🌿 June Growing Guide:The Start of the Summer Surge

Florida Zone 9 & Tropical Growers:
June is when your garden kicks into overdrive! Tropical and subtropical plants love the long, hot days, so this is prime time for heat-lovers like mango, guava, bananas, pineapples, and passionfruit. Keep everything well-watered in the morning and mulch generously to lock in moisture and keep roots cool. Feed heavy fruiters with organic fertilizer to fuel blooms and fruit set.

For Growers in Cooler Zones:
If you’re in Zones 6–8, it’s safe to bring your potted tropicals outdoors full-time. Give them bright, filtered light for the first few days to prevent sunburn, then let them soak in the summer sunshine. Keep an eye on watering—containers dry out fast in warm weather!

What to Plant Now:

• Zone 9+: Sweet potatoes, cassava, taro, malanga, okra, tropical spinaches (Okinawa, Sissoo, Katuk), passionfruit vines, papaya, ginger, turmeric, sugarcane, lemongrass.

• Cooler zones or indoors: Potted citrus, dwarf bananas, dragon fruit, and tropical herbs like tulsi or Cuban oregano.

Harvest Highlights:
Mango season is kicking off, lychees are ripe, and early figs are sweet and ready. Herbs like lemongrass, basil, and Cuban oregano are lush and perfect for fresh recipes or drying.

Pro Tip: Install shade cloth over delicate plants during midday heatwaves to prevent leaf scorch.