Starting a vegetable garden in South Florida can feel overwhelming—sun, water, soil, pests, planting dates… it’s a lot. Jeannie simplifies everything with a 10-step, month-by-month South Florida gardening schedule designed for beginners. You’ll learn how Florida’s dry season (Nov–Apr) and wet season (May–Oct) change what you plant and when, plus how to choose the right spot, build healthy soil with compost, and keep your garden thriving through planting and harvest.
You’ll also get beginner-friendly guidance on:
-Planning your Florida garden (USDA zones 8b–11b)
-Seed vs. seedlings (and which is easiest when you’re starting out)
-Garden layout: space, sunlight (6–8 hours), drainage, and watering access
-Soil prep for Florida’s sandy/limestone conditions (compost-first approach)
-Planting time in October + daily tending from November–January
-Harvest window (Feb–Apr) and how to rotate crops for healthier soil
✅ PLUS: 5 easier vegetables to grow in Florida (like kale, green beans, peppers, eggplant, and collard greens)
⚠️ And 5 common “challenge crops” with tips to improve your success (tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, onions, cucumbers/squash—plus a fun alternative: luffa!)
Drop a comment: What are you growing in your Florida garden this season—and what’s been the hardest plant for you so far?
Watch more Rooted in Florida: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr4S3PqZjXglWbM0Mb7IxRuYAGESWV5ku
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RESOURCES FOR BEGINNERS:
Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/VH021#TABLE_3
Growing Vegetables in Raised beds:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/EP472
Growing Vegetables in Containers:
What are cool season vegetables?
What are warm season vegetables?
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0:00 Vegetable Gardening for Beginners
1:20 Why Growing in Florida is so Different
2:26 10 Steps to Vegetable Gardening
2:30 Step 1: Planning (May)
3:07 Step 2: Seed or Seedling (June)
4:38 Step 3: Plan Your Layout (June)
5:42: Garden Bed vs Containers vs In the Ground
6:53 Step 4: Prepare the Earth (July)
7:29 Importance of Composting
8:09 Step 5: Nurture & Anticipate (Aug – Sept)
8:36 Step 6: Planting Time (October)
9:23 Step 7: Enjoy & Tend (Nov – Jan)
9:55 How to Deal with Pests
10:12 Step 8: Harvest & Renew (Feb – April)
10:33 Step 9: Rotate & Refresh (Feb – April)
10:55 Step 10: Rest & Restore (May – July)
11:28 5 Easy-to-Grow Vegetables
11:34 Kale
13:19 Green Beans
14:34 Peppers
16:16 Eggplant
18:14 Collard Greens
19:53 5 Challenging Vegetables
20:17 Tomatoes
21:41 Broccoli
22:55 Carrots
24:54 Onions
25:59 Cucumber (Alternative: Luffa)
27:21 Advice for Beginners
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1 Comment
Loving this series!