🌞 July Growing Guide: Peak Summer Abundance

Florida Zone 9 & Tropical Growers:
July is about maintaining and protecting. Afternoon thunderstorms bring relief but can also cause fungal issues—prune for airflow and check for leaf spots or mildew. Still a great time to plant tropical staples like sugarcane, taro, malanga, and everbearing tropical spinach. Keep fruiting trees fed to extend harvests.

For Growers in Cooler Zones:
Your tropicals are thriving—rotate pots weekly for even growth. In greenhouses or sunrooms, open vents or use fans to keep temps below 95°F.

What to Plant Now:

• Zone 9+: Sugarcane, sweet potatoes, okra, taro, cassava, tropical peppers, longevity spinach, water spinach, bananas, papaya, passionfruit, lemongrass.

• Cooler zones or indoors: Fast-growing greens like Okinawa spinach in pots, dwarf fruiting plants like figs, and herbs such as basil and mint.

Harvest Highlights:
Mangoes are in full swing, passionfruit vines are dropping ripe fruit, and bananas may be forming flower stalks. Starfruit and longan start making their appearance toward the end of the month.

Pro Tip: Use grass clippings or shredded leaves as a quick, free mulch refresh.