Best Edible Plants to Grow in Florida: Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs

If you are looking for the best edible plants to grow in Florida, then you have many great options—fruits, vegetables, and herbs that thrive in Florida’s unique subtropical gardening conditions—such as banana, papaya, cabbage, radish, and many more things including herbs like Mint, Basil, etc.

Plus, you don’t even need a large space; you can grow these vegetables, fruits, and herbs in a sunny backyard, a small balcony, a patio, or even on a little rooftop corner.

Florida’s warm and subtropical climate actually gives you more freedom to produce your fruits and vegetables throughout the year.

You only have to follow a Florida gardening calendar and pick season-appropriate crops.

But of course, different things at different times, as all vegetables and fruits have a season.

In this gardening guide, I will give you a list of plants that grow well in Florida, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc. 

Along with some season tips, planting advice, and how you would deal with Florida’s heat, humidity, pests, rain cycles, and a few more important things.

 

Understand Florida’s Gardening Conditions

Now, before talking about plants that you can grow in Florida, let’s talk about its weather conditions, as you can’t grow in Florida in the same way as you could if you were living in Vermont, Colorado, or any other state. 

Florida has two major growing zones.

North Florida, which is also known as Zone 8b–9a, and Central to South Florida, also called Zones 9b–11a—are both essential to understand if you’re planning a successful Florida vegetable garden.

Gardening Conditions in North Florida Zone: 

In North Florida, there are cooler winters and defined seasons, which means your main gardening windows would be spring (March to May) and fall (September to November).

• The spring season is great for warm-season crops and tender herbs.
• Fall is good for hardy greens and root vegetables.
• Winters can still support a good mix of cold-tolerant vegetables.
• You’ll also find a few fruits that thrive in late winter and spring.

Gardening Conditions in Central and South Florida Zone:

In Central and South Florida, the rhythm shifts completely. The ideal growing time is fall through spring (October–April). We can say thanks to mild temps and lower humidity.

• These months are perfect for leafy greens, herbs, and many other garden staples.
• Summer (May to September) will bring heat and humidity, which would be better suited for tropical crops, heat-tolerant vegetables in Florida, and robust herbs that can survive Florida’s intense summer gardening conditions.
• It’s also when many fruits really shine, especially those adapted to a subtropical or tropical climate.

In Florida, you’ve got a hot, humid summer and wild winter (yeah, sometimes dry). Rain can also come randomly, so make sure to take care of your plants. 

Besides this, planting in the right season is important. 

So you’d choose plants based on local climate conditions for good yield. And yes, native or adapted plants almost always do better.

Also read: Growing Vegetables and Herbs Using Plastic Bottles

Best Fruits and Vegetables to Grow in Florida

If you want your vegetables and fruits to grow well in Florida, that just does not die halfway or bolt out of stress.

You need to pick up the right vegetables for the right season because the summer and winter are totally different in Florida for gardening. 

Vegetables You’ll Grow in Florida’s Summer

During the summer season, there is too much hot and humid, and the environment is too intense. 

So, not every vegetable will survive it, but here are some of my favorite options from the best summer vegetables to grow in Florida, even if you have limited space or want to try balcony gardening.

Sweet Potatoes: It’s a root crop that loves the heat that Florida is known for in summer. Once it takes off, the vines grow fast and shade the ground.

You can generally Harvest your potatoes in 90 to 120 days. There are many varieties, but I’d recommend trying the Beauregard or Centennial variety.

Okra: It’s a Tall, heat-loving, pest-resistant plant (One of my favorites).

However, it’s a great plant for small spaces, and you can even grow it in a pot.

I like the Clemson Spineless variety of okra. Btw keep in mind that harvest often, or the pods will go woody.

Malabar Spinach: I won’t say its a true spinach, but it acts like one, grows as a vine, and doesn’t bolt in heat.

So you can have it in Florida, as it’s also rich in vitamins and has beautiful red stems.

Yardlong Beans: Unlike bush beans, Yardlong is fine with heat; you can trellis them.

They’ll give you long, crisp pods that taste great sautéed or steamed. (DIY hack: You can hammer two nails on the wall, tie a rope with them, and use it)

Hot Peppers: Cayenne, jalapeño, habanero, all of them work pretty well in Florida’s hot climate. Bonus? Pests usually avoid them more than they do sweet peppers.

 

Vegetables You’ll Grow in Florida’s Winter

When it is spring season in many other states, there is winter in Florida, which is a prime time for cooler season crops. 

Here are some vegetables that grow well in Florida during the winter season.

Lettuce: Romaine, butterhead, leaf—grow fast and don’t like heat.

That’s why growing them in winter would be perfect. You can try slow-bolt varieties like Parris Island Cos.

Carrots: They always need loose soil and cool weather, so you can plant them in the fall, and they’ll be ready to harvest in 2-3 months. I recommend trying the ‘Danvers’ or ‘Scarlet Nantes’ variety.

Broccoli: Although you can use normal ground, they really grow well in a raised bed.

