What to Plant in July in Central Florida

July is a hot and humid month here in Central Florida. There are very few vegetables that you can start growing here this month. If you started your garden prior to this month you might still be harvesting a few things. If you’re looking to start your first garden, our best growing season is just around the corner. But if you really want to try growing something this month, keep on reading to learn what to plant in July in Central Florida – Zone 9b.

Florida Vegetables You Can Grow In July

Below are the vegetables and varieties that do well in Central Florida and when to plant them. In July you can plant a couple vegetables outside, but you can also start growing seedlings indoors.

Warm Season Outdoors: Okra, Southern Peas

Warm Season Indoors: Eggplant, Peppers, Tomatoes

Please note that you should not plant eggplant, peppers, or tomatoes outside this month if you do decide to start them. They should be grown indoors. Eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes do well indoors with a grow light and can be transplanted easily (unlike cucumbers and beans which are much more sensitive). I typically start mine indoors for a month or two before transplanting outdoors. Check out How to Start Seeds Indoors to learn more.

Gardening Recommendations and Tips For July

If you’re concerned about insects this month and are looking for organic methods to keep them away, pick up a bottle of neem oil. This is a concentrated version, but it’s also available in a spray bottle. It helps with aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and leaf rollers. It also helps control black spots and powdery mildew. You can also check out Neem Oil for Organic Gardening and Pest Control.

If you’re growing vegetables in July in Florida, then I definitely recommend using a Shade Cloth if you don’t have one already. Check out the post Made in the Shade with Garden Covers. I use these April-October. There are different varieties that you can choose from.

One of my favorite vegetables to start this month is peppers! I love to pickle them and put them on sandwiches, use them in salsa, and also slice them up and eat them with hummus as a healthy snack. I like getting a head start growing these. Even though July is a very hot month, I still like being able to make good use of the time by growing my plants indoors.

When I plant I generally use Botanical Interests Seeds. They have such a wide selection of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. And they’re continually getting new seeds. I find them to be reliable and they have a good selection of organic, non-gmo seeds.

What to Plant in July in Central Florida Vegetable Guide

There are multiple varieties when it comes to vegetables that you can plant that are more tolerant of Florida’s heat and humidity. Picking the right varieties is important for your success. The varieties that work well in Florida are included in the chart below.

Below you’ll find the July Vegetable Planting Guide for Central Florida – Zone 9b

Planting dates here are based on the University of Florida IFAS Extension, and you can find more information on that here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021

And if you’re not sure what zone you’re in, you can check out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. If you go to their website you can type in your zip code for confirmation of your location. The picture below is from their site:

Because I have raised garden beds, I do my planting based on square feet. Square foot gardening is included in the chart. For example – if you’re growing cabbage you only want to plant one seed per square foot. For carrots, you can plant 16 per square foot.

Days to harvest depends on the quality of your soil, so keep that in mind when waiting for your vegetables to ripen – they can take longer than the time stated above. Days to harvest is also based on when your seed germinates, and not when you plant your seed.

I hope the July Vegetable Planting Guide for Central Florida helps you with your garden!

Interested in getting a head start for next month? Check out the August Planting Guide.