Gardening in the Florida winter can be a challenge due to low temperatures, but don’t let that discourage you! While not all vegetables can handle the chill, there are still some great options to plant during the colder months.
From mid-October to February, when temperatures dip below 10°C, winter vegetables like kale, carrots, and broccoli thrive in your Florida backyard.
If you’re eager to keep your garden flourishing year-round, our article has all the tips and tricks you need to grow the best winter vegetables in Florida. Dive in and learn how to make the most of your winter garden!
Table of Contents
- Vegetables That Grow in The Florida Winter
- 1. Arugula (Eruca Sativa)
- 2. Beets (Beta Vulgaris)
- 3. Broccoli (Brassica Oleracea var. Italica)
- 4. Brussels Sprouts (Brassica Oleracea var. Gemmifera)
- 5. Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea var. Capitata)
- 6. Carrots (Daucus Carota subsp. Sativus)
- 7. Collard Greens (Brassica Oleracea var. Viridis)
- 8. Kale (Brassica Oleracea var. Sabellica)
- 9. Lettuce
- 10. Sweet Corn
- 11. Swiss Chard (Beta Vulgaris subsp. Vulgaris)
- Common Florida Winter Vegetable Pests
- Factors That Influence Winter Vegetable Growth
- Final Thought
- FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Vegetables That Grow in The Florida Winter
Before you decide to jump into planting, it is better to know which winter vegetable suits your local climate best. And so, we have written a brief guideline for you to start planting your own food in your vegetable garden.
From leafy vegetables, and roots, to cereal grain, we have got you covered. Without any further ado, let’s take a look!
1. Arugula (Eruca Sativa)
Arugula, or rocket plant, is a green leafy vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family – a cousin to broccoli and kale. It has flat leaves mimicking fingers yet with a long shape.
This cool-weather veggie usually is harvested young and small since it is widely consumed in a vegetable salad.
Planting Tips:
It is a sun-loving veggie that prefers to grow under the full sun. This plant is not fussy about its soil requirements as it can tolerate a wide range of soil types. However, it performs best on rich, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
Harvest:
Ready to harvest 40 days after seeding. If you grow them at a proper time, you can harvest Arugula in the two seasons.
2. Beets (Beta Vulgaris)
One of the easiest and best vegetables to grow in the Florida winter months is beets. Beets are winter vegetables harvested from the roots, to be precise, their taproot. They have a red to magenta color from betalains compounds and are often used as natural food colorants.
Planting Tips:
Plant beets under a deep or light shade with less than 4 hours of sunlight exposure. As for soil, it loves fertile one. Hence, you may need to add compost prior to sowing the seeds. It also performs best in soil with a 6.5 pH.
Harvest:
They are ready to collect after 4-8 weeks. Meanwhile, the leaves can be harvested after they grow large and produce a strong taste.
3. Broccoli (Brassica Oleracea var. Italica)
Belonging to the cabbage family, broccoli has a large flower head that remains green after harvesting. It has a crunchy texture no matter what cooking process you are doing.
Planting Tips:
Broccoli loves full sun; thus, make sure you plant them in an area with plenty of sun exposure. It also thrives in the soil, having texture between sandy and loamy clay with good drainage. In addition, a cool climate is always preferable to grow broccoli.
Harvest:
Depending on the region, broccoli grows from January to June and is ready for harvest 80-100 days after planting.
4. Brussels Sprouts (Brassica Oleracea var. Gemmifera)
If you take a close look, Brussels sprouts look similar to cabbage. It is even called a miniature cabbage. In fact, it shares a similar Gemmifera cultivar with the veggie.
It is widely cultivated for its edible buds with around 1-4 cm diameter. Despite being a winter vegetable in Florida, Brussels sprouts can grow year-round if only they are protected.
Planting Tips:
Brussels sprouts grow well in full sun. It also loves well-drained, loamy, rich soil loaded with organic matter. In addition, the soil pH must be maintained around the neutral range.
Harvest:
The veggie needs 90-110 days after sowing to collect or when the diameter reaches 1-4 cm.
5. Cabbage (Brassica Oleracea var. Capitata)
Cabbage is a leafy green vegetable with various colors that represent each cultivar, ranging from green, white, to purple. However, the main characteristics are the same, namely having compact leaves that form like heads.
Unlike its simple appearance, growing cabbage is a tricky job because it is prone to caterpillars and other pests. Fortunately, they are easy to handle with anti-pest drugs and natural sprays.
Planting Tips:
Like most cool-season vegetables, cabbage thrives in full sun. To obtain the best harvest, loamy soil with added organic compost is necessary.
Harvest:
Cabbage has a pretty long time to mature, around 80-180 days.
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6. Carrots (Daucus Carota subsp. Sativus)
Carrot is a root vegetable that generally has an orange color, though some other cultivars bear different shades, such as purple, black, and white. The texture is hard yet will soften when you boil them.
Planting Tips:
This orange root veggie favors full sun on fertile, rich, loose, stone-free, acidic soil with a pH range of 6.0-6.5. To plant them, prepare 1/8 inch deep soil and 15 feet apart from each seed. Make sure the seeds have slight contact with water to keep their moisture.
Harvest:
The harvest period is from 70 to 120 days after planting.
7. Collard Greens (Brassica Oleracea var. Viridis)
This loose leafy green vegetable falls in the same species as broccoli and cabbage, commonly grown in a cool climate. It is loaded with vitamin K, which is essential for your bones.
Planting Tips:
Prepare fertile, rich, well-drained soils under full sun to plant collard. Give space about 18 to 24 inches apart from each seed to allow the root to develop properly.
Harvest:
6-8 weeks after planting. You can either cut off the plant to the ground or leave the central bud to re-grow.
