By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Wild Floridian.

Ever wondered why some gardeners in Florida seem to pull crisp lettuce and sweet carrots from the soil even as the calendar flips to winter? The secret lies in matching the right cool‑weather crops to the state’s year‑round warmth and short daylight hours.

Cool‑Weather Crops to Start Now

Jacqueline emphasizes that November is the ideal time to focus on brassicas, leafy greens, and root vegetables across the entire state. She lists cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, spinach, beets, radishes, carrots, and onions as the core group. These crops tolerate the lingering heat of November while maturing through the cooler months of December, January, and February.

For carrots, she recommends the “Short and Sweet” variety from Burpee, noting its rapid harvest potential: “If you forget it and leave it in the ground, they actually aren’t short at all. They can get quite big.” Beets, particularly the Detroit red variety, are highlighted for their versatility in salads, roasts, and smoothies, and are available from Southern Exposure, Burpee, and Ferry Morris.

Choosing the Right Onion Varieties

Florida’s shift to short daylight periods means gardeners must select short‑day onion types. Jacqueline advises, “Whether you want Yellow Onions, Red Onions, or White Onions, make sure they’re a short day variety.” She cites Texas Grano onions as a reliable option that performs well in the state’s climate.

She also reminds growers that the timing of planting matters more than the color: short‑day onions will bulb properly even when days are short, unlike the long‑day varieties favored by northern growers.

Lettuce and Brassica Selections for Every Region

Jacqueline breaks lettuce choices into two main categories: butter‑crunch (a bib‑type lettuce) and romaine. She notes that butter‑crunch lettuce, familiar from bagged salads, thrives in Florida, while romaine offers a crunchier texture. Both can be harvested as cut‑and‑come‑again greens or as full heads. She also recommends oak‑leaf lettuce as another strong performer.

When it comes to cauliflower, she favors the Rober variety from Baker Creek, a recommendation that came from a viewer named Wendy. For broccoli, she traditionally uses Waltham 29 and De Chico, but this month she will test Lieutenant Broccoli seeds sourced by her audience from Osborne Online, illustrating how community input shapes her planting plan.

Warm‑Weather Options for South Florida

Gardeners in the southern part of the state can extend the warm‑weather season, allowing them to start tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashes, pumpkins, and even corn. Jacqueline suggests Cherokee Purple tomatoes or the Fourth of July hybrid from Burpee for a quick harvest, and mentions Everglaze tomatoes as another reliable choice. For peppers, she encourages a range from banana to bell varieties, noting that the mild winter climate supports their growth.

These warm‑weather crops provide a safety net in case of unexpected cold snaps, ensuring a harvest even if the weather turns “crazy.”

Practical Seed‑Starting and Transplant Tips

Root crops, Jacqueline explains, should be direct‑seeded into their final location because they dislike root disturbance. She shares a successful technique: mixing carrot seeds with a corn‑starch slurry, which produced a neat row of seedlings. Regular watering is essential during Florida’s drought season to keep the soil moist.

She also stresses the importance of planting extra seedlings as a buffer against loss to critters or watering lapses. “I lost this little guy right here… to squirrels and blue‑jays,” then shows the spare seedlings she kept on hand.

When setbacks occur—such as Hurricane Assias damaging cauliflower—Jacqueline encourages gardeners to restart promptly. “We’re not behind, we’re still going,” she asserts, emphasizing that the vegetable season extends through June.

Transplant Shopping and Cost‑Effective Choices

For those who missed seed‑starting, Jacqueline recommends visiting garden centers for ready‑to‑plant lettuce varieties. She notes that a dollar per plant for romaine or red romaine offers better value than buying a head of lettuce at the grocery store. She also advises testing sunlight exposure, stating that “the more direct sunlight you’re going to get, the richer, the redder, and the bigger they’re going to get” for red lettuce varieties.

When buying mixed salad blends in one‑gallon pots, she cautions gardeners to thin the plants, as these mixes often contain multiple seedlings per pot, which can lead to crowding.

Overall, Jacqueline’s November guide blends specific seed and variety recommendations with hands‑on tips for watering, protecting seedlings, and making cost‑effective transplant choices, giving Florida gardeners a clear path to a productive season.

By aligning planting schedules with Florida’s unique climate patterns and leveraging community‑sourced seed selections, home growers can extend their harvest window well into the spring. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, these strategies turn November into a launchpad for a garden that thrives through the year’s coolest months.

The full episode of Wild Floridian is available on OBBM Network TV.