Growing tomatoes in Florida

Tomatoes are the crop most new Florida gardeners want to grow and the one that frustrates them most, usually for one reason: bad timing. Planted on a northern schedule, tomatoes here run straight into brutal heat, humidity, and disease, and they fail.

Grown on Florida's schedule with the right varieties, though, tomatoes can be genuinely productive. Here is how to grow tomatoes successfully in Palm Beach County, from when to plant to how to dodge the common problems.

Timing is everything

The number one rule for Florida tomatoes is to grow them in the cool season, avoiding the heat of summer entirely. The two best planting windows are late summer to early fall (around August to September) for a fall-into-winter crop, and again in late winter (January to February) for a spring crop.

Tomatoes struggle to set fruit once nights stay consistently warm, so the goal is to have plants producing during the mild months. Nail the timing and you have already solved most of the challenge.

Choose the right varieties

Variety choice matters enormously here. Look for heat-tolerant and disease-resistant types, and note the disease-resistance codes on the label, since our humidity breeds fungal and bacterial problems. Many gardeners have the best luck with smaller-fruited types.

Cherry and grape tomatoes are far more forgiving than big slicers, and the tiny native-adapted Everglades tomato is nearly indestructible, producing through conditions that flatten other varieties. Match the variety to our climate and you stack the deck in your favor.

Give them sun and rich soil

Tomatoes want full sun — at least six to eight hours — and rich, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. In our sandy ground, that means amending generously with compost or growing in raised beds or large containers.

Good soil and full sun give tomatoes the energy to produce heavily. Skimp on either and the plants underperform no matter how well you time them.

Support and mulch

Stake or cage your tomatoes from the start to keep fruit off the ground, improve airflow, and reduce disease. A good layer of mulch conserves moisture, moderates soil temperature, and helps prevent soil-borne disease from splashing onto the leaves.

These simple supports make a real difference in a humid climate where airflow is your friend. They also keep the plants tidy and the fruit clean.

Water and feed consistently

Tomatoes need steady, even moisture; erratic watering leads to cracking and to blossom-end rot. Water deeply and regularly at the base in the morning, and feed with a balanced fertilizer as the plants grow and set fruit.

Consistency is the watchword — even moisture and steady feeding prevent many of the cosmetic and physiological problems that plague tomatoes. Mulch helps keep that moisture even.

Watch for pests and disease

Keep an eye out for hornworms, which can strip a plant fast and are best handpicked, and for the leaf spots and wilts our humidity encourages. Good spacing, airflow, mulch, and morning watering prevent most disease, and root-knot nematodes are another reason many gardeners prefer raised beds.

Catching problems early and relying on prevention keeps tomatoes healthy without heavy spraying. A little daily attention goes a long way.

Grow your best tomatoes yet

Right season, right variety, full sun, rich soil, steady water, and good support — get those right and Florida tomatoes become a pleasure rather than a puzzle. The reward is sun-ripened fruit far better than anything from a store.

We carry tomato varieties chosen to perform in our climate at the right times of year. Come pick the right ones for this season at the nursery.

Frequently asked questions