8. Kale (Brassica Oleracea var. Sabellica)
Same as broccoli and arugula, kale also belongs to the cabbage family. It is characterized by dark green, curly leaves with a crunchy and strong taste. If you do not favor such flavors, you better take young leaves with a milder taste.
Planting Tips:
Kale prefers fertile, rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soils under full sun to grow properly. You can add compost to improve soil fertility. The best time to grow Kale starts from September to March, when the temperature is cool.
Harvest:
Kale needs about 50-60 days until its maturity and ready to harvest.
9. Lettuce
There are many lettuce varieties, including romaine lettuce which has tall head and deep green leaves supported by sturdy ribs. This kind of lettuce is also the most nutrient-dense variety among all, with more vitamin A, K, and folate per a hundred grams.
Planting Tips:
Lettuce is a sun lover’s veggie that thrives best on rich, fertile, sandy loam soil. Since it favors moist soil, you must provide an area with proper drainage; thus, it is well-drained. If you want to plant them from seeds, spread them in rows 3 feet apart on 12-inch beds.
Harvest:
When the leaves reach around 6 inches tall or about 70-75 days after planting. Meanwhile, the lettuce head is ready to harvest after 55 days.
10. Sweet Corn
Corn or sweet corn is one of the easiest crops to grow in the Florida winter since it copes well with the heat and does not require much maintenance. This cereal grain plant is an alternative source of carbohydrates besides potatoes and rice.
Planting Tips:
This Cerealia grain loves full sun; thus, it needs a minimum of 6 hours of sun exposure. Below that particular duration, you will not have a good yield. You are also required to prepare a proper space with fertile, slightly acidic (pH 6.0-6.8), well-drained soil to have its best growth.
Harvest:
90-120 days after planting. In Florida, corn season starts from October to June.
11. Swiss Chard (Beta Vulgaris subsp. Vulgaris)
Swiss Chard is one of the popular cool-season greens in Florida that withstands summer heat well. The characteristics of this veggie somehow fall between kale and spinach as they belong to the same family.
It is identified by red to magenta stalks and veins on the deep green curly leaves.Â
Planting Tips:
Swiss chard loves full sun but tolerates light shade. Regarding the soil, this green veggie prefers organic, rich, well-drained soil to thrive. You can add compost to obtain soil with plenty of organic matter.
Harvest:
This vegetable is among the fastest-growing vegetables in Florida, only taking around 4-6 weeks until it is ready to harvest.
Common Florida Winter Vegetable Pests
Besides spring, wet winters with high humidity are favorable for pests to spread. Aphids and caterpillars are the most common pests you will find when growing vegetables in Florida winter.
There are some other pests, like whiteflies, leafminers, and thrips, but these two culprits are the troublemaker ones.
Winter crops that are prone to caterpillars are broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, and other brassica families. These caterpillars usually are from large and small white butterflies and cabbage moths.
You will notice some small and big holes throughout the inner and outer leaves when this pest infects your vegetables.
Meanwhile, aphids can easily infect beets, lettuce, and chard since these winter veggies have aphid-transmitted viruses. Besides those three combos, bean, bok choy, cucumber, and potatoes have the same issue.
This virus will let the leaves curl, leave mottled yellow marks, and inhibit plant growth.
Factors That Influence Winter Vegetable Growth
Several factors affect winter vegetable growth, such as soil conditions, lighting conditions, temperatures, humidity, and water.
1. Soil Conditions
Choosing the right soil is key for growing healthy vegetables. Winter veggies thrive best in sandy-loam soil because it balances sand, silt, and clay, ensuring good drainage and aeration.
Avoid heavy clay soil as it retains too much water and lacks proper air flow. Your crops will thank you for the well-chosen soil!
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2. Lighting Conditions
Sunlight is vital for all crops, but some veggies thrive with more shade. These shade-loving plants often have lighter colors and less pigment. Too much sun can cause them to develop too much color.
Finding the right mix of sun and shade helps your vegetables grow just right.
3. Temperatures
Temperature affects almost all plant processes, including winter vegetables. Each type of vegetable has its own ideal temperature range for optimal growth.
In Florida, most winter crops grow best between 40°F and 65°F (5°C-18°C).
If temperatures drop too low, plant growth can slow down significantly. Knowing the right temperature for each vegetable helps ensure a healthy and productive garden.
4. Humidity
Humidity is basically the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. It is necessary for plants to obtain the required humidity to perform photosynthesis and prevent extra water evaporation from the soil during high temperatures.
In contrast, too much humidity brings drawbacks for winter vegetables as it can invite molds, bacteria, and pests to spread. Besides, this condition also stimulates rot roots and crown roots.
5. Water
Water and humidity are closely linked; more water in the air means higher humidity. This affects soil moisture, which is crucial for your winter crops. Some soils, like sandy soil, don’t hold water well and can lose nutrients with too much watering.
Knowing your soil type helps you water your plants just right for healthy growth.
Final Thought
As Florida winter approaches, it’s the perfect time to enjoy gardening in the cooler season. Picture your garden filled with vibrant greens like peppery arugula and sweet carrots, flourishing despite the chill.
Winter gardening lets you grow fresh, nutritious produce that brings warmth to your table. So, grab your tools and start planting to create a lush winter garden!
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Should I cover my garden with plastic in the winter?
No, you shouldn’t cover your garden with plastic in the winter. Plastic doesn’t allow air exchange for plant respiration. Instead, use breathable materials like cardboard or old carpet to protect your plants and control weeds.
How can I improve my garden soil in the winter?
To improve your garden soil in the winter, you can mulch to retain moisture, grow winter crops to enrich the soil, allow winter weeds for ground cover, and add compost to boost soil fertility.
