Now
28°C · Clear
Today
31° / 25°
Soil 6 cm
28°C
First frost
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Gardening in Jacksonville
AI field guide · refreshed weeklyJacksonville Gardening: September 8–14 — Plant Cool-Season Crops, Manage Heat Stress
You're in zone 10a with 106 days until your first average frost (Dec 23). Soil at 28°C is still warm but dropping—ideal for germinating cool-season seeds. Your 330 frost-free days mean you can grow year-round; fall planting (now through November) is your main vegetable season.
Sow outdoors now
Lettuce & Leafy Greens
Direct-sow 'Jericho', 'Salvius', or 'Muir' lettuce, spinach, and arugula now; they'll germinate in warm soil and mature as temperatures drop. Space 15 cm (6 in) apart.
Broccoli & Cabbage
Sow 'Calabrese', 'Packman', or 'Brassica' varieties directly or transplant seedlings started 4–6 weeks ago. They need 70–100 days to harvest and will thrive through your mild winter.
Carrots & Beets
Direct-sow 'Nantes', 'Imperator', or 'Detroit Dark Red' beets in loose, well-draining soil. Thin seedlings to 7–10 cm (3–4 in); they'll mature in 60–80 days.
Peas (Sugar Snap & Snow)
Sow 'Sugar Snap' or 'Oregon Sugar Pod' along a trellis; they'll climb as temperatures cool and produce heavily through winter. Soak seed 2 hours before planting.
Radishes & Turnips
Quick crops: 'Cherry Belle' radishes ready in 25 days, 'Purple Top' turnips in 60–70 days. Succession-sow every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
Start indoors now
Tomatoes (Fall/Winter Varieties)
Start 'Florida 91', 'Heatwave II', or 'Surefire' indoors now for transplant in 6–8 weeks; they'll set fruit as nights cool below 24°C in November. Use seed-starting mix and bottom heat (24–27°C).
Peppers (Long-Season)
Start 'Serrano', 'Jalapeño', or 'Thai Hot' indoors; they'll produce through winter if transplanted by early October. Keep soil moist and provide 14–16 hours of light daily.
Eggplant
Start 'Black Beauty' or 'Orient Express' indoors for transplant in 6–8 weeks. Eggplant needs warmth to germinate (24–29°C) but will fruit through your cool season.
Harvest now
Okra
Still producing in heat; pick pods daily when 7–10 cm (3–4 in) long. Harvest will slow as temperatures drop in October.
Southern Peas (Black-Eyed, Crowder)
Finish harvesting before frost; shell and dry for storage or freeze. Plants will decline as nights cool.
Basil & Warm-Season Herbs
Cut basil, oregano, and thyme aggressively now; they'll decline as temperatures drop. Dry or freeze for winter use.
Squash & Zucchini (Late Summer)
Harvest mature fruit to encourage more production. Plants are winding down; plan to remove them by late September.
Tasks this week
- Amend beds with compost or aged manure before planting cool-season crops; work in 5–8 cm (2–3 in) to improve drainage and fertility.
- Water deeply and mulch newly seeded areas with 2–3 cm (1 in) straw to keep soil moist during germination; soil is still warm and will dry fast.
- Remove spent summer plants (tomatoes, peppers, squash) to reduce pest habitat and redirect energy to fall crops.
- Set up shade cloth (30–50%) over newly transplanted seedlings for the first 7–10 days if daytime temps exceed 32°C (90°F).
- Scout for whiteflies, spider mites, and scale on remaining warm-season plants; spray with neem oil at dusk if needed.
Watch out for
- Tropical Storm Season: Heavy rain (10–15 mm forecast mid-week) can waterlog beds and rot seedlings. Ensure raised beds and containers drain well; avoid planting in low spots.
- Heat Stress on Transplants: Daytime highs still reach 30–37°C (86–99°F); newly set seedlings will wilt. Water early morning and late afternoon; provide afternoon shade if temps spike.
- Fungal Disease: High humidity (70%) and rain favor leaf spot, powdery mildew, and damping-off. Space plants for airflow, water at soil level only, and remove infected leaves immediately.
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