What to Plant in a Florida Spring Garden
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Spring in Florida does not look like spring anywhere else. By the time your friends up north are still planning their garden, you are already harvesting. But if you miss the timing windows here, the summer heat comes in hard and wipes everything out before you get a single tomato.
Here you will learn what to plant in a Florida spring garden by month, which warm-season crops to prioritize, and how to squeeze every week out of the March-through-May window before summer shuts it down.
Why Timing Is Everything in a Florida Spring Garden
In most of Florida, "spring" gardening really runs from late February through May. After that, daytime temps climb into the 90s and stay there. Cool-season crops like tomatoes and peppers will bolt or crash in June.
The good news is that spring planting in Florida means warm soil and long days. Crops that take months up north mature fast down here. Get your timing right and you can squeeze in a full harvest before the summer heat peaks.
February to March: The Spring Launch Window
What to Plant Now
Late February is the official start line for spring planting in most of Florida. Soil temps are climbing, nights are mild, and transplants go in without frost risk in zones 9b and 10a. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant go in as transplants in late February. Start them from seed in January indoors so they are ready.
Cucumbers and squash can be direct-sown in late February or early March. They germinate fast and grow hard once the soil hits 65 degrees. Beans also go in now as direct sows.
March Garden Florida Focus
March is your peak transplant month. Get everything in the ground by mid-March if possible. The longer you wait, the more you are racing the heat. Corn, okra, sweet potatoes, and melons all go in during March. Herbs like basil love the warming soil too, and spring is when basil actually thrives in Florida before summer bolting kicks in.
Also check out how to grow sweet potatoes in Florida for a crop that practically feeds itself and runs right through summer.
April to May: Last Push Before Summer
What to Plant
By April, cool-season crops are wrapping up. Pull them and replace with heat-tolerant summer crops. Okra, sweet potatoes, and Malabar spinach go in now because they will outlast the heat when everything else gives up.
Cherry tomatoes will hang on into June in most zones. Larger slicing tomatoes may start crashing as temps peak. This is the time to pick them green if needed and let them ripen on the counter.
Warm Season Crops That Bridge Into Summer
Some crops thrive specifically in the May-to-August stretch. The best vegetables for Florida summer heat give you a strong list of what to keep growing once spring winds down. Plant them in April so they are established before the real heat arrives.
Do not try to force cool-season crops through June in Florida. It wastes water, feeds pests, and kills plants that would otherwise reseed or return in fall. Accept the seasonal rhythm and work with it.
Spring Garden Calendar: Florida by Month
| Month | Best Crops | Key Action |
|---|---|---|
| Late February | Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, beans | Transplant and direct sow warm-season crops |
| March | Corn, okra, melons, sweet potatoes, basil | Peak transplant window, get everything in |
| April | Okra, Malabar spinach, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes | Transition to summer crops, pull cool-season |
| May | Summer bridges: okra, sweet potatoes, moringa | Harvest spring crops, establish summer replacements |
Spring Planting Florida: Soil and Water Reminders
Spring brings dry weather in most of Florida before the summer rains start in June. Water deeply twice a week rather than a light daily sprinkle. Deep watering builds deep roots that handle heat better. Mulch everything with three to four inches of wood chips to hold soil moisture.
Sandy Florida soil drains fast and loses nutrients quickly. Work compost into beds before every new planting cycle. This is not optional here. Organic matter is what makes sandy soil productive.
Watch my Florida spring garden videos on YouTube to see timing, planting, and harvest in real-time from West Central Florida.
For deeper support on making your spring garden thrive, check out the resources at the Southern Grower's Hub where I walk through each seasonal window in detail.
Key Takeaways
- Get tomatoes and peppers in the ground by mid-March in most of Florida.
- April is your last good month for warm-season transplants before summer heat peaks.
- Bridge into summer with okra, sweet potatoes, and Malabar spinach planted in April.
- Water deeply, mulch heavily, and add compost every cycle in sandy soil.
Want month-by-month planting guides built for Florida? Try the Southern Grower's Hub free for 7 days, no card required. Seasonal calendars, crop guides, and real Florida growers in the community.
