Central Florida Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for Central Florida. 170 crops with sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our Central Florida vegetable planting calendar for Florida between State Roads 40 and 70. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Central Florida, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is subtropical, across USDA zones 9b to 10b. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by ZIP code and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. Florida runs three calendars: use North Florida above State Road 40, Central Florida between State Roads 40 and 70, and South Florida below State Road 70.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Central Florida (between State Roads 40 and 70, USDA 9b-10b) gets only light, occasional frosts. Fall is the main planting season, the gardening year really starts in August to September, and cool-season crops run right through the mild winter. Warm crops can go in as early as January and again in late summer, but the June-to-August heat, humidity and pests make summer the dead season for most vegetables. Sandy soil and root-knot nematodes are the standing challenges.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Central Florida
Every vegetable in our Central Florida calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit and flowers.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Eggplant, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Green Onion, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Peas, Potato, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 53 |
| February | Asparagus, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Fava Beans, Garlic, Globe Artichoke, Green Onion, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Luffa (Loofah), Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Snow Peas, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watermelon, Zucchini | 43 |
| March | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cassava, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Ginger, Green Onion, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard, Taro, Tomatillo, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 40 |
| April | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cassava, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans | 22 |
| May | Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Yardlong Beans | 18 |
| June | Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Sweet Potato | 4 |
| July | Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato | 5 |
| August | Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Broccoli, Bush Beans, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Edamame, Eggplant, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomato, Water Chestnut, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 26 |
| September | Beet, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Fava Beans, Garlic, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Luffa (Loofah), Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Radish, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Spinach, Squash, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Winged Beans, Zucchini | 50 |
| October | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 47 |
| November | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 47 |
| December | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Green Onion, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Peas, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 39 |
Central Florida vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Central Florida. Shaded months are open planting windows, and the last column spells them out. Where our data says a crop is set out as transplants, the window is the transplanting window.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan to Feb and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | Jan to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | Jan to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Jan to Feb and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Jan to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Squash | Jan to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Jan to Mar and Sep | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Feb to Mar and Jul to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Jan to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | Feb to Apr and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Okra | Mar to Aug | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | Mar to May and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Aug to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Beet | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Jan to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Mar to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Jan to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | Jan to Mar |
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Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in Central Florida
The climate in Central Florida is subtropical, and our regional frost table lists the region as effectively frost free, so the growing season runs all year. Light, occasional frost is possible, but heat, humidity and summer pests set the calendar more than cold does: fall is the main planting season, and June to August is the dead season for most vegetables.
Frost is local, so here is what the ZIP code records show for a few places across Florida between State Roads 40 and 70:
- Orlando (32801): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Tampa (33602): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Melbourne (32901): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Sarasota (34236): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
Enter your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, at the 50 percent probability level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later.
USDA hardiness zones: our Central Florida region spans zones 9b to 10b. Your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and fruit trees survive a normal winter; it does not tell you when to sow, which is why this calendar follows frost dates and summer heat instead. Zone pages: zone 9b, zone 10a, zone 10b.
Central Florida planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Central Florida planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Central Florida (March to May)
40 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in spring. Planting windows that open: in March, Okra, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Arrowroot, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama and 10 more. Last chance before the season ends: March for Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Carrot, Watermelon and 8 more; April for Sweet Corn, Bush Beans, Arrowroot and Winged Beans. You can keep sowing Okra, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Brazilian Spinach, Cassava, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Sorghum and 4 more through every month of it.
Summer in Central Florida (June to August)
29 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in summer. Planting windows that open: in July, Pumpkin; in August, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Bush Beans, Southern Peas, Broccoli, Bitter Melon and 14 more. Last chance before the season ends: July for Sweet Potato, Amaranth and Malabar Spinach. You can keep sowing Okra through every month of it.
Fall in Central Florida (September to November)
63 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in fall. Planting windows that open: in September, Cucumber, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 25 more; in October, Collard Greens, Arugula, Broccolini, Chicory, Endive & Escarole, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Mibuna, Radicchio and 3 more. Last chance before the season ends: September for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Bush Beans, Bitter Melon and 6 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip, Onion and 20 more through every month of it. Fall is also garlic planting time here; see how to grow garlic.