If possible, you can use that. And besides this, they will need full sun plus cooler temperature.

So, growing it in winter or fall season would be a good option. You can sow the “Green Magic” variety. It does well in Florida.

Radish: It’s one of the fastest-growing crops, which gets ready to harvest in 25–30 days.

Plus, it’s also good for digestion, and it’s also easy to grow. I recommend you grow ‘Cherry Belle’ or ‘French Breakfast.’

Cabbage: As they’re dense with heavy heads, they need cool soil and time.

You can start growing them in early fall, and they’ll be ready to harvest by late winter. Look for varieties like ‘Bravo’ or ‘Early Jersey Wakefield.’

 

Best Fruits to Grow in Florida

Now you know what are the best vegetables to grow in Florida during winter and summer. 

Let’s now explore the best fruits to grow in Florida’s climate, especially if you’re focused on backyard or container gardening.

Banana: You can use dwarf banana varieties like Dwarf Cavendish, which is easy to grow in containers.

It loves water, humidity, and heat—perfect for Florida’s tropical gardening. Btw, you’d have to protect your plant from wind.

Papaya: It’s a fast-growing tropical fruit for Florida that needs sun, warmth, and well-drained soil. Its height usually reaches around 6–10 ft fast.

One good thing is that it starts giving fruits within a year. So you can plant that in spring.

Mango: If you’re in South Florida, dwarf or semi-dwarf mango varieties are gold.

They need space and protection from frost, so they’re not for the northern end.

You can grow them in the backyard, too, using varieties like Pickering (6–12 ft), Cogshall (10–15 ft), or any other. 

Pineapple: Yup, you can grow pineapples in pots or containers; it’s one of the easiest tropical fruits for container gardening in Florida.

You’ll just have to start with a store-bought crown. However, it’ll take a while—up to 2 years—but the plant looks cool and barely needs care.

If you have space that you’re not using or don’t have time to take care of the plant, you can grow it. 

Mulberry: It’s a fast-growing drought-tolerant and native plant in Florida, which means it better knows how to survive in Florida’s climate conditions.

It produces sweet berries; you can try dwarf varieties for containers, such as Morus nigra or Morus alba or especially Morus rubra, the native red mulberry. 

 

Best Herbs to Grow in Florida

Now you know about all the vegetables and fruits that grow well in Florida’s environment. 

However, here are some low-maintenance herbs too that you need to know and that you can grow in a pota, raised beds, etc.

Basil: During the summer season, Basil loves the sun and its heat. So you can grow them.

However, you would need to pinch back the flowers to keep them leafy. If we talk about variety, then Genovese and Thai Basil do well in Florida.

Oregano: Hardy and very easy to grow, especially for new gardeners. You can grow them on the ground or in containers.

However, it’s a cool season hub, so you can draw it in winter. It bolts quickly in heat.

The best time is to sow it during fall or early spring. It is the best time.

It also prefers well-drained soil and full sun. So make sure you keep your container in a place where it gets proper sunlight.

Cilantro: It is a cool season herb, so you can grow it in winter as it quickly bolts in hot. However, the fall and early spring are the best season to grow it.

Mint: It is a very useful herb that you can use for tea, garnishing, etc. Plus, It grows very fast. It spreads wild. So you can always keep it in the pot or container.

And moreover, it is like a partial shed. So, it would be okay if you keep it in a place where the sunlight doesn’t reach for the whole day.

Rosemary: It’s a woody and drought-tolerant herb that works great as a border plant. But it needs full sun and well-drained soil.

 

Why You Should Grow Edible Plants in Florida?

Growing edible plants in Florida has many benefits.

As I said, the climate is sometimes too hot and sometimes humid in Florida. 

So, if you have plants in your home, like in your backyard or on your patio, it will help you balance the environment. 

Secondly, it is also good for your pocket.

When you’re growing edible plants in Florida like mint, Basil, or other commonly used vegetables, you can save money on groceries and also get fresh produce.

Moreover, you will get fresh vegetables and fruits, whatever else you are growing at home. 

One more thing that I personally like is that if I grow something in my home, like on my balcony, I feel more satisfied because I know I have put some effort into growing my own vegetables. 

I don’t know why, but they taste a little better than buying them from the store, maybe because I pour some love while growing my vegetables.

And if you strategically plant your edible plants at home, you can actually also improve your home appearance as you can use these plants as home decor items. 

For example, you can use plastic bottles and hang them in a beautiful way and grow something in them. 

It will make your home look more beautiful.

 

Tips for Growing Edible Plants in Florida

Soil Prep: The soil in Florida is often sandy and drains fast, so you would want to mix composed or organic matter to hold moisture and improve your soil’s structure, which will help you grow things better, like vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

Watering: You have to water early in the morning, and you would want to avoid overhead watering, especially during the evening, as it will invite fungal disease.

And by the way, you should also use mulch to reduce evaporation.

Cropping: Keep rotating your plants. Don’t grow the same family in one place again and again, like in every season. If you do so, your plant will be more prone to pests and disease.

