By Lauren Goldsby
Spring is the time of year we traditionally associate with gardening. But in Florida, you’ll find that fall is the preferred gardening season for many. You can garden in Florida all year round, but will you enjoy being in the garden all year round? Now is the perfect time to plan your garden, prep your space, and even start some seeds. Before you know it, you could be feeling a cool breeze while you harvest your first crop!
To have success, you’ll need to grow plants that are meant to produce in the fall season. “Right plant, right place” – you hear us say those four words again and again here at the Extension Office. That’s because plant selection is one of the most important things to consider for gardening success. If you were to start a watermelon from seed right now it may do well at first. However, they thrive in the heat of the summer, and they will not like the short, cool fall days. A plant growing in the wrong environment will be stressed. That stress attracts pests and can make a plant more susceptible to pathogens. A crop like cabbage, pictured above, will thrive in the fall season.
Set yourself up for success by growing plants that thrive in the fall season. Don’t be tempted by the seeds you see on the aisle end caps. These are not always specific to each region and just because they are selling it now does not mean that we should grow it now. Decide what you are going to grow before you go to the store! The Florida Panhandle Planting Guide is a great resource to use for planning your garden. You can view the Planting Guide by holding your phone camera over the QR code.
Want to learn more about Fall Gardening? The UF/IFAS Bay County Master Gardener Volunteers will be hosting a free Fall Vegetable Gardening Workshop on September 20th at 2728 E 14th Street, Panama City, Florida. Call the office (850) 248-8091 for registration.
An Equal Opportunity Institution. UF/IFAS Extension, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Andra Johnson, Dean. Single copies of UF/IFAS Extension publications (excluding 4-H and youth publications) are available free to Florida residents from county UF/IFAS Extension offices.
RSS
