Florida gardening can be a delightful and rewarding experience, even for beginners to Florida gardening. We are a pair of northern gardeners, transplanted three times to different Florida locations. This is what we learned (often, the hard way) and wish someone had spelled out for us at the beginning!
The tropical garden blooms and flourishes for us all 12 months of the year. But remember this; we will pay for the privilege, and ‘the bugs never quit’!
I have chosen photos for this article that reflect historic Florida gardens and natural elements. On the featured image at the top are included John Ringling’s art and flower filled Sarasota Estate and Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales.
What is a Florida Garden?
I choose to define Florida Gardens as those with plants that grow naturally in hardiness Zones 8b-11. In addition these gardens have growing conditions that range from areas with a very minor ‘winter’ to those southernmost zones which are the most challenging for new regional gardeners. If you have gardened in cooler climates there are several important issues to come to grips with. Here are the ones we hoped to know more about when we were new tropical gardeners.
Our Gardening Journey
We are a pair of Volunteer Master Gardeners, living today and digging in a coastal community and sharing best practices with our community’s gardeners. We have lived and gardened in various places. Lifelong gardeners; we had no idea this would happen to us, but our life journey took us a long way, from north to south, back again and finally onward south to the very bottom of North America!
By now we have dug our way deep into the soil from New England, through the Middle Atlantic to both Georgia, Central Florida and now deep into that sandy, limestone stuff we optimistically call soil in the far ranges of South Florida!
We have loved and learned from every foot of soil that touched our shovels!
Here are the five things we think anyone who decides to take that long journey south, must understand about digging and planting in Florida.
Start this Way
Divide Florida into three parts. Whichever one you land in; embrace it all!
Florida is as warm a climate as you can find, and still be in North America! However it is simple to divide it into three reasonably distinctive regions.
Here they are: now where is your garden?
On this map, read North Florida as both green and brown, east and west, yellow as Central Florida, and South Florida is Purple.
Florida’s Three Gardening Regions
Your Florida garden will be within one of these three regions. For more detail read Florida Regional Gardens.
All planting Zones are per the newest USDA plant hardiness zone maps as of November 15, 2023. These zones are slightly warmer than the prior zones.
North Florida
Your North Florida garden will be within Hardiness Zones 8b, 9a and 9b. North Florida is also defined as north of State Road 40. Like the rest of the nation, Florida is trending warmer.
For example you will be able to grow colorful annual blooms for all twelve months of the year, but your greatest plant choices will be available in the summer.
Central Florida
If your garden is within Central Florida, it will be in Hardiness Zone 9b – 10a and located between State Roads 40 and 70. You will have a good selection of annual blooms to use in both winter and summer. Some annuals (tropical perennials) will survive several years in the absence of a significant drop in temperature.
South Florida
South Florida primarily encompasses Zones 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b (the Florida Keys). South Florida is the most tropical climate in North America; you will have a very wide choice of annual flower choices in the winter, with a somewhat smaller, but reasonable number to choose from in summer. Also, as many plants we consider to be annual are tropical perennials, some will bloom in your garden for several years, winter and summer.
Five Things You Must Know About Gardening in Florida
1. There is No Middle Ground! It will be Hot and Wet or Cool and Dry.
In the warm and wet season of our year rain is abundant and will encourage lush, vigorous plant growth without regular reliance on irrigation. The challenges of the season include poor drainage from waterlogged soil, and the constant wetness tends to wash away nutrients and stresses plants. You will spend a lot of time identifying and treating disease and pests. It is helpful to learn as much as you can about IPM (Integrated Pest Management.)
IPM (Integrated Pest Management is a science based approach that effectively manages pests and also minimizes damage to human health, beneficial organisms, and the environment.
Also, throughout Florida, hurricane season lasts from June 1-November 30. This can keep us Florida gardeners lively. (Hurricane-proof your Florida Yard and Garden.)
Our lengthy cool and dry season produces Florida’s impressive winter vegetable crop but requires more attention to irrigation and water conservation. The cooler temperatures diminish the risk of fungal diseases and reduces pest infestations. You will spend a lot of time focused on water.
Florida Gardening Calendar-U.Florida
This guide is for vegetable growing, don’t miss the useful tables on the bottom of the page.
