Planning your Florida fall vegetable garden is an enjoyable challenge where you’ll reap the benefits for many months to come, as many of these fall vegetables also extend into winter. A fall garden in Florida is an excellent opportunity to get your hands dirty and learn the skill of growing your own food, just as the weather is getting nice.
Fall vegetables for Florida
What to plant in a fall garden in Florida … depends on…. garden size, sun and shade patterns, general microclimate, your willingness to maintain ie the amount of time you’re willing to dedicate.
Florida fall crops generally include:
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Collards
- Lettuce
- Onions
- English peas
- Radish
- Spinach
- Turnips
When to plant a fall garden in Florida
Florida fall planting can start as early as August 1. Extend your growing season by starting seeds indoors.
Here are some general guidelines for planting your fall vegetable garden in North Florida, Central Florida and South Florida:
North Florida fall vegetables
| Vegetable | When to plant | Days to harvest (from seed) |
| Arugula | Sept – Mar | 35-60 |
| Beets | Aug – Feb | 50-70 |
| Broccoli | Aug – Feb | 95-90 |
| Brussels sprouts | Aug – Feb | 90-120 |
| Cabbage | Aug – Feb | 85-110 |
| Carrots | Aug – Mar | 70-120 |
| Chinese cabbage | Aug – Feb | 70-90 |
| Collards | Aug – Feb | 70-90 |
| Cucumber | July – Aug | 40-65 |
| Eggplant | Aug | 90-115 |
| Kale | Aug – Feb | 50-70 |
| Lettuce | Sept – Oct | 60-80 |
| Mustard | Aug – Feb | 40-50 |
| Onions (bulbing) | Sept – Nov | 100-130 |
| Onions (green & shallots) | Aug – Mar | 50-75 (green); 75-100 (shallots) |
| Radish | Sept – Mar | 20-30 |
| Spinach | Sept – Mar | 45-60 |
| Squash (summer & winter) | Aug – Sept | 40-50 (summer); 85-120 (winter) |
| Strawberry | Sept 15 – Oct 15 | 30-60 (transplant) |
| Swiss chard | Sept – May | 45-60 |
| Turnips | Aug – Feb | 40-60 |
Central Florida fall vegetables
| Vegetable | When to plant | Days to harvest (from seed) |
| Arugula | Sept – Mar | 35-60 |
| Beets | Sept – Feb | 50-70 |
| Broccoli | Sept – Feb | 95-90 |
| Brussels sprouts | Sept – Feb | 90-120 |
| Cabbage | Sept – Feb | 85-110 |
| Carrots | Aug – Mar | 70-120 |
| Chinese cabbage | Sept – Apr | 70-90 |
| Collards | Sept – Feb | 70-90 |
| Cucumber | Sept | 40-65 |
| Eggplant | Aug – Sept | 90-115 |
| Kale | Sept – Feb | 50-70 |
| Lettuce | Sept – Feb | 60-80 |
| Mustard | Sept – Feb | 40-50 |
| Onions (bulbing) | Oct | 100-130 |
| Onions (green & shallots) | Aug – Mar | 50-75 (green); 75-100 (shallots) |
| Peppers | Aug – Sept | 90-100 |
| Radish | Sept – Mar | 20-30 |
| Spinach | Sept – Mar | 45-60 |
| Squash (summer & winter) | Aug – Sept | 40-50 (summer); 85-120 (winter) |
| Strawberry | Sept 25 – Oct 25 | 30-60 (transplant) |
| Swiss chard | Sept – May | 45-60 |
| Tomatoes | Aug – Sept | 90-110 |
| Turnips | Sept – Feb | 40-60 |
South Florida fall vegetables
| Vegetable | When to plant | Days to harvest (from seed) |
| Arugula | Oct – Mar | 35-60 |
| Beets | Oct – Jan | 50-70 |
| Broccoli | Oct – Jan | 95-90 |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct – Jan | 90-120 |
| Cabbage | Sept – Jan | 85-110 |
| Carrots | Sept – Mar | 70-120 |
| Chinese cabbage | Sept – Apr | 70-90 |
| Collards | Sept – Jan | 70-90 |
| Cucumber | Sept – Feb | 40-65 |
| Eggplant | Aug – Feb | 90-115 |
| Kale | Sept – Jan | 50-70 |
| Lettuce | Sept – Feb | 60-80 |
| Mustard | Sept – Jan | 40-50 |
| Onions (bulbing) | Oct | 100-130 |
| Onions (green & shallots) | Sept – Mar | 50-75 (green); 75-100 (shallots) |
| Southern peas | Sept – Apr | 75-90 |
| Peppers | Aug – Feb | 90-100 |
| Radish | Oct – Mar | 20-30 |
| Spinach | Oct – Feb | 45-60 |
| Squash (summer & winter) | Aug – Mar | 40-50 (summer); 85-120 (winter) |
| Strawberry | Oct | 30-60 (transplant) |
| Swiss chard | Sept – Mar | 45-60 |
| Tomatoes | Aug – Feb | 90-110 |
| Turnips | Sept – Jan | 40-60 |
6 steps in preparing your Florida fall vegetable garden
1. Choose your site
Choose a location close enough to the house and to a water supply, that receives 6+ hours of sunlight daily.
2. Prepare your soil
Make sure soil is weed free and rich in organic material. Soil prep should be an ongoing task, continually amending with organic material and keeping weeds in check. It’s best to continually add organic matter throughout the year – wood chips, leaves etc. so they can break down during the rainy season. Another option is to plant cover crops to keep the soil alive and active.
3. Make a plan
Consider sun, shade, moisture and other factors in your microclimate.
Gather your seeds, cuttings, transplants, and anything else to make your fall garden complete.
4. Equip yourself with appropriate tools
Shovel, rake, and trowel have been by most used garden tools thus far.
Pots and trays if starting seeds indoors.
5. Plant your seeds (transplants) in the garden
Check your local planting calendar for appropriate timing.
6. Add mulch
Benefits include water retention and keeping weeds at bay.