So many Florida seniors have discovered the joy of gardening in Florida and not only are benefiting from the pleasure it brings them, but also its therapeutic power. At St. Mark Village, our residents can continue to nurture their green thumb in our gardens—it’s yet another reason why so many love living here! Here are some handy gardening tips.
How Florida seniors benefit from gardening in Florida
Digging in the dirt is an activity that many people, especially our residents, absolutely love. They are connecting with nature. It can be a relaxing, peaceful pastime. Seeing a tiny bud eventually blossom into a healthy, beautiful plant is a rewarding experience. Plus, it offers a sense of purpose and accomplishment, so important for cognitive health.
Related: How Horticulture Therapy Can Help Weed out Depression in Older Adults
Here’s a few more benefits that gardening in Florida can bring:
- Encourages social interactions. It’s fun to connect with others who share your passions. Joining a garden club is a great way to make new friends and expand your world. There’s always a community garden that would benefit from your gardening tips, or a workshop where you can pick up new gardening tips as well.
- Keeps your brain sharp. Gardening is far more than just putting a seed in the ground. It’s planning a garden bed. Preparing the soil. Deciding which plants go best together. Paying attention to temperatures and rainfall. In short, gardening is a great workout for your brain.
- Works your muscles. Gardening can be fun and also hard work, depending upon what you are doing. It calls for flexibility, strength and cardiovascular health. You’re digging. Planting. Weeding. Moving plants. Clipping buds. Crouching down and standing up several times. Inspecting your beds.
What should you plant in Florida?
First, it’s important to research successful gardening tips in the region of Florida in which you are located. Overall, warm and humid best describes the weather throughout the year.
Here are some helpful gardening tips for Tampa, as well as throughout Central Florida:
1.Light freezes and frosts are possible in January and February. A good plan during this time is to get seeds started in pots so you can transplant them into your garden in four to six weeks.
2. Plants that you want to harvest when the temperature dips to 32 degrees F.
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Hot peppers
- Eggplant
- Beans
- Basil
- Nasturtiums
- Melons
- Summer squash
- Sunflower
3. These plants are a bit hardier, and can survive temperatures as low as 28 degrees F.
- Lettuce
- Arugula
- Chard
- Escarole
- Endive
- Cabbage
- Nicotiana
4. Fall gardening is best done in November and December. September is an optimal time to plant seeds or plants. Be sure to choose a shady area if possible and inspect your irrigation system as well to help your plants do best. If you can, plant when the soil is below 85 degrees F. (This may require you to wait until mid-October to begin planting.)
5. Spring weather lasts from March to April. If you plan to have a spring garden, it’s best to wait until March. Sweet corn, tomatoes, watermelon, and cucumbers are good choices for central Florida.
6. Summer means bugs and rain. You also want to choose vegetables that can take the heat, such as eggplant, peppers, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, okra, black-eyed peas, herbs and celery.
Beyond the garden: don’t forget to benefit from all the beauty that surrounds you. Luckily for residents of St. Mark Village, an impressive array of beautiful parks, trails, preserves, gardens and more are close by. Perfect for getting out for some quiet time, taking the grandchildren on a fun adventure, and exploring what is available in the nearby area. With direct access to the Gulf of Mexico, Palm Harbor offers beachcombing, fishing, boating, bicycling, kayaking, diving and more. Plus, you can do it year-round. So, once you’ve planted your seeds or pulled the weed, why not have lunch outside in a park? Or even just take a stroll around the lovely grounds of St. Mark Village…our gardens are waiting for you!
Related: Palm Harbor Parks—And Why Connecting With Nature Benefits Seniors.
Take our Lifestyle Quiz to help discover what matters most to you in senior living or contact us. We’d love to hear from you and tell you more about our community, offering seamless access to future health care options.
