Your Guide to Gardening With Edible Plants in Florida
If you’re anything like us, you want your backyard garden to look inviting and serve a purpose. In Florida, our long growing season and tropical and subtropical climates make it easy to grow edible plants year-round to feed our families and nourish our local ecosystems. Whether you have a small raised bed or a large plot of land, it’s possible to incorporate native species that deliver a healthy harvest.
What are edible plants used for?
In the past, native Floridians would forage for flowers, leaves, herbs, vegetables, and fruits that grew wild across the land, eventually cultivating them intentionally. While our modern world affords more versatility in our gardens, we can grow edible plants that serve the same important functions.
Food and nutrition
If you’ve never tasted a perfectly ripe tomato straight off the vine, get ready to transform your culinary world. With a bit of strategic planning, you can enjoy hearty salads, roasted root vegetables, and fresh fruit throughout the year. Cooking may never be the same!
Medicinal qualities
The ground around your home can provide more than just a tasty treat. It can also support medicinal plants to heal your body and mind. Aloe vera, turmeric, and herbs like basil and mint contain powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that soothe the skin, aid digestion, and promote overall well-being.
Textiles and natural dyes
The best edible plants serve multiple purposes. Even when you don’t consume your entire crop, you can ensure your plants don’t go to waste. For example, red cabbage and hibiscus flowers create vibrant purple hues you can use to dye clothing and other fabrics. The stems of okra and banana plants provide a dense fiber for winding natural cords and ropes.
Related: A Complete Guide to Edible Landscaping in Florida
Benefits of gardening with edible plants
A garden full of edible plants can support your health and the environment. Here are just a few of the benefits:
Provides a diverse range of nutrients
Commercially grown edible plants are experiencing a significant decline in nutritional value. Even if you eat a healthy, varied diet, you may not get the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants your body needs from store-bought produce. However, growing traditional varieties of your favorite plants may help you bridge the gap, especially if you select native, nutrient-dense cultivars.
Promotes eating local and seasonal foods
If you’re looking for a way to connect with nature and align your body with the greater seasonal cycles at play, growing your own food is a great first step. You can take this practice to the next level by learning to identify safe, edible plants that grow wild in your area. As you begin to eat seasonally, you’ll minimize your carbon footprint and develop an appreciation for regional and heritage crops.
Supports pollinators
Bees, butterflies, wasps, and other pollinators eat the nutritious nectar produced by fruit trees, berries, veggies, and other flowers. Many of these plants also serve as habitats and hosts for breeding species. Your edible backyard garden may attract a wide range of beneficial insects that help pollinate, control pests, and maintain a balanced ecosystem.
Related: Plants That Attract Butterflies to Your Florida Garden
Best edible plants to grow in your FL garden by zone
With the many uses and benefits of growing edible plants, let’s explore the best species to add to your garden throughout the state of Florida.
North Florida
Chillier winters in North Florida are great for many cool-weather crops, while summer temperatures can make it easier to grow seasonal veggies, herbs, and fruit.
Spring and summer:
Bush beans, lima beans, pole beans
Cantaloupe and watermelon
Cucumbers
Squash
Sweet corn
Okra
Tomatoes (Better Boy, Celebrity, Amelia)
Fall and winter:
Lettuce, kale, spinach, and mustard greens
Turnips, radishes, kohlrabi
Bunching and bulbing onions
Strawberries
Potatoes
Central Florida
Central Florida offers the best of both worlds in Florida gardening. While there’s a lot of overlap with North Florida, slightly warmer temperatures lead to longer growing seasons and more opportunities to incorporate subtropical edible species. Consider the following edible plants for your backyard garden:
Spring and summer:
Beans
Corn
Cucumbers
Melons
Squash
Tomatoes (Sweet 100, Solar Fire)
Peppers
Eggplant
Herbs like basil, chives, coriander, dill, oregano, parsley, and thyme
Fall and winter:
Lettuce, kale, spinach, and mustard greens
Turnips, radishes, kohlrabi
Onions and garlic
Potatoes
Strawberries
Parsley and cilantro
South Florida
Tropical, heat-loving species thrive in the southernmost portion of the state. This means more opportunities to grow exotic gardens and tropical food forests. Some South Florida favorites:
Swiss chard
Malabar Spinach
Sweet potatoes
Southern peas
Tomatoes (Heatmaster, Solar Set)
Cassava
Pineapple
Papaya
Many of these crops grow throughout the year, but some thrive more in the fall and winter as the weather cools off. Lettuce and greens that bolt in high temperatures, for example, perform better in South Florida’s cooler months.
Related: Tips for Designing the Perfect Permaculture Garden in Florida
Keep your yard happy and healthy with the pros at Soil & Bloom!
Whether you dream of snacking on fresh, raw fruit right off the vine or cooking elaborate feasts for your friends and neighbors, there’s no better way to source your produce than growing edible plants in your own backyard. The team at Soil & Bloom can help you select, plant, and maintain the best varieties for your unique microclimate. Reach out today for a free estimate!
