Saint Petersburg, Florida · USDA Zone 10a

Your backyard
kitchen garden

Complete growing guide for your 4 raised beds — companion planting, seasonal calendar, banana grove, and a live garden tracker.

4 raised beds Year-round growing Square-foot method Tap to swap tiles Zone 10a
At a glance
Your garden system
10a
USDA zone
Year-round
Growing potential
4 beds
Total raised beds
Jan 28
Avg last frost
91°F
Avg summer high
52°F
Avg winter low

The best growing window

October through March is your prime season. Leafy greens, brassicas, root vegs and herbs explode with production. Fewer pests, cooler nights.

KaleSpinachArugulaCabbageCarrotsCilantroOnionGarlic

Key dates

  • Start transplants indoors: early September
  • Move outside: first week of October
  • Peak harvest: November–February
  • Wind down: late March before bolt
  • Solarize beds: May–July

Heat season strategy

Spring window Feb–May is great for tomatoes and peppers. Most cool-season greens bolt by May. Bed D handles heat-lovers year-round.

TomatoPepperBasilCantaloupeSummer gap Jun–Sep

Summer survivors

  • Everglades tomato — native, very prolific
  • Sweet 100 cherry tomato
  • Any pepper variety
  • Basil — thrives in heat
  • Sweet potato (great addition)
  • Okra — loves FL heat
Square-foot method
Bed layouts
Each cell = 1 square foot. Number badge = plants or seeds per sq ft. Tap Edit tiles to swap any plant, then tap a cell to place your selection.
Bed D — E-shape custom bed
South backyard · past pool · full sun 8–10 hrs · muscadine trellis along south fence
Warm season — tomato, pepper, cantaloupe, basil
South fence ↑ · pool ↓ · hover/tap for info
E-shape: Top 2 rows = full back bar along south fence. Bottom 2 rows = three 4×4 arms pointing toward pool with open access pockets between. The muscadine trellis (4×4 posts, 3 wire levels) runs directly behind the back bar along the fence.
Companions: Tomato + basil + marigold trio. Borage corners deter hornworms. Nasturtium front tips trap aphids. Marigold border suppresses nematodes. Cantaloupe vines in center arm can be trained up to the muscadine trellis posts along the south fence.
Succession schedule
Feb wk2
Tomato transplants
Feb wk3
Cantaloupe sow, trellis to fence
Mar wk1
Basil fill-in direct sow
Sep wk1
Fall tomato replant
South fence · behind Bed D
Muscadine grape trellis
Four 4×4×10 ft pressure-treated posts set 6 ft on center along the south fence, with three levels of No. 9 galvanized wire at 2, 4, and 6 ft. One vine trained up the center, cordons running both directions along the top wire.

Materials

  • Posts: 4 × pressure-treated 4×4×10 ft · concrete footings · 2 ft buried
  • Wire: No. 9 gauge high-tensile galvanized · Gripple tensioners
  • Wire heights: 2 ft (low catch) · 4 ft (mid catch) · 6 ft (top cordon)
  • Post spacing: 6 ft on center · total run ~18 ft
  • Vine placement: 1 vine planted center-span between posts 2 and 3

Training system

  • System: High cordon — trunk grows to top wire (6 ft)
  • Year 1: Train single trunk straight up bamboo stake to top wire
  • Year 2: Cut trunk tip at wire, train two cordons in opposite directions
  • Ongoing: Hanging shoots drape down from cordons to catch wires
  • Winter prune: Cut back to 2–3 buds per spur each January

Recommended varieties

  • Florida Fry — self-fertile · large bronze berry · best FL flavor
  • Carlos — self-fertile · heavy producer · pairs perfectly with Fry
  • Southern Home — ornamental purple · very productive
  • Plant one at each end of trellis for max yield · 8–10 ft apart

Soil & fertilizer

  • Soil: Sandy loam · pH 5.5–6.5 · no high calcium
  • Amend: Sulfur if pH above 6.5 · excellent drainage essential
  • Feed: 10-10-10 balanced Feb & June
  • At berry set: High-potassium application
  • Avoid: Excess nitrogen — promotes foliage over fruit
MonthTask
Jan–FebDormant pruning — cut back to 2–3 buds per spur. Most important maintenance task.
FebFirst fertilizer — 10-10-10 balanced as buds swell
Mar–AprBud break · begin shoot training to catch wires
May–JunRapid shoot growth · train weekly · second fertilizer application
Jul–AugBerries forming · high-potassium fertilizer · watch for black rot
Sep–OctHarvest when berries drop easily with gentle touch · do not rush
Nov–DecDormancy begins · stop all fertilizing
Elsewhere on property
Banana bundle (mat) planting
A banana mat = 1 mother + 2 sword suckers kept. Give each mat a 10 ft clearance radius. The south fence line now runs the muscadine trellis — place banana mats in another sunny location with wind protection.
Mat layout — viewed from above
Banana mat spacing diagram Mother S1 S2 10 ft clearance radius
Mother plant
Sword sucker 1 (keep)
Sword sucker 2 (keep)
Growth & harvest timeline
Plant now
Plant mother 1 ft deep · amend hole with 30L compost · full sun spot
Month 1–2
Remove all water suckers (broad leaves) · keep 2 sword suckers only
Month 3–6
Rapid growth · water 2×/week · monthly high-potassium fertilizer
Month 9–12
Flower emerges from center · stop disturbing roots
Month 12–15
Harvest · ripen indoors 5–10 days · cut mother to ground after
Mat spacing: 10 ft clearance radius per mat. Roots spread 10–18 ft at maturity — don't plant near structures or other mats.
Sucker selection: Keep only sword suckers — narrow pointed leaves, firm rhizome attachment. Remove all water suckers (broad floppy leaves, weak attachment) immediately — they fruit poorly. Stagger heights: keep one tall sucker (3–4 ft) and one short (1–2 ft) for continuous production. After harvest cut mother to ground — the tall sword sucker becomes the new mother.
Grow bags & containers
Fabric grow bags
Track your grow bags by gallon size. Each bag shows the right soil mix and fertilizer for its plant. Your custom bags are saved automatically.
Zone 10a · May 2026
Shopping list
Warm season plants only. Buy this week. Do not buy cool-season crops until September.

