University of Florida

Spring Vegetable Gardening


Introduction

Among other benefits, successful vegetable gardens offer their owners fresh air, sunshine, exercise, enjoyment, mental therapy, nutritious fresh vegetables, and economic savings. Gardens may be grown year-round in Florida, but spring is the preferred season.

While this guide provides recommendations primarily for regular gardens, the information may be useful in other common situations such as container, organic, community, and market gardens.

Steps to a Spring Vegetable Garden

Locate a site. Put your garden close to a source of water with at least six hours of direct sunlight. With proper care, vegetables may also be included in the landscape among ornamental plants. Where possible, practice site rotation for weed and other pest control. Coastal sites are also suitable.

Plan the layout. Before planting, make a paper plan, including which vegetables you intend to plant where and when. Make a list of supplies, and order or purchase early.

Prepare the soil. While most gardeners plant on whatever soil type is available in the garden plot, you may improve your soil by bringing in topsoil or a soil mix, or by applying liberal amounts of organic materials. Spade or plow the plot at least three weeks before planting. Then rework the soil into a fine firm seedbed at planting time.

Apply organic matter. Most Florida soils benefit from applications of various forms of organics such as animal manure, rotted leaves, compost, and cover crops. Thoroughly mix liberal amounts of organics into the soil well in advance of planting, preferably at least a month before seeding.

If you do not plan to use inorganic fertilizer, spread 25 to 100 lbs of compost or animal manure per 100 square feet. Well-composted organics may be applied at planting time. Nutrient levels are usually inconsistent in compost, so applications of balanced inorganic fertilizer may also be beneficial. To avoid plant stunting, organic amendments low in nitrogen--such as composted yard trash--must be accompanied by fertilizer.

Consider cover crops. Off-season planting and plow-down of green-manure crops is beneficial. In Florida, summer legumes such as cowpeas and hairy indigo are most often used. In winter, try ryegrass plus lupine, and hairy vetch.

Compost your organic waste. As a home garden composter, you can help reduce the amount of yard waste going to landfills, while manufacturing your own compost. Composting is easy to do and yields a manure-like organic fertilizer/soil conditioner highly beneficial to Florida's infertile native soils. A small compost pile measuring 3 ft×3ft×3ft (one cubic yd) is easily made (you can build a larger pile by putting together several units into a single bin):

  • Construct a bin with sides made from treated lumber, concrete blocks, wire, or other durable materials.
  • Create a layer of plant waste about four inches thick that contains leaves, lawn clippings, shredded branches, straw, and/or wood chips. This is your "brown," or carbon-based, layer.
  • Add a layer of plant waste, also about four inches thick, made up of manure, kitchen waste, grass clippings, and/or inorganic fertilizers. This is your "green," or nitrogen-based, layer.
  • Alternate layers evenly.
  • Moisten each layer, then keep the pile moist, like a wrung-out sponge.
  • After three or four weeks, and every week thereafter, thoroughly mix the compost pile.
  • Compost should be ready for use in two to twelve months, or when plant parts are decomposed.

Adjust Soil pH. The best pH range for gardens on sandy soil is between pH 5.8 and 6.3. If your soil's pH is between 5.5 and 7.0, you do not need to adjust the pH.

Decide whether to fertilize. Commercial fertilizer might be necessary for your garden. Gardeners find it convenient to use commonly available fertilizer grades such as 8-8-8 or 15-15-15. Be sure to include micronutrients if soil pH is above 6.3.

Plan irrigation and drainage. Provide sufficient drainage of excessive rainfall from your plot, while arranging for irrigation during dry periods. Frequency of irrigation depends upon your soil type; sandy soils need water two or three times a week. Conserve water by using mulch, organic matter, and techniques such as drip irrigation. Make a slight depression at the base of plants to hold water until absorbed by the soil.

Control weeds. The primary purpose of cultivation is to control weeds. Weeds are easier to control when small. In gardens, practical weed control is best accomplished by hand-pulling, hoeing, mechanical cultivation, or mulching. Chemical herbicides are not suggested.

How to Prevent Disease and Pests

Solarization. Most Florida soils contain nematodes, microscopic worms that can seriously reduce growth and yield of most vegetables by feeding in or on their roots. Nematode damage is less likely in soils with high levels of organic matter and where crops are rotated so that the same members of the same family are not planted repeatedly in the same soil.

Excessive nematode populations may be reduced temporarily by soil solarization. To solarize your soil, first remove vegetation, then break up the soil and wet to activate the nematode population. After preparing the soil, cover it with sturdy clear plastic film during the warmest six weeks of summer. High temperatures (above 130°F) must be maintained during this time for best results.

Exclusion. Purchase disease-free plants. Look carefully for common symptoms of diseases. Avoid gross movement of infested soil.

Eradication. Certain soil-borne diseases (e.g. damp-off, root and stem rots, and wilts) are especially troublesome on old garden sites. Site and crop rotation can slow or prevent the incidence of certain soil-borne diseases. Avoid growing vegetables of the same family repeatedly in one area. Watch for early disease symptoms. Remove first diseased leaves or plants to slow spread.

Resistance. Choose adapted varieties with resistance or tolerance to the diseases common in your area.

Protection. Plant fungicide-treated seed. To control many common diseases, dust untreated seed with fungicide. For plants, sprays are generally more effective than dusts. Begin control efforts early. Follow product labels for vegetable clearances, rates, and interval of application. For current information about appropriate fungicides, contact your county Extension office.

Scouting. Scout the garden twice weekly for insect damage. Spray only affected plants. Follow label directions. The materials listed in Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide: Table 2 are effective against insects as indicated.

Pesticide Precautions

Consider all pesticides potential poisons. They should be applied strictly according to manufacturers' precautions and recommendations. Always wash vegetables from the garden thoroughly before using them. Use pesticides only as necessary to control insects and diseases, and stop applications during the harvesting season. Apply in the early evening to avoid killing bees and reducing pollination. Store pesticides in original, labeled containers. Keep them out of the reach of children and other irresponsible persons. For more information, read Organic Vegetable Gardening and contact your county Extension office.

Warm Season Vegetables

See Table 3 of the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide for specific information about planting each of the following vegetables.

  • Beans, bush
  • Beans, pole
  • Cantaloupe
  • Corn, sweet
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Lima beans
  • Okra
  • Pea, southern
  • Pepper, sweet and hot
  • Potato, sweet
  • Pumpkin
  • Squash, summer and winter
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
Adapted from:

Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103) by J. M. Stephens, R. A. Dunn, G. Kidder, D. Short, and G. W. Simone. Published by: Horticultural Sciences Department (rev. 5/2003).

tomato garden

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