
i, Tab
le K
ing,
Tabl
e Q
ueen
& Ta
ble
Ace
(Aco
rn),
Wal
tham
, Ear
ly B
utte
rnut
(But
tern
ut)
Zucc
hini
: Coc
ozel
le, S
pine
less
Bea
uty,
Bla
ck B
eaut
y ca
laba
za
Sum
mer
squa
sh a
re u
sual
ly b
ush
type
; win
ter s
quas
h ha
ve v
inin
g ha
bit.
Both
mal
e an
d fe
mal
e flo
wer
s on
sam
e pl
ant.
Bees
requ
ired.
Com
mon
frui
t rot
/dro
p ca
used
by
fung
us a
nd
inco
mpl
ete
polli
natio
n. C
ross
ing
occu
rs b
ut re
sults
not
seen
unl
ess s
eeds
are
save
d. W
inte
r ty
pes s
tore
long
est.
Cala
baza
is a
hea
t-re
sist
ant,
dise
ase-
resi
stan
t, vi
ning
, har
d-sh
elle
d sq
uash
, sim
ilar t
o a
butt
ernu
t or a
corn
in ta
ste.
Stra
wbe
rry
Chan
dler
, Oso
Gra
nde,
Sw
eet C
harli
e, S
elva
, Cam
aros
a,
Fest
ival
Plan
t sho
rt-d
ay v
arie
ties.
Gro
w a
s an
annu
al c
rop
star
ting
with
dis
ease
-free
pla
nts i
n th
e fa
ll.
Swis
s ch
ard
Brig
ht L
ight
s, Br
ight
Yel
low
, For
dhoo
k G
iant
, Luc
ullu
s, Re
d Ru
byCa
n be
gro
wn
near
ly y
ear-
roun
d in
Flo
rida.
An
exce
llent
alte
rnat
ive
gree
n fo
r war
m w
eath
er.
11
crO
Pre
cOM
Men
ded
Va
riet
ieS1
nO
teS/
reM
arK
S
tom
atoe
sla
rge
Frui
t: Ce
lebr
ity, H
eat W
ave
II, B
ette
r Boy
, Be
efm
aste
r, BH
N44
4-So
uthe
rn S
tar*
, Am
elia
*, B
HN
640
*Sm
all F
ruit
: Sw
eet 1
00, J
ulie
t, Re
d G
rape
, Sun
Gol
d,
Suga
r Sna
ck, S
wee
t Bab
y G
irl
Hei
rloo
m: G
reen
Zeb
ra, C
hero
kee
Purp
le, E
va P
urpl
e Ba
ll, B
rand
ywin
e, M
ortg
age
Lift
er, D
elic
ious
Stak
ing,
mul
chin
g be
nefic
ial.
Flow
ers s
elf-p
ollin
ated
. Blo
ssom
dro
p du
e to
too
high
or t
oo
low
tem
pera
ture
s and
/or e
xces
sive
nitr
ogen
fert
iliza
tion.
Ser
ious
pro
blem
s inc
lude
blo
ssom
-en
d ro
t, w
ilts,
whi
tefly
, and
leaf
min
ers.
*Res
ista
nt to
TSW
V (T
omat
o Sp
otte
d W
ilt V
irus)
turn
ips
root
s: P
urpl
e To
p W
hite
Glo
be
root
s an
d G
reen
s: P
urpl
e To
p G
reen
s: S
even
Top,
Sho
goin
Gro
w fo
r roo
ts a
nd to
ps (g
reen
s). B
road
cast
seed
in w
ide-
row
syst
em o
r sin
gle
file.
Wat
erm
elon
larg
e: Ju
bile
e (a
ka F
L G
iant
), Cr
imso
n Sw
eet,
Char
lest
on G
rey
133
Smal
l: Su
gar B
aby,
Mic
keyl
ee
Vine
s req
uire
lots
of s
pace
. Sug
gest
smal
l “ic
e-bo
x” ty
pes.
Plan
t fus
ariu
m w
ilt re
sist
ant
varie
ties.
Bees
requ
ired
for p
ollin
atio
n. “S
eedl
ess”
type
s mus
t be
inte
rpla
nted
with
regu
lar
type
s to
depe
ndab
ly b
ear f
ruit.
1 Oth
er v
arie
ties m
ay p
rodu
ce w
ell a
lso.
Sug
gest
ions
are
bas
ed o
n av
aila
bilit
y, p
erfo
rman
ce, a
nd p
est r
esis
tanc
e.2 In
form
atio
n on
New
Zea
land
and
Mal
abar
spin
ach
and
man
y ot
her m
inor
veg
etab
les c
an b
e fo
und
at h
ttp:
//ed
is.if
as.u
fl.ed
u/to
pic_
hs_m
inor
_veg
etab
les
