Falling for Fall

Fall in Florida my not be your traditional drop in temperatures and changing of the leaves, but there certainly is still something special about fall in Florida. It’s prime time to start planting your vegetable gardens, farm markets start to open, and festival time is in full swing! Do we wish the temperatures were in the sixties… absolutely, but even a drop from 95 degrees to in the 80’s is a massive improvement.

September and October are time to start planting your fall garden! The UF Gardening Guide is our “go-to” source for when to plant, how to plant, and any other details you may want! Check out our previous blog here, if you need a reference on how to use the UF Gardening Guide.

There’s quite the selection to choose from when it comes to planting this fall, so don’t let the next two months slip by you. Order your seeds, get your soil ready, put your gloves on, and have fun! Remember to check out the UF Gardening Guide for depth and spacing requirements.

Markets

Fall has more Farmer Markets back open for the season! There’s nothing better than picking up locally grown vegetables or even getting the opportunity to pick your own! Hunsader Farms opens at the beginning of September and offers an amazing selection of fresh vegetables and fruit. During September you can U-pick your own black-eyed peas, green beans, okra, purple hull peas and zipper peas! It’s a great affordable experience for kids and really helps our youth connect with nature and where our food comes from, plus a few good photos! Another great market returning in October is the Downtown Bradenton Public Market. Live music, multiple vendors, and weekly kids’ activities, it’s a great time for the whole family! With over 80 vendors from vegetables, coffee, breads, flowers, and more, you’re definitely not walking away empty handed. There are two other markets that are open year-round, the Farmers’ Market at Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota Farmers Market. There’s plenty of opportunities to enjoy a warm cup of coffee and stroll the markets on either a Saturday or Sunday morning depending on what market you attend. If you’re looking for a weekday market, the Phillipi Farmhouse Market is in Sarasota on Wednesdays starting October 5th.

Festivals & Events

The Sarasota/Bradenton area is host to a multitude of festivals, both for the family and adults! Many take place in the fall, with lovely cool morning temps and more cooperative weather. There’s also a few great plant sales, if you’re looking to add to your landscape or garden!

• Hunsader Pumpkin Festival: A great family event featuring great food, vendors, corn maze, petting zoo, and of course, pumpkins! Dates to visit: Oct. 15-16, 22-23, 29-30
• The Fruitville Grove Pumpkin Festival: This fun fall event features pony rides, bounce houses, petting zoo, playground, live music, and more. Admission is free and they are open every weekend in October.
• 2022 Manatee Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Fair– If you’re looking for pollinator plants, herbs, orchids, or native trees, be sure to book your time slot for the Manatee Master Gardener plant sale on October 1st! Last year we ended up walking away with a cart full of plants as the quality is great, and the prices are good.
• 16th Annual Sarasota Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale & Edfest– This plant sale on October 8th not only includes over 300 varieties of plants for sale, but also sustainable gardening education and landscape problem diagnosis while you’re there! Be sure to check out their rare Atla butterflies flying around as well!
• Sarasota Garden Club’s Music in the Gardens – Enjoy a 1950’s music live band and stroll the gardens that are maintained by their members. Sip a glass of champagne and eat a light appetizer. This would make a great date night, so mark your calendars for October 9th
• Lights at Spooky Point by Selby Gardens– Located at their Historic Spanish Point campus, embark on an adventure full of lights featuring bat orchids, spider orchids, vine covered skeletons, and more! It’s a great nighttime adventure of the little ones. Dates: October 14th-October 31st.

If there’s one season Floridians love the most, it would have to be fall. Sipping on a pumpkin spice latte while walking the farmers market and getting your hands dirty planting beans in your fall garden, it truly is the perfect time of year. Fill your calendar with family fun events along with spending time growing food (or at least attempting to!) with your kids, grandkids, neighbors, whoever! If you’re new to Florida, we hope you find yourself falling for Fall as much as we have!