TL;DR
Florida’s mild winter is one of the best times of year to grow vegetables. Cooler nights, lower humidity, and fewer pests create ideal conditions for crops like lettuce, carrots, broccoli, kale, tomatoes, and herbs. Use the Florida gardening calendar as your guide. Plant leafy greens from October to February. Start root crops in November and December. Add tomatoes, peppers, and herbs when nighttime temperatures settle into the fifties. With the right timing and smart soil prep, your winter garden can stay productive straight through early spring. This guide breaks down what to plant, when to plant it, and how to keep everything thriving in Southwest Florida.
Why Winter Is Florida’s Secret Season for Growing Food
“Winter is the season when Florida grows what the rest of the country wishes it could.”
A University of Florida horticulture professor said that years ago, and it stuck with me. Because it is true. Winter is our sweet spot. While the rest of the country is shoveling snow, Florida gardeners are harvesting tomatoes, crisp greens, and entire salads straight from the garden. The weather works in our favor. Cooler nights protect tender crops. Fewer insects means fewer battles. The sun is bright but gentle. And most importantly, the soil stays warm enough to keep vegetables growing steadily.
If you’ve ever thought about starting a winter garden in Bonita Springs, this is the perfect moment. You do not need acres of land. A few raised beds, grow bags, or even a sunny patio space can produce more food than you think. The trick is simple. Follow the Florida gardening calendar and pick varieties that like cooler temperatures.
Let’s break it down step by step.
What Makes Florida’s Winter Growing Season Unique
Florida is divided into three gardening zones: North, Central, and South. Bonita Springs sits comfortably in South Florida. That means your growing season is longer and more forgiving than the rest of the state.
Here are the advantages you get that northern gardeners envy:
- Frost is rare.
- Soil stays warm enough for active root growth.
- Cool nights help leafy greens thrive.
- Low humidity keeps fungal diseases in check.
- Sunlight is steady and reliable.
You are basically gardening in spring while everyone else is still in winter. That is why winter is prime time to grow your own food.
The challenge is choosing the right crops for the right window of time. That is where the Florida vegetable calendar becomes essential.
What to Plant in a Florida Winter Garden
To make this simple, I’ll break it into three groups:
- Leafy greens
- Root vegetables
- Fruiting vegetables and herbs
Each has its ideal planting window and growth habits.
Leafy Greens: Florida’s Easiest Winter Crop
If you want fast results, start here. Leafy greens love cool weather and explode with growth between November and February. They do not demand much from you. Good soil, steady watering, and light feeding will give you more greens than you expect.
The best leafy greens for Southwest Florida
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Collard greens
- Swiss chard
- Arugula
- Romaine
- Mustard greens
- Spinach
- Bok choy
- Endive
When to plant
October through February is the ideal window for nearly every leafy green.
How to plant
- Start seeds directly in the garden.
- Space plants generously so they have airflow.
- Keep soil lightly moist after sowing.
- Use morning sun and afternoon shade for tender varieties like spinach.
Why greens thrive in winter
Cooler nights keep them crisp, flavorful, and pest free. If you have ever tried to grow lettuce in July, you know exactly what heat can do. Leaves turn bitter. Plants bolt. Pests multiply. Winter gets rid of all those issues.
Root Vegetables: The Best Flavor Comes From Cool Soil
Root vegetables prefer colder soil. They grow slowly but consistently during winter and develop richer flavor than they ever would under summer heat. Florida’s sandy soil makes this even easier because roots can push through it easily.
Best root crops for a winter garden
- Carrots
- Beets
- Radishes
- Turnips
- Parsnips
- Rutabaga
- Onions
- Garlic
When to plant
For Southwest Florida, plant root crops from November through January.
Pro tip
Loosen soil at least 10 to 12 inches. Carrots and other taproot veggies will twist or fork if they hit hard soil or old roots.
Radishes: the quick crop
If you want the fastest harvest, go with radishes. They grow from seed to plate in about 25 days. They are perfect for filling small gaps between slower crops like carrots.
Carrots: slow but rewarding
Carrots take time, but winter is the only season when they develop true sweetness in Florida. A little patience goes a long way.
Fruiting Vegetables
This is where you get your excitement. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash all thrive during a Florida winter. They just need nighttime temperatures to stay above fifty degrees, which is typical in Bonita Springs.
