It’s Finally Fall-ish, Florida-Style: Planting Season is Here!

Well y’all, we made it. The air isn’t quite so heavy, the mosquitoes aren’t trying to carry us away (as much), and when you step outside in the morning, you can almost smell fall in the breeze. While the rest of the country is pulling up the last of their summer gardens and settling in for frost, here in Florida Zone 9a/9b we’re just getting started. That’s right... it’s planting season, baby!

Why Fall and Winter Are Florida’s Sweet Spot

Summer in Florida is like one big sweaty dare. You can grow a few things (hello, okra, corn and sweet potatoes), but let’s be honest, most crops just tap out in the heat. Fall and winter though? That’s our time to shine.

Cooler days mean we can finally grow things without them instantly wilting into a sad salad. The soil cools down, the bugs chill out a little, and suddenly the garden feels alive again. It’s like the whole homestead breathes a sigh of relief right along with us.

Things are sprouting

What’s Going in the Ground?

If you’re itching to dig, here’s what we’re planting right now:

• Leafy Greens Galore: Lettuce, kale, spinach, arugula, basically all the salad bowl staples we’ve been craving.

• Brassica Brigade: Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. Big, hearty crops that actually like our cooler days.

• Root Veggie Magic: Carrots, beets, radishes, onions, and turnips. Perfect for soups, roasts, and snacking straight out of the dirt (no judgment here).

• Herb Heaven: Cilantro, parsley, dill, and chives. Fresh herbs make everything better, and fall is the perfect time to grow them.

• Fun Extras: Snap peas, English peas, and strawberries (yes, strawberries in Florida, get ‘em going now for sweet spring treats).

Garden Glow-Up Prep

Before you toss seeds like confetti, give your soil some love. A good layer of compost or manure works wonders, and pulling out weeds now will save you headaches later. Mulch is your friend, it helps keep the soil cozy and your plants happy as the weather flips back and forth.

Pro tip: If you’re doing root crops like carrots or beets, make sure your soil is loose and fluffy. Nobody wants stubby carrots that look like they spent summer on the couch. (Take that from my own experience, I've pulled up a harvest full of cigarette lighter sized Carrots last year!)

Seed Collection

The Homestead Vibe

There’s just something about fall on the homestead. The barn feels calmer, the garden feels more hopeful, and the critters seem to know the season’s changing too. For us here in Florida, fall isn’t the end of gardening, it’s the beginning of our best growing months.

So sharpen those hoes, dust off the seed packets, and let’s make some garden magic. This is the season where Florida homesteads thrive, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get dirt under my nails again without melting and getting eaten alive out there!

Happy planting, friends. Let’s grow something beautiful.