Mulching: You can use a thick layer of mulch (like pine bark or straw) as it’ll help hold moisture, prevent weeds, and regulate temperature.

Pest Control: In Florida, you’ll have to deal with many bugs. So, make sure to use neem oil, insecticidal soap, or companion plants (like marigolds or Basil) to deter pests.

Container Growing: If you’re gardening on a balcony or rooftop in Florida, make sure to pick dwarf varieties of vegetables or compact Florida-friendly herbs. Besides this, you’d need to use 5-gallon containers minimum, with drainage holes.

 

Growing Edibles in Florida During Different Seasons Chart

Although we have discussed many of the best fruits and vegetables to grow in Florida, such as herbs. 

However, that’s not the end of the list; here are more fruits and vegetables that you can grow in different seasons.

Here’s a quick guide:

• Spring (Feb–Apr): 

Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, Basil.

Tip: You can start seeds indoors in January if you’re living in North Florida. If you’re in Central/South Florida, you can start direct sowing by February.

• Summer (May-Sep): 

Okra, sweet potatoes, eggplant, cowpeas, Malabar spinach.

Note: Stick to heat-loving crops only. For summer edible gardening in Florida, you should consider leafy greens or tender herbs if you can provide partial shade.

• Fall (Oct–Nov):

Broccoli, lettuce, carrots, beets, dill, parsley.

Sowing at the right time is important: Get these in early enough that they grow strong before the days shorten too much.

• Winter (Dec–Jan):

Radishes, spinach, kale, cabbage, Swiss chard.

Extra tip: This is the best season for salad greens. So you can easily grow mixed lettuce, arugula, and mizuna for a homegrown blend.

Now, you know what vegetables or fruits you can grow based on season. And that’s one of the best things that I really like about Florida gardening: you’re not stuck with a single growing season. 

If you time things right, you’re always planting, harvesting, or preparing for the next round. 

 

Conclusion

This was my guide for those who are looking for edible plants to grow in Florida. 

I have shared the best fruits, veggies, and herbs. 

Besides this, I have also shared in which season you can plant, along with some soil preparation tips, pest control tricks, etc. 

And now that’s all up to you what edible plant is best for you. And, I recommend you to grow what you often use. 

For example, if you are a tea lover, you can grow a herb like mint. You can pick one or two leaves every day and use them in the tea. 

Just like that, you can grow other things like coriander, spinach, or something else, depending on what is important to you. 

Besides this, gardening areas also play an important role, but most tips I discussed work well for small-space edible gardening in Florida — whether in your backyard, rooftop, balcony or even patio.

So, what are you going to grow in your garden? Tell me in the comment section. If you have any questions, you can also ask me.

 

What grows well in Florida?

There are many edible plants that grow well in Florida, and that too year-round.

For example, some of the best things that you can grow are tomatoes, pineapples, and warm-season vegetables like okra, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greens in Florida.

However, seasons play an important role, so you can’t grow everything every time.

Besides this, you can also grow culinary herbs in Florida like Basil, mint, oregano, and also some tropical fruits like mango, papaya, bananas, etc.

They love the environment that Florida provides, especially Central and South Florida.

However, make sure to use small varieties of fruits, especially if you want to grow something in the backyard or balcony because there are mango trees that grow too tall, like they even reach 20-30 feet. You can’t grow them at home. 

So, you would want to grow with dwarf ones, which are usually under 15 or 10 feet.

 

What is the easiest vegetable to grow in Florida?

Most edible fruits and vegetables in Florida that I have mentioned are easy to grow.

But if you are looking for the easiest vegetable to grow in Florida, especially for beginners, then you can grow radish.

It grows really fast, and it doesn’t require too much space. Moreover, it tolerates Florida’s funky soil.

You just have to plant it, water it, and after 25 days or a month, it will be ready to harvest.

Besides this, okra is one of the best summer vegetables to grow in Florida, as it loves heat. It is also tasty. You can cook various types of recipes using it.

If you grow it, you’ll need to shrug off pests, and it will keep producing for weeks.

 

What plants are illegal to grow in Florida?

The Florida state has banned certain non-edible invasive plants because they are harmful to the local ecosystem.

For example, you can’t grow Brazilian pepper, water hyacinth, air potato, etc.

Besides this, you also can’t grow cannabis or anything else that is harmful to humans or the ecosystem.

For more information, you can also check the Florida Department of Agriculture plant restrictions list.

 

Can I grow edible plants on a balcony or rooftop in Florida?

Of course, you can grow edible plants on a balcony or rooftop in Florida, and you should grow too for fresh, homegrown produce.

I recommend you do container gardening for balconies in Florida if you have a balcony.

Just make sure your pots have good drainage, and you choose crops that suit the sun exposure that you will get on the balcony.

You can have herbs, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, mint, and other edible plants in the pot or container.

However, if you are growing something on a rooftop, watch out for heat stress. Using shade cloth and mulch will also help cool things down and protect your rooftop garden in Florida.