South Florida Gardening Guide: What to Plant &
How to Succeed Year-Round

Miami’s subtropical climate allows for gardening all year, but success depends on choosing the right plants for each season and learning to work with our heat, humidity, and sandy soil.

This guide covers:
✔️ What to plant in each season
✔️ Best soil amendments for Miami’s sandy soil
✔️ Organic pest control methods
✔️ Low-maintenance gardening tips

Let’s grow! 🌱🌞

🌿 The Two Growing Seasons in Miami

Unlike most places with four seasons, South Florida has two main gardening seasons:

🍂 Cool Season (October – April) → Best time for traditional vegetables

Mild temperatures (60s-80s°F) mean fewer pests & better plant growth. This is when you can grow crops that struggle in summer.

✅ Best Crops to Grow:

• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, spinach

• Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, beets, turnips

• Brassicas (Cold-Tolerant Veggies): Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts

• Herbs: Cilantro, parsley, dill, chives, thyme

• Other Favorites: Tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, peas

🔥 Hot Season (May – September) → Best time for tropical & heat-loving plants

Miami summers bring intense heat (80s-90s°F), humidity, heavy rains, and more pests. Many plants struggle, but some thrive in the heat!

✅ Best Crops to Grow:

• Tropical Greens: Everglades tomatoes, Malabar spinach, Longevity spinach, Okinawa spinach

• Heat-Tolerant Veggies: Okra, sweet potatoes, eggplant, hot peppers, pigeon peas

• Tropical Fruits: Bananas, mango, papaya, passionfruit, pineapples

• Hardy Herbs: Cuban oregano, lemongrass, rosemary

🌱 Year-Round Crops (Can Be Grown Anytime!)

Some plants do well no matter the season:

• Cassava & Yuca – Easy to grow, great calorie source

• Bananas & Plantains – Low-maintenance and productive

• Pigeon Peas – Adds nitrogen to the soil and provides protein-rich beans

• Moringa – Fast-growing superfood tree, packed with nutrients

• Papaya – Grows quickly from seed and produces fruit in a year

🛠️ Improving Miami’s Sandy Soil for Gardening

Miami’s soil is sandy and drains fast, so it needs organic matter to hold nutrients and moisture.

🛒 Soil Amendments (Available at Home Depot & Local Stores):
✅ Organic Compost – Improves soil structure & adds nutrients
✅ Worm Castings – Boosts beneficial microbes & plant health
✅ Peat Moss or Coconut Coir – Retains moisture in sandy soil
✅ Perlite or Vermiculite – Helps aerate soil for root growth
✅ Bone Meal – Provides phosphorus for strong roots & flowers
✅ Blood Meal – Boosts nitrogen for leafy green growth
✅ Mycorrhizal Fungi – Helps plant roots absorb nutrients

🌱 Best Soil Mix for Raised Beds & Containers:

• 50% Organic Compost

• 25% Peat Moss or Coconut Coir

• 25% Perlite or Vermiculite

• Handful of Worm Castings & Bone Meal for extra nutrients

🐜 Organic Pest Control for Miami Gardens

Miami’s warm, humid climate attracts pests year-round, but you can control them naturally.

🐛 Common Pests & Organic Solutions:

• Aphids & Whiteflies → Spray with neem oil or homemade garlic-pepper spray

• Caterpillars & Grasshoppers → Use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) or attract birds

• Snails & Slugs → Place beer traps or sprinkle diatomaceous earth

• Ants & Scale Insects → Control with orange oil spray or soapy water

• Mosquitoes in the Garden → Grow marigolds, citronella, or lemongrass to repel them

🦋 Attract Beneficial Insects:

• Ladybugs & Lacewings → Eat aphids and whiteflies

• Parasitic Wasps → Control caterpillars naturally

• Plant Marigolds, Basil, & Dill → Draw in helpful insects

🌿 Low-Maintenance Gardening Tips for Miami

Gardening doesn’t have to be high-maintenance! Use these simple strategies to save time and effort:

1. Choose Hardy, Drought-Tolerant Plants

• Best Perennial Edibles: Longevity spinach, Malabar spinach, Moringa, Sweet Potatoes

• Best Native Flowers for Pollinators: Firebush, Coontie, Beach Sunflower

• Best Herbs That Thrive in Miami: Cuban oregano, rosemary, lemongrass, basil

2. Use Mulch to Save Water & Reduce Weeds

• Best Mulches: Pine bark, straw, wood chips, or leaves (all available at Home Depot)

• Benefits: Keeps soil cool, retains moisture, and prevents weeds

3. Use Raised Beds or Containers for Easy Gardening

• Raised beds help with drainage during Miami’s rainy season

• Self-watering containers reduce the need for daily watering

4. Set Up Drip Irrigation or Soaker Hoses

• Saves water & ensures even moisture

• Available at Home Depot (garden irrigation section)

5. Provide Afternoon Shade for Delicate Plants

• Use shade cloth (30-50%) in summer

• Position plants near trees, fences, or taller crops for partial shade

🌞 Gardening Calendar: What to Plant & When

🟢 October – April (Cool Season):
Tomatoes, Peppers, Green Beans, Peas
Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Kale, Spinach)
Root Veggies (Carrots, Beets, Radishes)
Herbs (Cilantro, Dill, Chives)

🟡 May – September (Hot Season):
Everglades Tomatoes, Malabar Spinach, Sweet Potatoes
Heat-Tolerant Veggies (Okra, Eggplant, Pigeon Peas)
Tropical Fruits (Papaya, Passionfruit, Bananas)
Hardy Herbs (Cuban Oregano, Lemongrass, Rosemary)

🔵 Year-Round:
Moringa, Cassava, Bananas, Pigeon Peas, Papaya

🌱 Ready to Grow? Get Expert Help!

Want personalized gardening advice or help selecting the best plants for your space? I offer local garden consultations to help you succeed in Miami’s unique climate!

📩 Contact me anytime for gardening advice or plant availability at:
🌿 dstropicalgardens.etsy.com