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Florida Gardening

What vegetable seeds can i start now to go into my containers?

5 years ago

The UF site indicates relatively few seeds should be started at this time of year but i have containers and soil just begging for plants. What do the folks here recommend if i just *have* to be growing something even in the hot and rainy South FL summer ? Carrots, beets, herbs, hot peppers, tomatoes?

Featured Answer

shuffles_gw

5 years ago

Okra and eggplant

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Comments (14)

Florida_Joe's_Z10a
5 years ago
There are also many exotic tropical veggies that grow vigorously with high humidity and rain if you expand your palate.
treimink thanked Florida_Joe's_Z10a
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What can I start from seed now in zone 10?
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I was planning on asking something like this myself tonight. I am in zone9. My cukes and tomatoes are done. I pulled up my cucumbers yesterday and one row of my maters today. I still have 2 rows of tomatoes to pull up, maybe tomorrow if I can get through the heat. This is my first big veggie garden, so I'm on a trial & error run myself. I went ahead and planted a row of peas which I think will do OK, I also put down a row of okra, which my dad planted his a few weeks ago and they are doing great, so I think these will too. I still have several rows to fill if I can and produce a nice fall crop in time before time to plant my winter crop. I think tomorrow I will get down some corn and a heirloom variety of pole bean I bought on a whim. Like I said, a lot will be trial & error till I see what does good at what point. I'll save my carrots, greens, turnips and such for winter crop. I am interested to see what else might work this time of year!! Thanks for the thread!
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Glenn Jones(9b)
5 years ago
Black eyed peas
writersblock (9b/10a)
5 years ago
Here's a link to your other thread about this if you can't find it:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/container-vegetables-in-south-fl-dsvw-vd~5314150?n=5
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
5 years ago
If the containers are placed where they get some afternoon or high shade, you can try a lettuce mix. You have to harvest early though.

Same for basil - it can survive as long as the sun isn't beating down on it all day.

'Wild' arugula will grow during the summer - it doesn't die out after blooming like regular arugula. I used to grow it year round. Some chicories don't seem to mind the heat either. I have a variety that won't quit - it seems to be perennial, but I believe the seeds won't sprout in hot weather.

https://www.superseeds.com/products/pinetree-lettuce-mix

https://www.superseeds.com/products/rucola-selvatica-arugula-50-days

Southern peas like it hot, and I love okra = )
eep100 Sarasota, FL
5 years ago
Yard-long beans. You'll need a trellis, though.
writersblock (9b/10a)
5 years ago
https://growagardener.blogspot.com/2018/04/summer-crops-to-plant-now.html

Has quite a list, but note the date of the blog post.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
That's a really comprehensive list writersblock, I grow many of those during the summer months and many are even perennial or "cut and come again" crops in zone 10.
writersblock (9b/10a)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
if you expand your palate.

That's the key, I think. Most of the summer vegetables are pretty different for someone who's always been used to peas, carrots, beets, lettuce. (And I would mention that I consider some of the things on that list, like winged beans, to do better in the winter than the summer, although they'll keep growing then.)

And there will be some that you just plain don't like, too. Go to West Indian, Jamaican,Dominican, etc. groceries and get some of these vegetables and try them. I just can't like malabar spinach, for instance, as much as I've tried.
kikimentor
5 years ago
not an expert but I just started cucumber early May and so far so good
writersblock (9b/10a)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Where are you, kikimentor? In most of FL, it's time to start watching out for:

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/pickleworm.htm
Glenn Jones(9b)
5 years ago
I just got my first pickle worm today.
writersblock (9b/10a)
5 years ago
Ugh. My condolences, Glenn.
Glenn Jones(9b)
5 years ago
I just haven't had any luck with squashes this year.always something

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