The Benefits of Vegetable Gardening in Florida
Vegetable gardening can be done virtually anywhere, but vegetable gardening in Florida has some extra benefits. The warm weather that the state enjoys means that temperatures should allow gardening year-round. This lack of snowy weather makes vegetable gardening in Florida a constant source of foods. Of course, the plants you grow are subject to the season. Here are some tips for vegetable gardening in Florida.
Join a Local Gardening Group
One of the easiest ways to get a good start on vegetable gardening in Florida is to join a local gardening club. This step will be perfect for getting advice on pests unique to Florida, as well as plants that grow there. For the beginner, this is the perfect place to learn how to avoid common mistakes. Even better, sometimes members of gardening clubs are willing to sell, trade, or give away seeds of crops they've had success with, a great chance to get something to work with.
Great Summer Vegetables
When trying vegetable gardening in Florida, again, make sure you pick hardy vegetables for the summer; ones that can handle the sometimes-intense heat in Florida. For instance, peas are always a good addition to the garden, but finding a Southern variety will ensure that it stands up to the heat. One interesting crop to try is peppers of all kinds, whether sweet or hot. Growing peppers while enjoying Florida vegetable gardening can give you a lot of pretty-looking plants that will spice up any meal.
Cool Weather, Great Veggies
When the cooler months hit, you don't have to stop your vegetable gardening in Florida. The weather is still not likely to get so cold that some plants won't grow. Your best bet for winter vegetable gardening is to grow things that are leafy and grow in the ground. Root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and beets will work well when vegetable gardening in Florida.
Leafy vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage will do well also. Keep in mind that in addition to things that resemble cabbage, plants such as broccoli and cauliflower, while no longer resembling the cabbage that they were bred from, are also excellent cool-weather crops.
Be sure to pay attention to guides for growing winter plants when vegetable gardening in Florida, as some are more appropriate for the start of the cold season, when they start out in slightly warmer weather, and others are best to plan when it's cool, for harvest when the days warm. But with a little work and knowledge, you'll be able to enjoy your hobby of vegetable gardening in Florida for the whole year.
