Florida’s hot weather and high humidity can throw off the best of backyard gardeners. Learning about the best fruit and vegetable varieties that grow in Florida can save you a lot of trouble and limit wasted time and resources.
If you’re struggling to start your vegetable garden in the Sunshine State, you’ve come to the right place. Though most of these vegetables will grow well in any part of the state, we’ve broken our list into North, Central, and South Florida and focused on vegetables that are most ideal for each location.
Read on for our list of best vegetables to grow in Florida in every part of the state.
Best Vegetables to Grow in North Florida
North Florida enjoys a good balance of weather, with warm summer months and mild winter months. Here are some popular vegetables that do well here:
1. String Beans
String beans are a good option if you want to grow vegetables that mature within 50 to 60 days. They are the best vegetables to grow in Florida when planted between March and June.
Here are bean varieties you should try:
2. Tomatoes
While not technically a vegetable, planting this warm-season crop is the best way to bring some color and flavor to your veggie garden.
Tomatoes grow well when planted between February and August. They have a 75- to 84-day maturation period.
The subtropical humid climate of Florida is ideal for tomato varieties such as:
3. Lettuce
One of the best vegetables to grow in Florida during the cold northern winter time is lettuce. You can plant them between February to March or from September to October, and they will thrive.
Lettuce also has a short 60- to 80-day maturation period that makes for a quick harvest. Beginner gardeners can try growing these varieties of lettuce:
4. Okra
Okra is a versatile vegetable that grows well in sunny regions and warm seasons. Your best bet when planting okra in north Florida is from March to May or August.
They have a maturation period of 50 to 55 days and grow best under the full sun. Varieties to try include:
Best Vegetables to Grow in Central Florida
Central Florida’s weather is very similar to the north. But the list of choices of best vegetables to grow in Florida expands a bit due to the more favorable weather.
5. Broccoli
The broccoli plant grows well in Florida’s cold weather, so plant them between August and January. This is another vegetable to harvest in as little as 50 to 90 days.
Try these Florida friendly broccoli varieties:
6. Cabbage
One of the best vegetables to grow in Florida is the leafy cabbage. It grows well in the cooler months of spring and fall and is ready to harvest within 60 to 100 days.
Note that pests and insects love cabbage, so you must be quite vigilant when you have it in your garden.
Here is the list of cabbages you can grow in Florida:
7. Collards
Another one of the best vegetables to grow in Florida’s central states is collard greens. Plant them from October to February as they are heat and cold tolerant.
The harvest period spans 40 to 80 days, depending on whether you choose to plant seeds or transplants.
Check out some varieties to try:
8. Corn
Make the most of the Florida weather by planting corn plants in your backyard. Corn plants grow best when planted from February to March or August to September. They have a 90- to 120-day maturation period.
Popular varieties to try include:
9. Beets
If you’re looking for vegetables that will do well in cold and warmer temperatures, beets are the way to go. Plant them between October to March and watch as they get ready to harvest within 45 to 60 days.
Here are Florida friendly beet varieties you can grow:
10. Carrots
One of the more challenging but best vegetables to grow in Florida is the carrot. While they may not do well in Florida’s heat, you can still overplant them from October to March. Just make sure they don’t dry out.
Carrots have a maturation period of 65 to 80 days. You can try out these varieties to begin with:
11. Kale
Perfect for beginner gardeners, kale is a versatile crop that grows well in containers and is ready to harvest within 50 to 60 days.
We suggest growing kale in the cooler months and never in direct sunlight.
12. Cucumbers
One of the easier varieties that do well in Florida’s heat is cucumber, best planted from February to March or September. They can be harvested in 55 to 70 days.
Cucumbers are also great for cross-pollinating other vegetables. They need ample room to grow, so make sure to designate more than enough space for them. And keep a close eye on their flowers as they need protection from pests.
Cucumber varieties that will do well in Florida include:
13. Cauliflower
Cauliflower thrives in full sun and takes about 80 days to mature. This makes them one of the best vegetables to grow in Florida.
You can plant these varieties from October to April:
14. Onions
Onions are another vegetable to grow in Florida’s sunny-cool fall weather. Their growing season is between September to March, and they mature within 150 days.
Florida friendly onion varieties include:
15. Turnips
Turnips are an excellent option for lovers of gardening and cooking. You can plant them from September to February and harvest them in as little as 60 days.
Try these varieties:
16. Potatoes
Similar to onions, potatoes thrive in cool weather with lots of sun. They take 80 to 120 days to mature and are best planted between January to March.
Plant these varieties to enjoy some potatoes in your Florida backyard:
Best Vegetables to Grow in South Florida
South Florida has a much warmer summer and mild winters. There is a whole new range of popular vegetables to grow in your backyard.
17. Bush Beans and Pole Beans
The difference between the two is that pole beans need support to grow while bush beans don’t. Pole beans grow best when planted between October to February, while bush varieties thrive when planted from October to March.
Both varieties take 50 to 60 days to mature.
Pole varieties to grow in Florida:
Bush varieties to grow in Florida:
18. Eggplant
Eggplant is one of the best vegetables to grow in Florida, but it can be a trying experience for beginners. Eggplants love Florida’s warm weather and grow well in the rainy season.
Plant them in April and wait for 100 to 120 days before harvesting. Note that most gardeners cannot get the application of fertilizer and harvest right.
If you’re confident in your gardening skills, try these Florida friendly eggplant varieties:
19. Peas
Peas are perfect for those short on space—they are great for vertical gardening. They are best grown in spring and fall weather.
Plant peas between October and February and watch them mature within 60 to 70 days. Popular varieties of peas to grow in Florida include:
20. Peppers
If hot peppers are your favorite addition to any meal, you’re in luck. It is one of the best vegetables to grow in Florida—they thrive throughout the year.
Peppers take 60 to 100 days to mature, even less if you transplant. If you like the sweeter varieties, plant them between September to March.
Pepper plants to grow in Florida include:
21. Radishes
Radishes are some of the best vegetables to grow in Florida as they are resistant to cooler frost conditions.
October to March is the best time to plant these fast harvesting root crops with a maturation period of 20 to 30 days. Put them in loamy small particle soil in a sunny or partially shaded spot.
Here are Florida friendly radish varieties to buy:
22. Squash
One of the best vegetables to grow in Florida for cross-pollination and an all-summer harvest is squash. There are many winter and summer squash varieties for you to choose from and grow.
You can plant them between September to October and harvest them in 80 to 110 days.
Squash varieties to grow in Florida:
23. Sweet Potato
Sweet potato has a maturation period of 120 to 140 days. Luckily, the variety can grow in your backyard garden year-round when planted in July.
Grow these sweet potato varieties to enjoy these sweet and healthy treats:
If you’re unsure about vegetable gardening, you can try growing fruits in Florida.
Wrapping up the Best Vegetables To Grow In Florida
These are some of the best vegetables to grow in Florida for each region. You can enjoy a healthier diet of fresh veggies in as little as 30 days!
We wish you all the best in your gardening endeavors. To learn more about the various things you can do and enjoy in Florida, visit Life In USA.