South Florida Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for South Florida. 163 crops with sow windows calibrated for local conditions.
This is our South Florida vegetable planting calendar for Florida below State Road 70. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in South Florida, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is tropical to subtropical, across USDA zones 10a to 11a. 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
South Florida (below State Road 70, USDA 10a-11a) is essentially frost-free, and the calendar is reversed from temperate logic: the main growing season is October through March, while summer is the hot, wet dead season for most vegetables. Tomatoes and peppers go in from late summer through winter, not spring. Tropical fruit like mango, avocado and lychee thrive year-round, while temperate fruit that needs winter chill (peaches, blueberries) will not fruit here. Plan around the wet season and hurricane months, June to November.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for South Florida
Every vegetable in our South 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, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, 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, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini | 54 |
| February | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cassava, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Green Onion, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Okra, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Watermelon, Zucchini | 28 |
| March | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Cassava, Chayote, Cucumber, Ginger, Green Onion, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard, Taro, Tomatillo, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 34 |
| April | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Brazilian Spinach, Bush Beans, Cassava, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans | 20 |
| May | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Cassava, Ginger, Malabar Spinach, Sweet Potato, Taro, Turmeric | 8 |
| June | Amaranth, Arrowroot, Cassava, Ginger, Malabar Spinach, Sweet Potato, Turmeric | 7 |
| July | Amaranth, Cassava, Ginger, Malabar Spinach, Sweet Potato, Turmeric | 6 |
| August | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Cassava, Chili Pepper, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Pumpkin, Sweet Potato, Tomato, Turmeric, Watermelon | 14 |
| September | Amaranth, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Brazilian Spinach, Broccoli, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Cassava, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Ginger, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Mizuna, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Shallot, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Potato, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Water Chestnut, Watermelon, Winged Beans, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 41 |
| October | Amaranth, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Cassava, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chayote, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Fava Beans, Garlic, Ginger, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Popcorn, Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Spinach, Squash, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turmeric, Turnip, Zucchini | 56 |
| November | Arugula, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, 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, Potato, Pumpkin, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Squash, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Zucchini | 58 |
| December | Arugula, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, 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, Pumpkin, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Zucchini | 54 |
South Florida vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in South 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 | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Squash | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Sep to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Oct to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | Sep to Apr | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Okra | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | Mar to Apr and Sep | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | Oct to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | Nov to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Beet | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Oct to Dec | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Sep to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Feb to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Aug to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | Oct to Jan | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Oct to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Jan to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | Dec to Mar |
Local timing notes for South Florida
Where timing in South Florida needs explaining, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the Planting Season app shows for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Cantaloupe (Dec to Mar): Sow from December through March, the UF/IFAS window, so the fruit ripens in dry spring weather before the summer rains.
Browse by Category
Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in South Florida
The climate in South Florida is tropical to subtropical, and our regional frost table lists the region as effectively frost free, so the growing season runs all year. The calendar is reversed from temperate logic: the main growing season runs from October through March, and the hot, wet summer 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 below State Road 70:
- Miami (33130): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Fort Lauderdale (33301): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Fort Myers (33901): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Naples (34102): 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 South Florida region spans zones 10a to 11a. 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 10a, zone 10b, zone 11a.
South Florida planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the South Florida planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
The cool, dry season (October to March)
87 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in the cool, dry season. Planting windows that open: in October, Sweet Corn, Peas, Snow Peas, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Cauliflower, Beet, Radish, Turnip and 18 more; in November, Collard Greens, Arugula, Broccolini, Chicory, Endive & Escarole, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Mibuna, Radicchio and 3 more; in December, Cantaloupe, Globe Artichoke and Sunchoke; in January, Watermelon; in February, Okra, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Bitter Melon, Cassava, Chayote, Ginger, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Popcorn and 2 more; in March, Southern Peas, Arrowroot, Brazilian Spinach, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Sorghum, Taro and 3 more. Last chance before the season ends: October for Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Bitter Melon, Cassava, Chayote, Ginger, Luffa (Loofah), Malabar Spinach, Popcorn, Tomatillo and 1 more; November for Celeriac, Hamburg Parsley, Leek, Napa Cabbage, Parsnip, Salsify and Scorzonera; December for Onion; January for Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Beet and 28 more; February for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Carrot and Edamame. You can keep sowing Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans, Swiss Chard and Green Onion through every month of it.
The hot, wet season (April to September)
43 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in the hot, wet season. Planting windows that open: in August, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Pumpkin, Okra, Watermelon and Edamame; in September, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Bush Beans, Southern Peas, Lettuce, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Potato and 17 more. Last chance before the season ends: April for Bush Beans, Southern Peas, Brazilian Spinach, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Sorghum, Water Chestnut and 2 more; May for Taro; June for Arrowroot. You can keep sowing Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Cassava, Ginger, Malabar Spinach and Turmeric 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.
We send one email per month. Unsubscribe any time.
Plan your whole garden in the app
Drag-and-drop beds, track from seed to harvest, and get South 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. - Central Florida vegetable planting calendar
Central Florida: USDA zones 9b to 10b, 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 South Florida?
South Florida grows cool-season vegetables through the mild winter and tropical fruit like mango, avocado, banana and lychee year-round; temperate fruit that needs winter chill will not fruit here. 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 South Florida?
October is the start of the main season; plant cool-season vegetables from October through winter and set out tomatoes from late summer. The summer heat and rain make fall-winter the productive window.
What about summer in South Florida?
Summer (roughly June to September) is hot and wet, the off-season for most vegetables. Tropical perennials carry on, and a few heat-tolerant greens like okra, sweet potato and Malabar spinach keep producing.
What vegetables can I plant now in South Florida?
It depends on the month. Going by our South Florida calendar, in the cool, dry season (Oct to Mar) you can sow Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash and Cucumber; in the hot, wet season (Apr to Sep) you can sow Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Arrowroot, Cassava, Ginger, Malabar Spinach and Turmeric. The What to plant in South 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 South Florida?
Our regional frost table lists South Florida as effectively frost free. ZIP code records for Miami (33130) show it as effectively frost free. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in South Florida?
Our South Florida calendar has tomatoes planted in August to February. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in South Florida?
Our South Florida calendar has garlic planted in October to January. More in how to grow garlic.