Summer / Hot Season (Jun–Sep)
Summer is survival season for the garden — hot, humid, and rainy. Cool-weather crops will fail; grow with the climate, not against it. Hurricane season runs Jun 30 – Nov 30.
What to plant now
Per UF/IFAS Vegetables I–III for Florida:
- Okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, eggplant — the summer workhorses
- Basil and other heat-loving herbs
- Florida-native pollinator flowers match the garden’s two pollinator plots and keep beneficial insects around for fall crops
Water & weather
- Daily watering is often needed in raised beds despite the rain — sandy soil drains fast, and afternoon sun is brutal. Finger-check before skipping.
- The 10-day forecast widget is your best friend June–September: heavy multi-day rain means skip; a hot dry spell means morning soak at the base.
- Rain barrels fill up quick in July downpours — empty them ahead of the next storm and use that water during dry spells.
Hurricane playbook (Jun 30 – Nov 30)
- Stake loosely or cage tall plants; take down anything that becomes a projectile.
- Harvest ahead of major storms — green tomatoes and peppers ripen indoors.
- Expect garden closure during City emergency operations; the gate stays locked until staff clear it.
Pests & problems this season
- Humidity drives fungal disease: space plants for airflow, never water foliage, and harvest affected leaves early.
- Report suspicious pests to the Extension office / Master Gardener plant clinic rather than guessing with sprays.
Sources
- UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County — https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/
- Ask IFAS (Vegetables guides) — https://ask.ifas.ufl.edu/
- NWS Tampa hurricane preparedness — https://www.weather.gov/tbw/
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