This month
May in Zone 10b
Plant
- Rainy season planting begins
- Plant tropical perennials (heliconia, ginger, crinum)
- Direct sow cassava, malanga, and tropical staples
Prep & soil
- Stake new plants before storms
- Open drainage channels
Prune & maintain
- Light shaping only
- Stop major pruning before heavy rains
Indoor
- Take cuttings of croton, hibiscus for propagation
Jan
Plant
- Plant cool-season vegetables (lettuce, beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers)
- Plant cool-season annuals (petunias, pansies, snapdragons)
- Plant tropical fruit trees (mango, avocado, citrus, lychee)
Prep & soil
- This is the dry season; deep watering is critical
- Apply mulch to retain moisture
Prune & maintain
- Light pruning of cold-damaged tropicals
- Prune deciduous fruit trees if any
Indoor
- Start herb seeds for spring
Feb
Plant
- Continue planting tomatoes, peppers, and warm-season vegetables
- Plant herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro)
- Plant tropical flowering trees and shrubs
Prep & soil
- Continue deep dry-season watering
- Apply slow-release fertilizer to tropicals
Prune & maintain
- Prune freeze-damaged growth on tropicals
- Light shaping of palms
Indoor
- Sow seeds for warm-season planting
Mar
Plant
- Plant heat-loving vegetables (okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes, malanga, yuca)
- Plant tropical fruit trees ahead of rainy season
- Plant subtropical perennials
Prep & soil
- Last month for major dry-season watering
- Refresh mulch before heat builds
Prune & maintain
- Prune tropicals to shape before vigorous growth
- Prune flowering trees after bloom
Indoor
- Start any remaining heat-loving seeds
Apr
Plant
- Plant heat lovers (okra, southern peas, sweet potatoes)
- Plant tropical fruit trees while soil is still warm but not bone dry
- Plant ornamental gingers, heliconias, and crotons
Prep & soil
- Watch for early rainy-season storms
- Hurricane prep: trim weak branches
Prune & maintain
- Major pruning of palms and tropicals before rainy season
Indoor
- Plan rainy-season plantings
May (now)
Plant
- Rainy season planting begins
- Plant tropical perennials (heliconia, ginger, crinum)
- Direct sow cassava, malanga, and tropical staples
Prep & soil
- Stake new plants before storms
- Open drainage channels
Prune & maintain
- Light shaping only
- Stop major pruning before heavy rains
Indoor
- Take cuttings of croton, hibiscus for propagation
Jun
Plant
- Continue rainy-season planting (perfect time for landscape installs)
- Heat lovers thrive (okra, southern peas, malanga, sweet potatoes)
Prep & soil
- Hurricane prep: secure tall plants, prune weak limbs
- Watch for fungal disease
Prune & maintain
- Hurricane prep pruning of large trees
- Trim overhanging limbs near structures
Indoor
- Plan fall garden
Jul
Plant
- Continue planting tropicals during rainy season
- Heat is intense; new plants establish well with regular rain
Prep & soil
- Stake newly planted trees against storms
- Watch for waterlogged soil
Prune & maintain
- Storm-damaged limbs only
- Avoid major cuts
Indoor
- Start fall vegetables under shade
Aug
Plant
- Start fall tomato and pepper transplants late month
- Sow second round of tropical staples
- Plant tropicals (still good rainy-season window)
Prep & soil
- Hurricane peak: monitor weather closely
- Refresh mulch where rain has thinned it
Prune & maintain
- Storm-damaged growth only
Indoor
- Continue fall vegetable seed starting
Sep
Plant
- Plant fall tomatoes, peppers, beans, and squash
- Plant cool-season seeds late month if temps drop
- Plant tropical fruit trees
Prep & soil
- Hurricane season still active
- Begin tapering rainy-season fertilizer
Prune & maintain
- Storm-damaged growth
- Begin light shaping as growth slows
Indoor
- Sow cool-season vegetables for October planting
Oct
Plant
- Plant cool-season vegetables (lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots)
- Plant cool-season annuals (snapdragons, dianthus, petunias)
- Plant trees and shrubs (excellent month here)
Prep & soil
- Dry season returns; resume deeper watering schedule
- Refresh mulch
Prune & maintain
- Resume regular pruning of tropicals
- Cut back leggy growth
Indoor
- Bring tender tropicals to bright spots if any cold forecast (rare)
Nov
Plant
- Continue planting cool-season vegetables and annuals
- Plant garlic and shallots
- Plant pre-chilled tulip and hyacinth bulbs (treat as annuals)
Prep & soil
- Deep dry-season watering
- Top off mulch
Prune & maintain
- Major pruning of fruit trees as they enter rest
- Shape tropicals
Indoor
- Pot amaryllis for holiday bloom (force in fridge first)
Dec
Plant
- Plant cool-season vegetables, lettuce, beans, herbs
- Plant tropical fruit trees (best establishment in dry season)
- Plant strawberries
Prep & soil
- Continue dry-season deep watering
- Apply dormant oil to deciduous fruit trees
Prune & maintain
- Prune deciduous fruit trees
- Shape tropicals lightly
Indoor
- Plan next year's rotations
