Where in the state are you? Because that makes a difference. As you can see from my username, I'm on the West Central Gulf coast, and my cool weather things don't come out until a couple of weeks before I'm ready to start something new - depending on planting dates in the UF guide. I only direct sow greens & legumes, generally, and lettuce and many other greens can also be started in pots and transplanted - many are pretty forgiving of that.

Peas usually bear once and then they're done. You can tell because the vines start dying back. Lettuce can last awhile if you use the cut & come again method or just harvest outer leaves, otherwise, it doesn't grow decent side shoots after cutting the main stem, IMPE - neither does cabbage. Broccoli will usually sprout side shoots after the main head is harvested, and the amount and size of those varies depending on the variety. Tomatoes can keep producing if they are indeterminate, but not if they're determinate. Fertilizing after harvest will help with new production.

Hi Carol, I'm a little SE of Orlando, so we get a little cooler than you but it's variable year to year it seems. Do you believe the UF guide saying that Tomatoes are fine to plant Central FL in January? Thanks much.

Where I am - which is also considered Central, I guess - if I don't at least start them in January, it gets too hot before they're ready and impairs production.

Tomatoes are another thing I do not direct sow. I just move the seedlings into bigger pots, if I can't set them out right away.

Hi yookiffer, I am in Oakland probably closer to you. Florida gardening is kind of complicated, since you are new there is a learning by experience method using the UF guidelines and adjusting to your conditions, soil preparation, weather, what you like to grow.

In my very productive garden I only grow what I like to eat, right now I have tomatoes harvesting and soon will be growing seedlings to be transplanted when the weather permits. We have 2 tomato seasons.

The raised beds are filled with radish, carrots, beets, onions, few lettuce and kale. I have been harvesting pole beans and soon will be replaced with peas.

In past years I planted more veggies, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, asian greens, different peppers, etc, and most of them did well.

Happy gardening

Silvia

The date that I use for zone 9 B to put anything in the ground is February 14. That's the date the U of Florida has given to plant things without fear of a freeze. You can look at the weather reports and plant sooner than that, however.

I plant new things in pots now. In fact, I just planted two hibiscuses yesterday. If and when there is a threat of a freeze I bring the pots into my garage, which is always four or five degrees or so warmer in the winter months.