I have started all most of the things that I want to set out in February. About 25 different veggies in all. The only things I don't really start early are the beans. With the seeds that I have already planted I am just keeping them inside till they sprout and then setting them out during the day. I bring them in at night if below fifty.
I tend to go by the uf planting guide and I look at what they reccomend and plant the seeds between four and six weeks early.

I transplanted some Swiss Chard and Spinach. I just made a ghetto-like trellis fence with some garden string and a trellis and tomato cage and planted Alaska peas. I've also transplanted some Black seeded lettuce and some cabbage red/green that I got from UNF. All of that is pretty scattered but I am hoping it will be fine.

I've started brandy wine and these cherry tomato seeds, as well as a few types of lettuce and some more lavender. I've also had to transplant a bunch of Asters as they've started flowering. Waiting until next week to get some other stuff to start.

Brussel Sprouts and Broccoli are all setting fruit which I am very excited about!

UF's guide is really good. The thing that you'll eventually get the hang of is timing, this year we've had a warm winter. I started my toms two weeks ago, they're heirlooms so starting them early is a good idea (there not as fast as hybrids). Last year was fairly cold so I stared them around this time. In Orlando we don't get much frost so its ok to do it early as long as its not too cold.
Luckily in Florida we have a long growing season so if you start late its fine, you'll just get less overall yield. It's not like Michigan where if you miss your timing, you might not get a crop.

May I suggest that you contact your Extension Office about the Master Gardener program. It is a wealth of info about gardening in your area. You will learn more than you ever dreamed of knowing about gardening.

I don't grow veggies because we aren't the biggest veggie eaters. With only 2 people, it's just easier to buy them. I always buy my flowers already started, but this year I wanted to do a trellis around a St. Francis statue and I want to use morning glories, which I never find for sale. I saw the seeds at HD and bought them and they are sprouting! This is the first time in 25 yrs of gardening that I have started something from seed and it's fun to watch.
I even found the trellises I wanted in HD, very cheap small wooden ones, but they will serve the purpose. I want to put them on either side of the statue, on an angle, and let the vines grow around it in the middle of my old rose bed (took the roses out last year). I have a plumbago on one side and a YTT on the other. Will put some other butterfly plants in the front to go with the butterfly garden across the yard from it.

I admire you people that grow veggies. It seems like it takes a lot of work, but I bet the tomatoes are a lot better than what you get in the store.

Right now I am growing (and harvesting) english peas, snap peas, snow peas, strawberries, broccoli, spinach, lettuce, carrots, cabbage, onions, tatsoi(asian greens) globe and daikon radish, citrus, herbs and pomegranate.

In my flats I have just started cucumbers and tomatoes. In the next few weeks I'll be starting even more.

Keep asking questions. I saw you were looking for blogs, too. (Was that you? I'll have to go back and check, hope so!) I did a garden update a few posts back and try to do one every 6 weeks or so. Here's my link....

Here is a link that might be useful: Barb's Blurbs

I try to keep my calender simple, hope it helps you on your adventure!

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida Vegetable Gardening Calender

ibarbidahl - how do you grow the strawberries, containers? ground? what type of growing medium. would love to grow them. Went to a u-pick place and they were growing in the absolute worst looking sandy concrete-looking/feeling stuff. Must be lots of fertilizer...

Happy growing all!
kelly

I grow in both containers and raised beds.
No sand or concrete here! ;-)

The only thing to keep in mind for containers is that they spread fairly quickly so don't forget to space them out pretty well when you put them in! I like to mulch even my containers, too. (To keep the fruit cleaner)

In the containers I use 1/2 potting soil 1/4 compost and 1/4 pine fines.
In the raised bed I use 1/2 compost 1/2 pine fines - they are in the same beds as my blue berries they seem to like the slightly more acid soil and do well there.

I'm sure this isn't the best growing medium but it works well for me and as I stated they understry my blueberries so they are companion planted and it works well for me.

I love growing them. This time of year they are nearly effortless. Water, a little fertilizer and some sun - you get strawberries. :-D

Barbie