What this guide covers
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 8b through 11b, with frost-free growing seasons ranging from 205 days in the Panhandle to 364 days in the Keys and southern tip. This range inverts the conventional planting calendar: in zones 10a–11b, the prime vegetable production window is October through April, with summer heat forcing dormancy in most crops. In zone 8b (North Florida), the calendar more closely resembles the Southeast, with a traditional spring-to-fall cycle. The guide provides three separate sub-regional calendars to account for these fundamentally different timing patterns.
The book contains 25,500 words across these sections:
Month-by-month planting calendars
Separate schedules for North FL, Central FL, and South FL. Each calendar distinguishes between the fall-to-spring primary season and the secondary summer window, specifying which crops tolerate Florida’s sustained heat and humidity above 90°F.
30+ vegetable profiles
Variety recommendations selected for subtropical performance, nematode resistance, and humidity tolerance. Each profile includes days to maturity, planting depth, spacing, and disease susceptibility data specific to Florida conditions.
Regional growing strategies
- Inverted season planning for zones 10a–11b, with quantified heat thresholds for crop dormancy (sustained soil temps above 85°F)
- Sandy soil fertility management: amendment rates, organic matter retention in high-rainfall conditions, and raised-bed drainage considerations
- Hurricane and tropical storm garden preparation and post-storm recovery protocols
- Nematode, whitefly, and subtropical pest identification with organic and integrated management schedules
- Container and small-space strategies for condo, patio, and community gardens
Who this guide is for
Gardeners anywhere in Florida (USDA zones 8b–11b) who need planting schedules calibrated to subtropical conditions rather than temperate-zone national charts.
Format and availability
The guide is organized by North, Central, and South Florida sub-regions, each with its own monthly calendar and variety recommendations. Chapters cover soil building, pest identification, hurricane preparedness, and container techniques specific to Florida conditions. Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.
The guide includes variety recommendations for Florida’s subtropical conditions. Available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon. Not sure which zone you garden in? Enter your ZIP code on the Gardening by Zone home page to look it up.