Even in the warm summer months, Florida is a great place to grow edible crops. For those of us who are eager to head out into the garden and plant with our dinner table in mind, we’ve assembled a list of those crops that are well suited for our Florida summer climate.
Before you head out, make sure you have proper sun protection, and ample water (for you and the plants!), and keep an eye out for heat stress!
Okra
Name: | Okra |
Variety: | Clemson Spineless |
Soil: | Grows best in sandy soil to allow daily waterings to drain. |
Sun/Heat: | Grows best in Florida summers and enjoys the higher heat and humidity. |
Water: | Frequent watering, but frequently drained (see soil) |
Fertilizer: | 2 Applications of a 120-140 Day Controlled Release Fertilizer with a nutritional ratio of 1:1.5:2 with elevated levels of calcium and sulfur. (or preferably all micronutrients) |
Care: | Okra is susceptible to root-knot nematodes. Florida soil is known to have a nematode problem. You can either plant in a container or raised bed to make sure that nematodes don’t get to your plant. Another option is to plant with Marigolds; Marigolds are a really good plant to grow in Florida that may repel nematodes. |
Basil
Name: | Basil |
Variety: | Sweet Basil |
Soil: | Grows best in sandy soil of between 6 to 7.5 in PH. |
Sun/Heat: | Grows best in Florida summers and enjoys the higher heat and humidity. |
Water: | Water when the topsoil becomes dry, but keep the plant itself dry. |
Fertilizer: | 1 Application of a 90 Day Controlled Release Fertilizer with a nutritional ratio of 1:1:1 and micronutrients. |
Care: | Basil growth in Florida can be challenged with downy mildew diseases. Yellowing is the most common symptom of these diseases, although it is easy to mistake it for a nutrient deficiency. A more obvious sign is the presence of spores on the underside of leaves. Situate your basil in a place with good air movement and lots of sunlight. This is the best way to prevent these kinds of diseases. |
Sweet Potatoes
Name: | Sweet Potatoes |
Variety: | Beauregard (Can be grown from purchased slips or grown from Organic donor potatoes) |
Soil: | Grows best in sandy and well-draining soil |
Sun/Heat: | Sweet Potatoes can grow year-round in South Florida and in the warmer months elsewhere in Florida. |
Water: | Water Daily. Do not skip days |
Fertilizer: | 2 Applications of a 90 Day Controlled Release Fertilizer with a nutritional ratio of 1:1:1 and micronutrients. |
Care: | Potatoes can be harvested at any time in the growing phase. Dig up some of the tubers and see if you are pleased with their size. However, the roots will stop growing when the foliage starts to turn yellow. At this point, your potatoes are as large as their going to get and this usually takes about 85-130 days. |