Exciting July Florida Garden Plan: What to Grow in July in Florida

Last Updated on July 10, 2025 by Homegrown Florida

July is one of the hardest gardening months in Florida. The heat is brutal, the humidity feels like it’s cranked to full blast, and a lot of your spring crops are long gone. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop growing. In fact, July is a great time to plant a whole new wave of crops as long as you pick the right ones.

In this post, I’ll walk you through what to grow in July in Florida, what you can start from seed, which plants need a little extra care to survive the heat. Let’s dive into what to plant in July.

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Tropical and Heat-Loving Greens

Most traditional leafy greens can’t handle Florida summers, but there are plenty of tropical and warm-weather greens that thrive this time of year.

• Swiss chard – One of the few standard greens that can keep going in the heat. Ruby Red does especially well for me.
• Longevity spinach – Grows like a groundcover, doesn’t mind the heat, and keeps producing all summer.
• Okinawa spinach – Beautiful purplish-green leaves and a mild flavor. Works well raw or cooked.
• Egyptian spinach – This one goes gangbusters in July. It loves the heat, grows tall, and you can harvest it over and over.
• Katuk – A Florida-friendly perennial green that tastes nutty and sweet. Just keep it trimmed or it gets too tall.
• Ethiopian kale – Another warm-weather alternative to traditional kale. It’s milder, and once it gets established, it pushes through the summer just fine.

I’ve found that tropical greens are the best bet for anyone wanting steady leafy harvests through July and August. If you’ve never tried them before, this is the month to start.

Summer Squash That Doesn’t Quit

Forget zucchini and yellow crookneck. They’re great in spring, but they don’t stand a chance in Florida summer.

These squash options can take the heat:

• Seminole pumpkin – Native to Florida, super resilient, and produces loads of squash on long vines.
• Luffa – Yes, the sponge gourd. Harvest it young for eating, or let it mature for a homegrown bath sponge.
• Chayote – Perennial vine that grows like crazy in summer. Mild flavor and eaten as a crunchy summer squash.
• Tromboncino – A climbing squash that gives big yields and resists vine borers better than zucchini. It can be harvested early as a summer squash or allowed to ripe as a winter squash. 

They may take up space, but they’re dependable in our climate and produce for months if you keep them picked.

Root Crops That Like It Hot

You can still grow root crops in July. Just choose the ones that don’t mind the heat and humidity.

• Sweet potatoes – They practically thrive on neglect. Plant slips now, and you’ll have roots by the end of the year.
• Ginger and turmeric – Perfect for Florida. They love the heat and grow steadily all summer long.
• Yuca (cassava) – A staple root crop across the tropics. It’s easy to grow, but just make sure to cook it properly before eating.
• Taro – Needs consistent moisture, but once it gets going, it makes a great edible landscape plant.
• Jicama – It needs a long season to develop good roots, so planting it now gives it time to bulk up by fall.

These roots are all about the long game. You won’t harvest most of them until later in the year, but they grow strong through summer and fill out your garden.

Beans and Legumes

July is a great time to direct sow beans. They grow fast, fix nitrogen in the soil, and many keep producing even in the middle of summer.

• Cowpeas – Includes black-eyed peas, zipper peas, whippoorwill peas, and Puerto Rican Black Beans. Tough, tasty, and reliable.
• Long beans (yard-long beans) – These thrive in the heat and love to climb. Plant them near a trellis and you’ll be harvesting for weeks.
• Peanuts – If you’ve got the space and loose soil, peanuts are a fun summer crop.

Just make sure to give your beans some space and airflow to help them cope with humidity.

Miscellaneous Crops Worth Planting

There are always a few oddballs that do well this time of year. Here’s what else I’m growing or planting in July:

• Roselle (Florida cranberry) – The leaves are edible when young, and by fall you’ll get those beautiful red calyces for teas and jams.
• Okra – A summer garden staple. Harvest daily to keep it producing tender pods.
• Green onions – Surprisingly resilient, especially when grown from store-bought starts or divided clumps.

All of these crops hold up well through the high heat and still give you something fresh to harvest.

Fruits to Focus On

July is more about maintenance than planting when it comes to fruit. But there are a few tropical fruiting plants you can still plant or propagate if you want to expand your garden:

• Pineapples – Plant tops or pups now. They don’t mind the heat and make a great edible border.
• Papayas – Fast-growing and surprisingly productive in Florida. Just watch out for nematodes and root rot in soggy soil.
• Passionfruit – If you’ve got a strong trellis or fence, passionfruit vines love this weather and grow fast.

These fruits may take time, but they’re worth the space if you’re planning for the future.

If you’re looking for even more detailed guidance on growing veggies here in Florida—like when to start seeds, how to manage pests, and what varieties really thrive—don’t forget to check out my ebook! It’s got a chapter for every single vegetable and is packed with everything I’ve learned over the years gardening in Florida.

Special Tip – Hurricane Season Preparation:

Prepare for hurricane season by securing supports, reducing or removing the nursery area or small pots, and storing garden sculptures. Check your hurricane kit, and don’t forget to service your generator. Happy gardening!

July might not feel like a prime gardening month, but with the right crops and some smart planning, you can keep your Florida garden growing strong. I hope this gives you some ideas for what to try, even in the thick of summer.