Have you wanted to get into gardening for a little while but don’t know where to start? You’re in luck! Today we are covering some information about growing fruits and vegetables in Jacksonville, Florida, and give some recommendations for where to begin for the Fall 2022 season.
Understanding Your Zone
When you first begin gardening, people will often discuss what “zone” they are in. For someone who has never heard of this, it may be a bit confusing. The “zones” refer to a hardiness zone which helps indicate general temperature, humidity, and climate since some plants are better suited for some areas versus others. Jacksonville is considered to be in zones 8B and 9A, which is important to know to choose the best plants for the best times.
Timeliness
While many zones start their fall gardening in the summer, Florida’s consistent heat and humidity allow a bit of flexibility for starting a fall harvest. Many vegetables do not need to be planted until sometime in September so if you’re just getting started, congratulations, you have time to do a bit more research! If your goal is to begin planting in September, we’d recommend trying to grow some kale, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, and beets. Veggie Harvest has created an incredibly helpful calendar to help you work with timelines.
Other Tips
When beginning to garden, it’s important to understand the needs and conditions of each plant. Many plants require different amounts of water, and have little miscellaneous tips and tricks for a better yield (did you know you should cut the top off of a pepper plant to get a better yield? Check it out!). We cannot stress how important it is to do the research and choose plants you will enjoy consuming after they grow. Also, it’s never a bad idea to throw in some extra nutrients for growth by using fertilizer or compost, which we have a tutorial about here.
Ultimately, if you’re looking to grow vegetables in Jacksonville, research is key! For help with keeping up a clean appearance and well-maintained landscape, look no further than the professionals at Skinner Lawns! Give us a call today at (904) 720-2515!