I'm only here in Florida, from NY for five years. I have not had luck with vegetables.

I did plant a few tomatoes in October and they took off. They were plants already growing. As we got closer to summer they were finished. Lettuce like cool weather as do other vegetables.

I would guess there are few vegetables which could take the summer heat.

This is the time to plant but only with plants already started. You could plant herb seeds, carrot and beans now.

Don't plant anything in the ground directly. Use Earth Boxes, pots or raised beds.

I'm sure you will hear from the other growers on this site who grow incredible vegetables here in Florida.

Jane

You can grow really hot peppers all year round down there. I'm doing it here in Lakeland, but in a greenhouse to keep them above freezing. Tomatoes are a spring and fall thing just because it gets too hot in the summer.

If you want to get tomatoes growing for their season here, don't bother with seeds—it's really too late. Garden centers at Lowe's or Home Depot or local garden businesses will have a variety of tomato plants from which to choose. I use these containers filled with potting soil—it would be best to keep them on a cement pad or raised off the grass somehow, otherwise the roots are apt to grow into the sand. It would be great to add compost, but since you have only just moved you're not likely to have any (you could get your compost started in a plastic garbage can now to be used next year). Put the plant/s somewhere in your yard where they will receive the most sun possible.

You could use root stimulator when you're planting, but it's not crucial. Wait 30 days and then continuously use a water-soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro Tomato Plant Food every 2-3 weeks. My experience has been that no matter how well I am taking care of the plants, as time passes some leaves will begin to brown with a huge variety of diseases and viruses to which the tomatoes are prey down here, but I've found that new leaves will grow and keep the plant producing fruit. 'Long about April/May where you are, I'm guessing, the plants will start to wane as the temps rise.

I only grow tomatoes and herbs, so I can't help you with definitive info on your other choices, altho' I should think green peppers, if that's what you mean, will grow as well in containers. Don't know about eggplant—perhaps others can chime in. Enjoy your bounty, and welcome to FL—it's not like home, but it has its perks!

P.S. If a freeze is predicted for your area, not very likely these days where you are, protect the plants.

Amy, welcome to Florida. I am on the other coast, but about the same latitude (is that right - the horizontal one). If you've got your garden plot ready then you can start a number of vegetables even from seed. Check your soil though, many areas of Florida have soil that doesn't accommodate vegetable gardening. Raised beds or pots are likely used more here than in the north. The University of Florida has a trove of information online on Florida gardening- even a planting schedule and recommended varieties. You will likely be able to grow until mid May when it gets too hot and humid. (Then plant sweet potatoes.) I'm still setting out seeds of beans, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, carrots, etc. It's a little cold now to get pepper seeds to germinate but who knows - last year I had pepper seeds germinate in January in pots that I had left for "dead". There may come a freeze, but they are infrequent and short lived. In 25 years, I've only once put a sheet over my "tender tropicals". I do however, bring the pepper plants up to the side of the house if the temps are expected to go below 40 for more than a few hours. Good luck -

Welcome to FL! You asked about peppers and eggplants among others. Personally the only peppers I grow consistantly are Cubanelles. In my zone I start them in my greenhouse and plant them in the garden March 1. Same with my eggplants. Both crops grow well for me. Eggplants get done in mid summer but peppers keep going. I just picked my last one for the year.