Hi there, use Table 3 here, southern planting dates as your benchmark.

this is an ok list...

but, judging from my experience, what they list as the plant dates are, in fact, better thought of as the TRANSplant date. imho, in north central fla, where i live, you should ALREADY have broc seedlings... and you should have started pole beans two weeks ago. maybe it's global warning... maybe these dates are too conservative... or maybe their geographic regions are too general.

in short, i think you're well advised to consider these dates as "dates to put your seedlings in the ground." subtract 2-3 weeks for dates to plant seeds.

things slow down SO much in mid-november that, if you aren't at a productive size for your brassicas and solanaceae, you won't get anything until spring (if you don't get zinged by frost!).

anyone else want to chime on?

Sharbear, I'm also located on the southeast coast. This past week I planted seeds for sweet chelsea, dr. carolyn & sungold tomatoes, asian cukes, butterstick zukes, evergreen onions, acorn squash, green bell peppers, cleminson okra, suger snap peas, kentucy wonder beans, georgia collards & sunflowers :) Everything except for the green bell peppers are growing. I also used the table Tom suggested. Took into consideration the type of seed, location of germination and suggestions from GWers. Plan on seeding more varieties within the next two weeks....to keep veggies around all season. Hope this helps. Jen

P.S. Thanks Tom for the seeds. I ran out to my mailbox everyday waiting for the package...felt like it was my birthday :) I'll post pics and show how everything is coming along!!!

floridagirl mosiac, Are you starting these veggies indoors or did you direct sow?

I planted August 31. I was pushing till the end of August last year, because last year we got some much rain in early august it killed everything. This time, I am germinating inside.

SB, living on the southeast coast are you sure you're Zone 9? If you're really zone 10 starting too early can be problematic for bugs and PM/DM. Where do you live? Sure would help so others living close by can give you better advice.

Hey Michael, please post your link for the start dates, it's been a long time since you did and it's always a good idea to have more than one set for cross-reference.

Tom

Tom, Saint Lucie County...I checked my zip code and I am relatively sure it is zone 9.

i don't use a chart or calendar... i think it's hard to err on the side of too early in planting seeds... too often i've had bad seeds or bad conditions and have had to restart a whole crop; starting early gives me that option. big healthy seedlings, planted as early as possible, are key to exploiting our two vegetable windows (late fall, early summer).

i agree with you w/r/t garden pests and diseases and being too early; but you can hold plants for weeks as seedlings if you use a good seedling mix, shade, morning sun, dry areas under eaves, etc.. right now i have a bunch of large (5 and 6 inch) broc, chard and cauliflower seedlings in 4" pots, ready to go into the ground. but i won't have space for them until mid-september when i clear one of my sweet potato spots.

i've started a bunch of lettuce seedlings indoors in turface and coir. it's too early to start them outdoors (too hot, soil's too active for their thin seedcoats and slow germination)... but in a couple of weeks i'll transplant them into buckets in the shade, and then in october into the garden...

anyway, i'd rather be too early than too late. those dates on the ifas calendar are too late for me by a good two weeks.

Michael, I could have sworn you've posted planting dates from either Southern or Simon, some place in Leesburg, guess I was wrong, sorry.

SB, I see what you mean, looking at all the zips in St. Lucie Co. I see that some are Zone 9 and some are Zone 10...34945 has both 9/10, moving just a little south to 34987 scores you a 10, moving inland to the west of 34987 -> 34972 scores you a 9. Looks like you're in a schizophrenic county ;-)

Tom

Here is a link that might be useful: Hardiness Zones by zip

Sharbear, I start seeds on my north facing screened in patio. They get just the right amount of filtered light and lots of humidity to get things started. I keep them covered until the plants sprout up so far the lid won't fit on anymore! Hope this helps :) Jen

Tom, wow! By the zone chart you posted a link to, I am in zone 10, Fort Pierce. Weird, since I don't live in Fort Pierce, but Port Saint Lucie, 34953...

SB,

I have the same problem, some of Pinellas County is Zone 9, some is Zone 10. I get NO frost and too much humidity, so obviously I'm in Zone 10 now. I'm sure much of the change here over the last two decades is due to the fact that in this county what was once very verdant is now all asphalt :-(

Tom

Floridagirl Mosaic, what do you start them in and you cover them with what...? I am using peat pots so I can just break up the bottom and plant them pot and all.

Thank you all for your help. Now I have small plants in peat pots and still haven't finished preparing the garden area...It is still so darn HOT!