Diary of a Gardener: Rooted in Joy: A Florida Gardener’s Guide to Growing, Healing, and Thriving Week 2
Seasonal Wisdom: Thriving With the Rhythms of Florida Gardening
If you’re new to Florida—or even if you’ve lived here a while—you’ll quickly notice something about gardening in the Sunshine State: it doesn’t follow the traditional "spring-to-fall" rhythm you might be used to up north.
Here in Florida, gardening is a year-round adventure, but it dances to its own unique beat. Our seasons are less about "winter, spring, summer, fall" and more about wet, dry, and warm, hot, and very hot. If you want to thrive as a Florida gardener, understanding and embracing these rhythms is key.
Let’s dig into a few important truths about gardening here—and how to set yourself (and your garden) up for success.
Welcome to Year-Round Gardening: Florida Style
"In Florida, fall is the new spring."
In Florida, fall and winter are prime gardening seasons—not the time to "put the garden to bed" like northern states.
When temperatures moderate between October and April, it’s go time for planting vegetables, annuals, perennials, and trees.
Meanwhile, summer (late May through early October) is our "slow season." It's hot, humid, buggy, and stormy. While the rest of the country bursts into bloom in June, Florida gardens take a collective nap—or at least a slowdown.
If you tried to plant lettuce or petunias in July, you probably learned the hard way that our seasons don't match the labels on those seed packets. Florida gardening rewards those who plan and plant with the seasons in mind.
Slow Down: Why Summer Is Your Garden’s Rest Season
"Florida’s summer is not a planting season—it’s a survival season."
Instead of fighting the brutal heat of summer, smart Florida gardeners work with it.
Focus on maintenance rather than major planting projects.
Mulch heavily to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Grow heat-loving plants that thrive on neglect (think tropicals, native wildflowers, peppers, and zinnias).
Protect your soil with heavy mulch if you’re not actively planting.
Shift your garden hours: early mornings and late evenings are your friends.
Think of summer as Florida's version of "winter dormancy"—a time to slow down, observe, plan, and dream about cooler seasons ahead.
Smart Planting = Happy Plants
Because Florida’s growing rhythms are different, planting the right plants at the right time is crucial.
"Don’t fight the heat—flow with it."
October to April: The best time for installing trees, shrubs, and perennials. Roots establish beautifully without the stress of summer heat.
Late Fall to Early Spring: Perfect for growing cool-weather veggies, herbs, annuals, cool weather perennials.
Late Spring to Early Summer: Plant tropical veggies and tough annuals like sunflowers and zinnias if you want summer color.
Mid to Late Summer: Prep beds, refresh mulch, and start seedlings indoors for the upcoming fall season.
Strategic timing means healthier plants, fewer headaches, and a more rewarding garden year-round.
Grow With the Flow: Observing Florida’s Seasons
"Gardening here isn’t about mastering nature—it’s about partnering with it."
Florida’s weather doesn’t always play by the rules, so a wise gardener watches nature’s signals more than dates on a calendar.
A string of cool nights signals it's time to plant tomatoes.
First consistent rains of summer? Time to pause major plantings and shift to maintenance mode.
Days getting shorter and cooler? Ideal for refreshing tired garden beds.
Gardening here is about being present, observant, and adaptable.
Celebrate the Wildness
"Your garden doesn’t have to be perfect to be thriving."
Finally, if there's one overarching piece of seasonal wisdom for Florida gardeners, it's this:
🌿 Let go of the need for a picture-perfect garden all year long.
There will be wild, messy times.
There will be floods and droughts and insect swarms.
There will be beauty you didn’t plan for—and setbacks you didn’t expect.
Florida gardening is about resilience, adaptation, and finding joy in whatever season you’re in. It teaches us, again and again, that growth is never linear—and that’s a beautiful thing.
Want to garden smarter, not harder in Florida?
Let's chat! Book a consultation to create a personalized garden plan that works with your seasons—not against them.
Always Keep Growing. 🌞🌴🌻