Buy this week — warm season

PlantQtyBed / LocationWhere to buyEst. cost
Basil — Genovese6Bed D, Bed CEdible Plant Nursery / Home Depot~$12
Basil — Thai5Bed A, Bed BEdible Plant Nursery~$10
Marigold — French dwarf28All beds + fig + berry + guava boxesHome Depot / Lowe's~$42
Nasturtium9Bed D + fig + berry + guava boxesLiving Roots / Edible Plant~$27
Cantaloupe — Seminole2Bed D center armEdible Plant Nursery~$8
Jalapeño2Bed DEdible Plant / Home Depot~$8
Cuban oregano4Bed A, Bed B ground coverLiving Roots Eco Design~$16
Lemongrass4Bed B, Bed C + outside guava boxesWillow Tree / Living Roots~$24
Chives2One per guava box (front yard)Home Depot / Edible Plant~$6
Creeping thyme5Fig half circle + berry clusterHome Depot / Lowe's~$15
Pentas6Berry cluster + near fruit treesHome Depot / Lowe's~$18
Pigeon pea3In ground near mango bagsLiving Roots / Edible Plant~$12
Ginger rhizomes3Ground surrounding mango bagsAny nursery or grocery store~$8
Turmeric rhizomes3Ground surrounding mango bagsAny nursery or grocery store~$7
Cassava cuttings3–4East or west fence lineEdible Plant Nursery~$10
Fiji Dwarf / Maypan coconut1South fence SW corner, 15ft from structuresSunscape / Willow Tree~$60
Estimated total — plants~$283

Supplies — buy same trip

  • Neem oil — treat front guava mealybugs before planting companions. Mix 5ml + 5ml dish soap per liter water, spray every 7 days × 3 weeks.
  • Sticky trunk bands — wrap around each front guava trunk to stop ants carrying mealybugs back up.
  • Drip irrigation kit — most important infrastructure purchase before June. Set timer for 6am daily.
  • Pot feet / risers — elevate every grow bag and plastic pot off ground. Non-negotiable.
  • Slow release fertilizer 8-3-9 — palm/tropical formula for mango and peach bags.
  • Worm castings — top dress all grow bags immediately.
  • Fish emulsion + liquid seaweed — every 2 weeks on mango, peach, banana bags.

Already owned — transplant this week

  • California wonder bell pepper — into Bed D now
  • Mimi red pepper — into Bed D now
  • Longevity spinach — into Bed A
  • Big leaf longevity spinach — into Bed A or B
  • Okinawa spinach ×2 — one each into Beds A and B
  • Borage — into Bed D corner
  • Garlic chives — divide and put starts into Bed C

Do NOT buy until September

These are cool-season crops. They will bolt and die in May heat. Buy in September, plant October.

  • Kale, arugula, spinach (regular)
  • Cilantro, parsley
  • Carrots, radish
  • Onion, garlic
  • Cabbage, lettuce
  • Potatoes — plant in January for March harvest

Local St. Pete nurseries

NurseryAddressHoursBest for
Edible Plant Nursery1740 21st St NSat 9am–1pm onlyEdible plants, Seminole cantaloupe, tropical starts
Living Roots Eco Design3645 45th Ave NThu–Fri 9am–4pm · Sat 9am–3pmEdibles, natives, Cuban oregano, pigeon pea
Willow Tree NurserySt. PeteCall aheadFruit trees, lemongrass, general selection
Sunscape NurserySt. PeteCall aheadTropical trees, coconut palms
Home Depot / Lowe'sMultiple locationsDailyMarigolds, basil, pentas, neem oil, irrigation
Light & growing medium
Sun & soil guide
Bed D — south backyard8–10 hrs/day
Unobstructed open sky. Best all-day sun. Ideal for tomatoes, peppers, cantaloupe.
Beds A & B — east fence5–7 hrs/day
Full AM sun. House blocks PM sun after 2–3 PM. Ideal for leafy greens, herbs, root vegs.
Bed C — round bed5–6 hrs/day
Similar to A/B. Perfect for compact herbs and green onion year-round.
TimeSeasonBed DBeds A/B/C
6–8 AMAll yearLow angle, partialDirect east sun begins
8–11 AMAll yearFull sunFull direct sun
11 AM–2 PMAll yearPeak full sunOverhead, strong light
2–5 PMAll yearFull sunHouse shadow encroaches
5–7 PMSummerLow angle, partialMostly shaded

Florida soil reality

St. Pete sits on sandy soil with low organic matter. Great for raised beds — full control. Never use native sandy soil inside raised beds. Target pH: 6.0–7.0.