Best fruiting vegetables for winter
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplant
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Cucumbers
- Green beans
- Sugar snap peas
- Snow peas
When to plant
Plant fruiting crops from October through January, depending on nighttime temperatures.
Tomato timing
Tomatoes are your showpiece crop. They grow beautifully in winter because humidity is low and pests are minimal. Choose varieties suited for Florida, like:
- Everglades tomato
- Solar Fire
- Floradade
- Heatwave
Even though the name says heatwave, these varieties perform incredibly well in mild winter conditions.
Pole beans and peas
These love cooler nights. They climb quickly and produce for weeks. If you want vertical interest in your garden, add a trellis and let them run.
How to Prepare Florida Soil for Winter Vegetables
Florida soil is sandy. It drains quickly, which is good, but it also lacks nutrients, which is not so good. Winter crops benefit from healthy soil, so take time to prepare it properly.
Add Organic Matter
- Compost
- Aged manure
- Earthworm castings
- Coconut coir
- Mushroom compost
Mix these into your top twelve inches of soil. This gives roots the nutrition they need to push through the cooler months.
Mulch Lightly
Mulch helps hold moisture, but do not overdo it. Winter crops prefer cooler soil around the stem. Fresh pine straw or shredded leaves work well.
Fertilizer Timing
For leafy greens, a nitrogen based fertilizer provides steady growth.
For root vegetables, go lighter on nitrogen and heavier on phosphorus and potassium.
For tomatoes and peppers, use a balanced fertilizer applied every two to three weeks.
If you’d like more fertilization tips, check out our dedicated blog post here.
Creating a Winter Planting Calendar for Bonita Springs
Below is a simple breakdown you can follow from October through February.
October
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Cucumbers
November
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Beets
- Turnips
- Collards
- Snow peas
- Green beans
December
- Onion sets
- Garlic
- Parsnips
- Spinach
- Romaine
- Arugula
January
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Bok choy
- Carrots
- Tomatoes (last round)
- Cucumbers
February
- Transition month
- Add more greens for a final round
- Start early spring herbs like basil and cilantro
This simple calendar keeps your garden producing without gaps.
How to Protect Winter Vegetables from Cold Snaps
Bonita Springs rarely freezes, but when it does, it is usually one night. A single cold snap does not have to ruin your garden.
Here are quick ways to protect plants:
- Use frost cloth or old sheets to cover crops overnight.
- Avoid plastic unless it is placed over a frame.
- Water the soil before sunset. Moist soil retains heat better.
- Bring container crops under a porch or patio.
- Remove covers as soon as temperatures rise in the morning.
If you follow these steps, your garden will bounce right back. For more tips on how to protect your garden, read more here.
Watering and Maintenance During Winter
Winter watering is easier than summer watering. Plants lose less moisture because humidity drops and the sun is less intense.
Watering Guidelines
- Water early in the morning.
- Avoid wetting leaves late in the day.
- Check soil before watering. If the top inch is dry, water. If it feels cool and moist, wait.
Pruning and Maintenance
- Remove dead leaves weekly.
- Add compost every four to six weeks.
- Stake tomatoes, beans, and peas as they grow.
Harvest frequently to encourage new growth.
Harvesting Winter Vegetables
Harvesting is the best part of gardening. Timing matters for flavor and texture.
Leafy Greens
Harvest outer leaves first. This encourages plants to continue producing fresh inner leaves.
Root Crops
Check size by gently brushing soil away from the top of the root. If it looks ready, it probably is.
Fruiting Plants
Pick tomatoes when they reach full color.
Pick cucumbers before they get too large or seeds harden.
Pick peppers whenever they reach your preferred color and size.
Why Growing Winter Vegetables Matters
Growing food in winter is practical, cost effective, and deeply satisfying. It plugs you directly into Florida’s rhythm. It teaches you what grows best in this climate and how much food you can produce with just a little planning.
More importantly, it gives you meals that come straight from your backyard. Salad greens picked minutes before dinner. Tomatoes still warm from the afternoon sun. Carrots that taste sweeter than anything in the store. These small experiences add up and make gardening worth it.
Bonita Springs is a place where winter gardening thrives effortlessly. Lean into it. This is the season when your garden can truly shine.