Winter in Central Florida (December to February)
61 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in winter. Planting windows that open: in January, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Sweet Corn, Potato, Watermelon and 4 more; in February, Pumpkin, Bush Beans, Bitter Melon, Chayote, Edamame, Luffa (Loofah), Popcorn and Tomatillo. Last chance before the season ends: January for Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Onion, Arugula, Broccolini, Chicory, Endive & Escarole, Fennel (Herb) and 8 more. You can keep sowing Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip, Garlic, Bok Choy, Celery, Daikon and 7 more through every month of it.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
Get an email each month with what to plant, seasonal tips, and harvest reminders for your region.
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Plan your whole garden in the app
Drag-and-drop beds, track from seed to harvest, and get Central Florida reminders every month.
Open the App →Planting calendars for other US regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own planting windows, frost dates and month pages. For every region side by side, see what vegetables to plant now across the US, or find your region by ZIP code.
- North Florida vegetable planting calendar
North Florida: USDA zones 9a to 9b, frost window February 15 to December 5. - South Florida vegetable planting calendar
South Florida: USDA zones 10a to 11a, effectively frost free. - Gulf South vegetable planting calendar
Gulf South: USDA zones 8a to 9b, frost window February 25 to December 1. - Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar
Desert Southwest: USDA zones 7a to 10a, frost window February 5 to December 5. - Texas vegetable planting calendar
Texas: USDA zones 8a to 10a, frost window March 1 to November 28. - Southern California vegetable planting calendar
Southern California: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - Mid-South vegetable planting calendar
Mid-South: USDA zones 7a to 8b, frost window April 10 to October 25. - Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar
Pacific Northwest: USDA zones 6b to 9a, frost window March 25 to November 15. - Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 10 to October 15. - Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic: USDA zones 6b to 8a, frost window April 15 to October 25. - Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar
Midwest & Great Lakes: USDA zones 5a to 7a, frost window April 30 to October 15. - Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains: USDA zones 3b to 5a, frost window May 15 to September 25. - Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Mountain West: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 5 to September 30. - Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains: USDA zones 5b to 7b, frost window April 10 to October 30. - Northern California vegetable planting calendar
Northern California & Central Valley: USDA zones 7b to 10a, frost window February 28 to November 17. - Hawaii vegetable planting calendar
Hawaii: USDA zones 11b to 12b, effectively frost free. - Alaska vegetable planting calendar
Alaska: USDA zones 1b to 7b, frost window May 15 to September 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I grow in Central Florida?
Central Florida grows vegetables, herbs, citrus and many subtropical fruit nearly year-round, with cool-season crops through the winter and warm crops in spring and fall. Use the monthly calendars above to see exactly what to plant each month, with sowing windows tuned to local conditions.
When is the best time to start a vegetable garden in Central Florida?
Fall, from August to October, is the main planting season and the easiest time to start; warm crops can also go in around January. Enrich the sandy soil with compost and pick a spot with at least six hours of sun.
What about summer in Central Florida?
Summer (June to August) is the dead season for most vegetables thanks to heat, humidity and pests. Stick to heat-tolerant crops, keep beds covered, and prepare for the fall garden.
What vegetables can I plant now in Central Florida?
It depends on the month. Going by our Central Florida calendar, in spring (Mar to May) you can sow Sweet Corn, Bush Beans, Okra, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Amaranth and Arrowroot; in summer (Jun to Aug) you can sow Pumpkin, Okra, Sweet Potato, Amaranth and Malabar Spinach; in fall (Sep to Nov) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale and Collard Greens; in winter (Dec to Feb) you can sow Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash and Cucumber. The What to plant in Central Florida now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in Central Florida?
Our regional frost table lists Central Florida as effectively frost free. ZIP code records for Orlando (32801) show it as effectively frost free. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in Central Florida?
Our Central Florida calendar has tomatoes planted in January to February and August to September. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in Central Florida?
Our Central Florida calendar has garlic planted in September to February. More in how to grow garlic.