Plant Your Florida Food Forest in July

Think it’s too hot to start new garden projects in July? Think again. Mid-summer is the perfect time in Central Florida to start planting a food forest—a self-sustaining, layered garden that mimics nature and keeps producing food for years to come.

If you’ve been curious about permaculture or simply want to turn a corner of your yard into a low-maintenance, edible paradise, July is the month to get started.

Why July Is Prime Time for Food Forests in Florida

Tropical trees love the heat – Avocados, mangoes, and guava thrive when planted in warm, rainy months.

Summer rains jumpstart growth – Natural rainfall helps establish deep root systems.

Building soil now means better fall harvests – Adding compost and mulch now sets up the forest floor for healthy understory herbs and vegetables.

Step 1: Choose Your Layers

A food forest is planted in layers, from tall canopy trees down to groundcovers. Here’s a Florida-friendly July planting list:

Canopy & Sub-Canopy Trees

Avocado (heat-tolerant varieties like Lula or Monroe)


Mango (Tommy Atkins or Carrie for flavor and disease resistance)


Guava (Ruby Supreme or Tropical White)

Shrubs & Bushes

Figure 5. Fruit—Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis: elderberry

              Elderberry flowers                                                 Elderberry fruit

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis) – Native, medicinal, and great for wildlife

         

           Barbados Cherry                                Barbados Cherry leaf and fruit

Barbados Cherry (Acerola – high in vitamin C)

            An orange-red pea blossom

                    Pigeon Pea                                    Pigeon Pea Blossom


Pigeon Pea (fast-growing nitrogen fixer)

Herbaceous Layer & Edible Understory

Oregano, Dill, Basil (plant around tree bases for pest control and pollinator attraction)
Lemongrass (natural pest deterrent and windbreak)
Malabar Spinach (heat-loving edible vine)

Groundcovers & Root Crops

Sweet Potato (covers soil and provides edible greens & tubers)
Peanuts (fix nitrogen and protect soil)

Step 2: Site Preparation

  1. Pick a Sunny Spot – Food forests thrive in at least 6–8 hours of sun.

  2. Mark Tree Placement – Plant canopy trees 15–20 feet apart.

  3. Improve the Soil – Spread 3–6 inches of compost where trees will be planted to boost microbial activity.

Step 3: Mulching & Composting for Success

Mulch Thickly – Apply 6–8 inches of wood chips, shredded leaves, or straw around trees to keep soil cool and hold moisture.

Add Natural Fertility – Mix in bone meal, kelp meal, or worm castings to feed young plants.

Skip Synthetic Fertilizers – Heavy rains can wash chemical fertilizers into waterways, harming local ecosystems.

Step 4: Succession Planting

Think long-term:

Plant fast growers like pigeon pea or sweet potato now to shade and enrich the soil.

Add slower-growing trees later in the season (fall is perfect for citrus or loquats).

Fill gaps with quick-growing herbs for instant pollinator attraction.

Why Start Now?

A food forest planted in July will establish roots before Florida’s drier winter season. By next spring, you’ll have young trees shading the understory, healthier soil, and a thriving, low-maintenance edible ecosystem.

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