Growing tomatoes year-round in Florida requires shifting traditional gardening perspectives. The state’s climate, defined by intense summer heat, high humidity, and specific pest pressures, prevents the continuous production seen in more temperate regions. Success is achieved by strategically timing two distinct planting cycles and implementing specialized cultivation techniques. This approach allows gardeners to bridge the severe summer gap, ensuring a harvest in almost every season through careful planning.
Florida’s Two Tomato Seasons
Tomato production in Florida is divided into fall and spring growing cycles, dictated primarily by temperature thresholds for fruit development. The ideal thermal range for successful fruit set is daytime temperatures between 60°F and 90°F, with night temperatures remaining below 75°F. When nighttime temperatures consistently exceed 80°F, large-fruited varieties cease to set fruit, a phenomenon known as blossom drop.
The fall season begins with planting in August or September, yielding fruit from late fall through the winter months, depending on the region. This period involves planting into the lingering heat, which necessitates using heat-tolerant varieties to survive the initial weeks. The spring season starts with planting in late winter or early spring, typically January or February, to ensure a harvest before the summer heat arrives.
Planting calendars vary significantly across the state due to the north-to-south gradient in frost and heat exposure. North and Central Florida transplant seedlings after the last frost risk, often in March, aiming for a May and June harvest. South Florida, which experiences shorter frost periods, can plant as early as August and continue through March, enjoying a much longer winter production window. The summer months, characterized by daily rain and high night temperatures, function as the “off-season” where production of most standard tomato types is suspended.
Selecting Suitable Varieties for Florida
Choosing the correct tomato variety is essential, as standard heirloom types often fail in Florida’s challenging environment. Varieties must possess the ability to set fruit in high heat and resistance to common diseases and pests. Large-fruited tomatoes developed by the University of Florida, such as ‘Solar Fire,’ ‘Heatmaster,’ and ‘Florida 91,’ are bred specifically for heat-set capabilities, allowing them to produce fruit when temperatures exceed the ideal range.
For continuous production during the hottest periods, smaller-fruited cherry and grape tomatoes, including ‘Sweet 100,’ are naturally more heat-tolerant and continue to set fruit when larger slicers fail. Resistance to soil-borne pathogens is necessary in the humid climate.
Gardeners should look for seeds or plants labeled with resistance codes like ‘V’ for Verticillium wilt, ‘F’ or ‘FF’ for Fusarium wilt (races 1 and 2), and ‘N’ for nematodes. Nematodes, microscopic roundworms that attack roots, are a pervasive issue in Florida soils, making varieties with ‘N’ resistance, such as ‘Celebrity’ (VFFN), a secure choice.
Selecting cultivars with multiple resistance codes protects the plant from common fungal diseases, which thrive in warm, wet conditions. This genetic advantage is the first line of defense against the spread of pathogens.
Managing Heat and Humidity Stress
Overcoming the physical barriers of heat and excessive moisture requires specific environmental modifications and cultural practices. To mitigate the intense summer sun and prevent sunscald on developing fruit, utilizing a 30% to 50% shade cloth is effective. This material can reduce the ambient temperature around the plant by 5°F to 10°F, improving flower viability and fruit set during the shoulder seasons.
Managing water is important, as Florida’s humidity and frequent rainfall encourage fungal growth. Soil drainage is necessary, often achieved by planting in raised beds or containers to prevent waterlogging. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are preferred over overhead sprinklers because they deliver water directly to the root zone, keeping foliage dry and minimizing the conditions for fungal spore germination.
Pruning plants to improve airflow and watering early in the morning allows leaves to dry completely before nightfall, which reduces the risk of common fungal diseases like Early Blight. Applying a thick layer of organic mulch helps prevent soil splash onto lower leaves, which can transfer fungal spores.