This Florida summer planting guide comes straight from experience. I learned the hard way that a typical summer garden doesn’t work here in Florida. The first year we moved to Brooksville, I planted tomatoes and summer squash in June, assuming the Florida sun would give me an abundant harvest. Instead, the plants wilted, pests invaded, and I felt like a failure. I didn’t realize then that Florida summer planting requires an entirely different mindset—one rooted in flexibility, local wisdom, and a whole lot of grace.
If you’re like me—a busy, faith-filled mom trying to create a home that nurtures your family and honors God’s creation—you’re probably looking for ways to grow food that won’t burn you out. This Florida Summer Planting Guide is your roadmap for the months when the heat feels relentless, but hope still grows.
Table of Contents
Florida Summers Aren’t What You Expect
Unlearning Northern Gardening Advice
When I first started gardening in Florida, I treated it like gardening in Ohio. Big mistake. Up north, summer is the height of the growing season. But in Central Florida, summer is more of a survival mode for plants. The intense heat and humidity, daily thunderstorms, and frequent pests create a climate that’s more jungle than garden bed.
You might see planting dates on seed packets that say May or June, but if you follow that advice here, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. It’s time to unlearn what you thought you knew and embrace Florida’s unique rhythm.
Understanding Florida’s True Growing Seasons
Florida has three main growing zones: North, Central, and South. While South Florida is even hotter than Central Florida and benefits from being frost-free in winter, gardeners there still need to respect the summer slowdown. Spring and fall are our prime gardening seasons, while summer is the “off-season”—unless you know what to plant.
What to Expect from the Summer Climate
Summers here bring daily afternoon rain, followed by sun so intense it feels like it could melt your flip-flops. Plants get stressed from temperature swings and inconsistent moisture. If you try to force traditional crops to survive this time of year, you’ll be constantly fighting nature instead of working with it.
Instead, think of summer as a time to grow heat-tolerant plants and prepare your soil for the next big planting season. Trust me—your garden (and your sanity) will thank you.
Heat-Loving Crops for Your Florida Garden
Reliable Summer Vegetables
Some crops thrive in Florida’s scorching summers.
Okra is practically a superhero in the garden—it loves heat and doesn’t mind the humidity.
Southern peas, also called cowpeas or field peas, are another low-maintenance option that enriches your soil with nitrogen.
Sweet potatoes are a summer staple here. They’re easy to grow, require minimal care once established, and the vines make a beautiful ground cover that helps shade the soil.
Herbs and Greens That Can Handle It
You don’t have to give up fresh herbs just because it’s hot.
Basil, rosemary, and lemongrass all do well in summer.
Ginger and turmeric love warm soil and thrive when given shade and consistent moisture.
For greens, try Malabar spinach or New Zealand spinach. They’re not true spinach, but they fill the gap during the hot months when leafy greens are normally out of season.
Tropical Fruits and Edible Perennials
Florida summers are perfect for plants like bananas, papayas, and chaya (a perennial green often called “tree spinach”). These tropical plants love the rain and heat, and they give your homestead a productive, food-forest vibe.
If you want long-term resilience, consider planting edible perennials during the summer. Think moringa, cranberry hibiscus, and katuk—nutritious, hardy, and perfect for Florida summer gardening.
Monthly Planting Guides
I’ve put together some monthly planting guides that can help you understanding precisely what to plant each month in Florida. Timing is everything in Florida, so use these guides to help you minimize mistakes when starting seeds or transplanting seedlings in the summer:
Small Steps for Busy Homesteading Moms
Start with Containers or Raised Beds
Some summers, all I can manage is a few containers on the porch. That’s okay. Container gardening in Florida’s summer heat allows you to control soil quality, drainage, and placement. Raised beds can also help manage soggy soil after heavy rains.
Choose 1-2 crops you really enjoy using in your kitchen. Try a disease resistant variety of basil for your pasta sauce, or grow sweet potatoes knowing that while the harvest won’t be ready until November, you can still enjoy the edible leaves throughout the summer.
Starting small doesn’t mean you’re not doing enough—it means you’re making space for success.
Simplified Watering and Shade Solutions
Florida summers are unpredictable. One minute it’s pouring; the next, it’s bone-dry. Drip irrigation systems or simple soaker hoses can help you avoid over- or under-watering. Add mulch around your plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and help keep the soil cool during intense heat.
If your plants look scorched, it might be too much sun. Add a shade cloth or even a beach umbrella to give delicate herbs a break.
When You’re Exhausted, Do This
Some days, I’m juggling homeschool lessons, dishes in the sink, and an argumentative teenager. On those days, the garden feels like just one more thing. So I give myself permission to garden in five-minute increments early in the morning or at dusk.
Walk outside. Pull a few weeds. Water one container. That’s enough. You planted something. You showed up. And that counts.
Involve the Whole Family (and Plant Seeds of Faith)
Teaching Stewardship Through Gardening
Homesteading is more than growing food. It’s about teaching stewardship. Gardening reminds us that we are caretakers of what God has given us. It teaches patience, persistence, and trust in His timing.
My kids learn that hard work brings fruit (sometimes literally), and not every seed we plant will sprout—a lesson with deep spiritual roots.
Age-Appropriate Garden Jobs for Kids
Little ones can water containers with a tiny watering can or help harvest okra (with gloves!). Older kids can plant sweet potato slips, mulch garden paths, or keep a garden journal.
These chores become conversations. About why we mulch, but also about why we give thanks. About how God grows faith the same way He grows fruit—little by little, with time and care.
Faith Reflections in the Garden
Sometimes I whisper prayers while I water. Sometimes I marvel at the miracle of a tiny sprout breaking through the soil. The garden becomes my sanctuary, a space to reconnect with the Lord when life feels noisy.
Even your failures in the garden are opportunities to talk to your children about grace and trying again. After all, even Peter had to be reminded to cast his net again.
Build a Garden That Blesses Others
Share the Harvest with Your Community
If your okra is growing like gangbusters and you have more basil than you can use, share it. Bag it up for neighbors, bring extras to church, or leave it in a “blessing box.”
This is how we build community—through garden ministry, through generosity, through showing others what abundance looks like when it’s shared.
Grow Your Gardening Circle
Join or start a local Christian gardening group. Swap seeds, trade starts, and encourage one another through the seasons. Sharing gardening knowledge with my friends has been a lifeline of wisdom and friendship.
Sometimes we think homesteading means doing everything alone. But real self-sufficiency includes community. After all, we’re the Body of Christ—not a solo act.
Encouragement for the Long Haul
This journey is not about mastering it all. It’s about planting what you can, when you can, with the resources and energy God has given you. Some seasons will be abundant. Some will be quiet.
That’s okay.
Even in the scorching summer heat, there’s life. There’s growth. And there’s grace.
Final Thoughts
Florida summer planting doesn’t look like picture-perfect rows of tomatoes and lettuce. It looks like okra pods poking toward the sky, barefoot kids watering basil, and a few containers thriving on your back patio.
It looks like you, choosing to show up in your garden with a watering can in one hand and faith in your heart. It looks like grace.
Start small. Embrace the heat-tolerant plants. Involve your family. Share the bounty. And remember: your summer garden doesn’t have to be perfect to be a blessing.
What are you planting this summer—in your garden or in your heart? I’d love to hear your story in the comments. Let’s grow something good—together.