Recommended mix (Mel's Mix)

Coir
Compost
Vermiculite
  • 1/3 coconut coir — retention
  • 1/3 blended compost — nutrients
  • 1/3 coarse vermiculite — drainage

Soil testing

  • UF/IFAS Pinellas Extension — ~$7. Most accurate. Do this first.
  • Luster Leaf Rapitest — ~$20. Monthly spot checks.
  • Bluelab pH Pen — ~$65. Digital meter.

Fertilizer schedule

  • At planting: Slow-release granular (Osmocote)
  • Every 2 weeks: Fish emulsion
  • Monthly: Cal-Mag — prevents blossom end rot
  • Each season: Worm castings top-dress
When to plant
Planting calendar
Green = plant or sow · Amber = ongoing / harvest · Gray = rest. Scroll right on mobile.
Ongoing maintenance
Care schedule
SeasonFrequencyAmountBest time
Cool (Oct–Mar)Every 2–3 days1 in/week7–9 AM
Spring (Apr–May)Daily or every other1–1.5 in/weekMorning
Summer (Jun–Sep)Daily — check soil1.5–2 in/weekAM only — never PM
Raised beds dry 2× faster than in-ground in FL heat. Stick finger 2 inches in — if dry, water. Drip on a 6 AM timer is the gold standard.
TaskFrequencyDetails
Soil pH testEvery 6 monthsBefore each major season (Sep & Mar)
Liquid fertilizeEvery 2 weeksFish emulsion during active growth
Mulch refreshMonthly in summer2–3 inch pine straw or coco coir
Pest scoutingTwice weeklyCheck leaf undersides for aphids, whiteflies
Succession sowEvery 2–3 weeksArugula, cilantro, spinach
Summer solarizeJun–AugClear plastic 4–6 weeks — kills nematodes
PestSignsOrganic fix
AphidsSticky residue, curled leavesNeem oil, ladybugs, water blast
WhitefliesWhite cloud when disturbedYellow sticky traps, neem oil
CaterpillarsLarge holes in leavesBT spray — safe, organic, effective
Stink bugsDimpled fruitHand-pick, kaolin clay spray
NematodesStunted plants, knotted rootsMarigold borders, soil solarization
FungalSpots, wilting, powderWater AM only, copper fungicide
PlantTechniqueWhen
BasilPinch flower spikes. Cut stem above leaf node.Weekly — extends harvest months
TomatoesRemove suckers. Prune lower leaves off soil.Weekly — essential in FL humidity
Kale / spinachHarvest outer leaves only, leave center.Weekly cut-and-come-again
Cilantro / arugulaCut 1 inch above soil. Pull when bolting.Every 3 weeks, replant
PeppersLight shaping. Hard prune late summer.Aug–Sep for fall harvest
Mid-April · St. Pete Zone 10a
What to do this week
Tap a task to mark done. Resets each Monday.
Living record
Plant health tracker
Rate each plant 1–5 stars and add notes. Saved automatically.
Garden journal
Watering & harvest log
Log waterings, harvests, pest sightings, and notes. Saved locally.
Type
Plant / Bed
Notes
Log entries
DateTypePlant / BedNotes
Saint Petersburg · Zone 10a
My garden at a glance
4
Raised beds
3
Grow bags
1
Trellis
10a
USDA zone
Apr
Current month

Raised beds

  • Bed A — 40×58 in · east fence · herbs & salad greens
  • Bed B — 40×58 in · east fence · brassicas & root veg
  • Bed C — 41 in round · herb hub · year-round
  • Bed D — E-shape · south yard · tomato/pepper powerhouse

Grow bags & containers

  • Carrie Mango — 25 gal fabric bag · full sun
  • Fairchild Mango — 25 gal fabric bag · full sun
  • FL Best Peach — 30 gal fabric bag · full sun 8+ hrs

Muscadine trellis

  • 4 × 4×4×10 ft pressure-treated posts · 6 ft on center
  • 3 wire levels at 2, 4, 6 ft · No. 9 galvanized
  • South fence behind Bed D
  • Varieties: Florida Fry + Carlos

This week

Mid-April · St. Pete Zone 10a

  • Harvest remaining cool-season greens before bolt
  • Plant basil now — perfect timing
  • Set up Bed D soil before May planting
  • Transplant banana stools — ideal window
  • Set up drip irrigation before summer
Now — Spring transition
Cool season winding down · warm season beginning
Harvest greens now · plant basil/tomatoes · prep Bed D · get drip irrigation in before June