Carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, summer squash, bell peppers and 6 varieties of Tomatoes.

Are you planning on planting all of this now?

Your local county extension office is a good source of info on gardening in your area - planting dates, local common disease and pest problem, soil structure, etc. They are also the place to start for getting a soil test done. Without that, soil and nutrient needs are just guess work.

Check out the link below for some good info and if you Google 'vegetable gardening in zone 10' you'll get many good resources.

Also worthwhile - determine what your Sunset Gardening zone is.

Dave

PS: I'd vote for the 8 hrs of sun alcove if it is good year round exposure and rather than pull up all the grass consider raised beds instead and mulching to control weeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vegetable Gardening in Zone 10

Thanks Dave for the really helpful link and advice! Yes, I am planning on planting all of that now, from what I have read the only time you DON'T want to try and grow veggies in south Florida is July and August! Last year it was 83 degrees on Christmas day!

As far as the raised beds, do you mean building a structure that would be above ground? Basically a very large container garden? If that is not what you mean I don't understand exactly?

Thanks again for the help!

Good luck! I was in your position a year ago, I had moved into my first house and created my first vegetable garden. I'm in a very different zone (6A) and my season is winding down, but I think I had a very successful summer with my first garden, given that it was very cool and rainy for all of June and July. Here is what I did, for what it's worth. I had the area tilled where I wanted to create a garden (it was grass). I then raked out all the big clumps of grass left behind, and added them to my new compost bin. I then had 2 yards of topsoil and 2 yards of compost delivered (my garden is 16'x16'). I think adding the topsoil and compost really added the nutrients needed and eliminated any grass re-growing in the area. But, after finding this site, I realize a soil test would have been a good idea. After I planted, I mulched with salt hay to keep down any weeds (make sure if you use straw you ask if there are any seeds in the straw). I hope this information helps in some way! Good luck and above all, have fun! Use this site often for advice, I do and there are many people with years of experience and knowledge who have helped guide me through my first year as a gardener!
p.s. consider creating a compost bin, if you haven't already, you can create your own garden fertilizer with it. I got mine through the town public works department for a very reasonable price

Welcome to the forums and welcome to the very addicting world of gardening. Here's a link to a publication by University of Florida on raised bed gardening. It should be helpful.

Although I've gardened for many years, this is my first year with raised bed vegetable gardens and it has been a wonderful experience. I highly recommend it for anybody with limited space. Take a look and see if this technique will fit in your plans.

Good luck!
Sandy

Here is a link that might be useful: Raised bed vegetable gardening

Thank so much Sandy for the link, yes lots of helpful info, I think I will do raised beds, it will be more up front work but looks like it will give a bigger yield and over all produce better produce! (this article was excellent, and just what I was looking for, something directly related to growing vegetables in So. Florida!)

Thank you also michelelc for the encouragement and kind words, I will look into composting too!

I think the Florida forum is pretty active here and they may be able to help you with specifics for your area. Also, if you do decide to go with raised beds, as many do if you have limited space, you should check out the Square Foot Gardening forum for advice on how to set up the raised beds.

Best of Luck!
Susan

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida Forum

Thanks Susan,

I checked the FL forum, and you are right, seems like a lot of good advice, I posted some questions there on a lively tomato discussion! I am also reading about the sq foot gardening, thanks so much!

Cate