This is a curated collection of seeds I have found to grow well in Florida over the years. It is designed to take the overwhelm and thought process out of figuring out which varieties to select that will actually grow well here. Some of the seed is saved from myself and other small local growers for harder to source varieties that you cant find online. The majority of the seed varieties will come from larger seed supply companies like Working Food or Southern Exposure Seed Exchange to keep up with demand.
78 days. (Indeterminate) [Late 1800s heirloom from the Black Forest region of Germany from Joe Bratka’s grandfather. Seed courtesy of Carolyn Male and Craig LeHoullier. Introduced 1994 by SESE.] Outstanding...
85 days. [1964] Medium-sized, striped melon with tolerance to anthracnose (race 1 and 3) and Fusarium (race 1 and 2). Great-tasting melons are typically 10 x 12 in., weighing 23-27...
75 days. [1947] Widely adapted, productive, and heat-tolerant. Dark-orange roots 6-7 in. long, 2 in. at the shoulder, tapering to a blunt point. Especially suited to growing in clay soil,...
74 days. (green > red) Called poblanos when fresh, the classic choice for chiles Rellenos. After ripening red and then dried, they are called anchos and are used in mole,...
(Coriander sativum) Both leaves (cilantro) and seeds (coriander) are used in Chinese, Indian, and Mexican cuisine. Plant monthly successions. Difficult to germinate in hot weather -- sow in shade, or...
58 days. [Brought to U.S. by Italian gardeners, introduced to seed trade 1914-1918.] Produces central head (3-6 in. diameter) plus many side shoots. average 600 seeds Good to start from...
Originally from Australia, a multicolored rainbow of plants in shades of red, orange, pink, yellow, and creamy white. 60 days. Packet: 4 g (approximately 200 seeds) Good to start from...
(Bee Balm)(Monarda fistulosa) A favorite of hummingbirds and bees. Flowers of varying shades of lavender may be added to salads. Use fragrant dried leaves for tea and potpourris. Medicinal: Used...
Our favorite fall radish. Also called Misato Rose. Green and white skin rose and white flesh. Beautiful when sliced or grated for salads. Very forgiving crop – unlike many radishes,...
Grown wild in Florida. Vigorous, disease-resistant plants bear ‘til frost. Sweet, dark pink, ½ in. fruits. Annual. 4" pot. Grown by Little Tree Homestead & Nursery. This is a Live...
The Texas Early Grano Onion has a nice sweet flavor that is a favorite among home growers! The Vidalia-type onion is now available in organic seeds. The white flesh is...
70 days. The standard heirloom variety for flavoring pickles, soups, bread, stews, salads, and sauces. Pkt. (0.75 g, 500 seeds) Good to start from seed in these months: North Florida:...
[Israeli introduction] Bred for desert heat, Jericho thrives in our hot summers. The tall (24"), heavy, light green heads retain their sweetness even when other lettuces have gone bitter or...
Cherry tomatoes are similar to Cherokee Purple in color and rich, full-bodied flavor. 1 in. fruits, dusky purple with black highlights. Vigorous plants. A big favorite at our 2015 tomato...
Small, 5-7 in. heads can be spaced closer than larger, later varieties. 3-4 lb green heads don’t store for long, but it’s one of the fastest to mature. Resistant to...
[Introduced 1987. Developed at U. of Hawaii.] Anuenue is the Hawaiian name for “rainbow” (pronounced “ahnu-ee-nu-ee”). Seed is able to germinate at higher soil temperatures (above 80oF). Resembles a crisphead...
A very popular ornamental and the most common Echinacea species, widely used as a medicinal plant. The flowers are 3-4 in. across with pink-orange cone-shaped centers and purple-pink rays. Easy...
A mixture of colors: Red, yellow, orange, pink, and rose. Single and double flowers with some bi-colored flowers. Use edible flowers in vinegar to make Indian Cress vinegar, or use...
This variety comes from Naples and is highly prized for its strong flavor. Giant rumpled 6 in. leaves are great for pesto, though the thick leaves are harder to dry...
[Introduced 1956 by Clemson/AES.] Recommended for hot, humid areas where disease resistance is important. Productive vines produce 7 to 8” dark-green fruits, tapered on the stem end. A popular variety...
55 days. Big, beautiful, wine-red leaves, like Salad Bowl only red. Loose-leaf lettuce. Excellent fall variety. approximately 400-600 seeds, Good to start from seed in these months: North Florida: January-April,...
40 days. [1952. AAS winner.] Large looseleaf lettuce with long frilly leaves arranged in a rosette. Tolerant to heat and tip-burn. One head makes a salad. Approximately 400-600 seeds. Sows...
Huge leaves make this chard a statement piece in the garden. Large white ribs are great celery substitute. Plant in part sun for extended summer production. (approx. 200 seeds per...
67 days. (an, cub) 7 ft. vines are covered with crunchy round yellow fruits. Harvest at 1½ in. for pickling, 2 in. for salads. Excellent, never-bitter, old-fashioned cucumber flavor with a hint...
76 days. [Alan Kapuler] Sweet, crisp yellow icebox melon, 5-8 lbs. Thin, light green rind. Short vines make this a great melon for small gardens. Pkt (2 g, ~42 seeds)...
A heat- and drought-tolerant green in spectacular splashes of color! Leaf amaranth is popular in Asia, eaten raw, stir-fried, or steamed. This is by far the most tender and sweetest...
Landrace with wide variation in beautiful leaf colors. Green, blue-green, and purple leaves with white, pale green, and plum-colored veins. Smaller leaves than most collards; plants can be more closely...
70 days. (green > red) Our seedstock originally came from Hungary, where the paprika pepper has been developed to its finest quality. This strain has excellent color and sweet, spicy...
(Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium) 76 days. (Indeterminate) [Introduced by SESE 1994.] Large currant-type ½ in. orange-red fruits borne in clusters of 12. The berry-sized fruits are larger than true currant tomatoes and...
(Matricaria recutita) The sweet-scented flowers of Chamomile are used to make Chamomile tea which has a distinctive apple-like flavor and fragrance. Medicinal: Chamomile has long been used as a carminative,...