2. Understand Your Soil
The median soil pH for Florida soils is 6.1, which is characterized as slightly acidic. However, Florida soils can vary widely in pH, depending on the “parent material” from which the soil formed or on the management of the soil.
The pH of soil measures how acidic or alkaline it is. The range runs from 0-14 and 7 is neutral. Alkaline soil is higher than 7 and acidic soil is lower than 10. You can measure this accurately with simple tests that are readily available in gardening retail stores.
Florida’s Range of Soils
If you could travel Florida from north to south, shovel in hand, you would meet these soils.
- The red loam of the panhandle,
- The pine flatwoods, with sandy, and poorly draining soil.
- The northern Everglades with deep peaty soil.
- South Florida’s sandy, limerock influenced soil.
The high pH of South Florida soil can make it difficult for plants to get the nutrients they need. Here are some ways to improve the pH of your soil:
Here in South Florida are some things we do to improve our soil.
- Add organic matter: organic matter, such as compost, can acidify the soil through the process of decomposition.
- Add elemental sulfur: Soil bacteria convert elemental sulfur into sulfate, which releases sulfuric acid to neutralize bicarbonates and lower pH.
- Add peat or spagnum peat moss. These highly acidic materials can help lower soil pH.
- Add acidifying fertilizers: Fertilizers like ammonium sulfate can help lower pH.
- Add pine needles and oak leaves. These can help lower soil pH for a season and they also recycle nutrients into the environment.
The soil of South Florida is unique. South Florida soils are a mixture of some sand, some marl (weathered limestone) and a lot of Miami Limestone which is alkaline with a pH of about 7.8 – 8.4
Test Your Soil
In a new garden, or any garden with problems or in which you have recently amended the soil with organic material the most economical choice is arrange to have a soil test completed. A soil test analyzes the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil. Your local County Agricultural Extension Service will offer these tests done by your State University. You will get instructions to sample the soil and a written report when it is done.
3. Sunlight is Our Two Edged Sword
In Florida, and this is more true the farther south you go, finding the perfect amount of sun for your plants requires doing a little subtraction. Here are the standard definitions of each plant’s required sun. (You will see this on the label on the plants you buy or on the seed package.
- Full Sun: At least 6 hours of direct sunlight.
- Part Sun/Part Shade: 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight, often with a preference for morning sun or filtered light in the afternoon.
- Full Shade: Less than 4 hours of direct sunligh
6-8 hours of sun may be needed for geraniums in the north and advised in the middle regions but in Florida what you may purchase as ‘full sun’ plants may well require fewer hours of sun.
You may find your geranium plant is happy with only morning sun, or four hours in your Florida garden.
4. In Florida ‘The Bugs Never Quit’
Florida’s warm, humid environment creates a perfect breeding ground for all sorts of bugs, making them a constant, sometimes overwhelming, presence in gardens. We have no harsh winter temperatures to curb our pest populations, Florida’s mild winters allow bugs—such as aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, fungus gnats, and even the notorious mosquitoes and ants—to thrive year-round. This unrelenting warmth, combined with seasonal rains that keep the soil moist and lush, means that pests are always looking for an opportunity to feast on tender new growth or hide among the foliage.
It is important to recognize that insect infestation is an ongoing challenge. We need to adapt our methods to using IPM tactics including:
- Beneficial predators
- Organic insecticidal soaps
- Physical barriers
Expect pests to adapt to our strategies and make changes over time. Use companion planting, natural repellants and biological controls to keep our garden ecosystems in balance
5. Mulch is Your Friend: Mulching helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Use organic mulch like pine bark or wood chips for best results.
Summary,
These principles should help new gardeners create a thriving garden in the Sunshine State!
For those new to tropical gardening, creating the ideal environment is key. Most tropical plants thrive in bright, indirect light and require well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Regular watering and fertilization will help theWm flourish, but be mindful of not overwatering. Additionally, maintaining high humidity levels, especially indoors, can mimic their natural habitat and promote better growth. With these tips and a bit of care, you’ll be able to enjoy a lush, tropical oasis in no time!
You should have time for some of Florida’s other remarkable features.
Happy Digging!