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The Magic of Year-Round Gardening in Florida: Our Best-Kept Secret

by | Apr 19, 2025 | Plants, Edible Gardening, Featured, Summer Plants | 0 comments

The Magic of Year-Round Gardening in Florida depicted in a photo of a thriving garden

Florida isn’t just the Sunshine State—it’s the Growing State. While the rest of the country is bundling up and dreaming of spring, here in South Florida we’re harvesting kale in December, planting okra in July, and sipping lemongrass tea from our own backyards. Welcome to the lush, leafy magic of year-round gardening in Florida—a secret too good not to share.

At Urban Abundance, we’ve built our mission on it. Why? Because gardening here is less about following traditional seasons and more about understanding rhythms. And when you align your garden with Florida’s unique subtropical climate, the results are abundant, delicious, and deeply satisfying.

🌿 Two Seasons, Endless Possibilities

Unlike northern climates that rely on a single summer burst, Florida gardeners enjoy two main growing seasons—cool and warm. From October to April, our “cool season” is ideal for leafy greens, root vegetables, herbs, and more. Then, from May to September, the “warm season” brings heat-loving crops like okra, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and tropical greens.

When planned right, your garden never stops. There’s always something sprouting, blooming, or ready to be harvested. That means fresh food 365 days a year—and a constant connection to nature’s rhythm.

🌱 Why Year-Round Gardening Matters

Growing year-round isn’t just practical—it’s powerful. Here’s what it unlocks:

  • Food Security: When grocery prices rise or shelves go empty, your backyard remains full.

  • Sustainability: Local food means fewer miles, less packaging, and a lighter footprint.

  • Health & Wellness: Constant access to fresh, organic produce supports a healthier lifestyle.

  • Joy: There’s something magical about pulling a carrot in January or snipping basil for summer pasta you grew yourself.

And for families, year-round gardening becomes a lifestyle—one that connects children to food, reduces screen time, and cultivates lifelong skills.

🌞 Embracing the Heat (and Rain)

Florida’s summer isn’t for the faint of heart—or the faint of leaf. High humidity, blazing heat, and surprise downpours require a strategy shift. That’s why we design gardens around heat-tolerant heroes like:

  • Everglades tomatoes

  • Malabar spinach

  • Roselle hibiscus

  • Okra

  • Peanuts

  • Sweet potatoes

With the right varieties and drip irrigation in place, even the hottest months can yield baskets of goodness.

🛠️ The Right Tools Make It Easy

Year-round gardening does require thoughtfulness, especially in our summer months. Raised beds (like our premium Vego beds), mulching, proper watering systems, and regular soil health checks help your garden beat the heat. And with our Urban Abundance concierge service, we make it completely effortless for clients—we build, plant, maintain, and harvest so you can just enjoy the bounty.

🌺 A Garden That Grows With You

One of the greatest gifts of year-round gardening in Florida is that it turns gardening from a hobby into a lifestyle. You don’t “start over” every spring. Instead, your garden becomes a living, evolving part of your home—shifting with the seasons, your tastebuds, and your family’s needs.

And with every new season, there’s a fresh chance to grow something new. Want to try Cuban oregano this summer? Add turmeric in the fall? You can do it all—because here, the growing never stops.

🌐 Further Reading