Late-May → September Planting Guide: Sun-Loving Edible Guilds for Zone 9 (Ocala)

Written By Donald Richardson

Central Florida’s true growing year runs on the clouds. Our summer rainy season usually begins in late May and lasts through September, bringing almost-daily downpours, humid 80 °F soils, and the longest daylight of the year—perfect conditions for young roots. UF/IFAS calls this wet window the safest time to set fruit trees because afternoon storms do most of the irrigating for you. blogs.ifas.ufl.edusfyl.ifas.ufl.edu

Why Planting Now Works

  • Warm, aerobic soil accelerates mycorrhizal partnerships and nutrient uptake.

  • Consistent rainfall (often 6–8 in/month) slashes hose time and transplant shock. blogs.ifas.ufl.edu

  • Long days let warm-season support plants—pigeon pea, sweet-potato vines, sunn hemp—reach full biomass before the first cool fronts roll in. gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.eduedis.ifas.ufl.edu

Add those perks together and you get a chance to drop complete guilds in at once, rather than spacing them out across multiple seasons.

How to Read the Guild Charts

ColumnMeaning:
Layer: Position in the mini-ecosystem (canopy, shrub, vine, etc.).
Plant (Status): N = Florida native • FF = Florida-friendly/adapted non-native.
Method (late-May → Sept.): Container size or Direct-sow if seed/slip thrives in hot, wet soils.
Edible Use: What you harvest (every plant below puts food on the table).

1 “Citrus Sunshine” Guild — Hamlin Sweet Orange

LayerPlant (Status)MethodEdible Use
Canopy fruitHamlin Sweet Orange (FF)3–7 gal containerJuice & fresh fruit
N-fixer shrubPigeon Pea (FF)Direct-sow seedEdible peas; living mulch
Companion shrubPineapple Guava (FF)1 galSweet petals; guava-like fruit
Climbing greenMalabar Spinach (FF)Direct-sowHeat-loving leaves
Living mulchSweet Potato (FF)SlipsTubers & tender tips

Hamlin sets fruit December–January and resists occasional 26 °F dips better than most sweet oranges. Pigeon pea and sweet-potato both love 90 °F air temps and create a nitrogen-rich, weed-smothering blanket before fall. gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.eduedis.ifas.ufl.edu

2 “Florida Prince” Peach & Berry Medley

LayerPlant (Status)MethodEdible Use
Fruit tree‘Florida Prince’ Peach (FF)3 galLow-chill peaches (May harvest)
Shrub fruitRabbiteye Blueberry (N)1 gal × 2+ cultivarsMid-summer berries
Cane shrubThornless Blackberry ‘Natchez’ (FF)1 galLarge spring berries
Vertical vinePassionfruit ‘Purple Possum’ (FF)1 galAromatic fruit Aug–Oct
Annual herbRoselle / Florida Cranberry (FF)Direct-sowTart calyces for tea & jam

UF’s very-low-chill peaches—Flordaprince in particular—need as little as 100–150 chill hours and fruit the first spring after planting. nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu

3 “Brogdon Avocado & Tropical Greens” Guild

LayerPlantMethodEdible Use
Canopy fruit‘Brogdon’ Avocado (FF)3 galCold-tolerant black fruit
Fast protein treeMoringa (FF)Direct-sow or cuttingProtein-rich leaves & pods
Shrub greenChaya / Tree Spinach (FF)CuttingCooked greens
Climbing beanWinged Bean (FF)Direct-sowPods, seeds, tubers
Root layerTurmeric (FF)RhizomesGolden spice

Brogdon is a Mexican-hybrid avocado rated hardy into the low 20 s °F—ideal for 9a winters. edis.ifas.ufl.edublogs.ifas.ufl.edu

4 Dwarf Namwah Banana & Root-Crop Stack

LayerPlantMethodFood Yield
Over-storyDwarf Namwah Banana (FF)3 gal pupDessert bananas
Shrub tuberCassava / Yuca (FF)Stem cuttingsStarchy roots (cook!)
Vine coverSweet Potato (FF)SlipsTubers & greens
Herb rhizomeGinger (FF)Rhizome piecesCulinary spice
Leafy groundcoverOkinawa Spinach (FF)4″ potFresh/cooked leaves

Bananas crave exactly what our summer delivers: heat, humidity, and 1 inch+ weekly rain.

5 Native Persimmon & Wild-Fruit Blend

LayerPlant (Status)MethodFood Harvest
Fruit treeAmerican Persimmon (N)3 galSweet fruit (eat when soft)
Berry shrubAmerican Elderberry (N)1 galFlowers & berries
Sub-canopyEverbearing Mulberry (FF)3 galMay–July berries
Climbing fruitMuscadine Grape (N)Rooted cuttingDisease-tolerant grapes
N-fix coverPeanut (FF)Direct-sowFresh or roasted nuts

Muscadines like ‘Southern Home’ resist Pierce’s disease that wipes out bunch grapes statewide. blogs.ifas.ufl.edu

6 Loquat & Mediterranean Herbs

LayerPlantMethodEdible Use
CanopyLoquat (FF)3 galEarly-spring fruit
Shrub fruitPineapple Guava (FF)1 galSweet petals & fall fruit
Herb hedgeRosemary (FF)4″ potAromatic leaves
VineTable Grape ‘Southern Home’ (FF)Rooted cuttingSeedless muscadines
GroundcoverGreek Oregano (FF)4″ potFresh/dried herb

Loquat flowers mid-winter when pollinators are scarce; rosemary and oregano keep beneficials fed the rest of the year.

7 “Elliott” Pecan & Protein Guild

LayerPlantMethodFood Yield
Tall nut‘Elliott’ Pecan (FF)3–7 galThin-shell pecans
Sub-canopyBrown Turkey Fig (FF)3 galTwo fig crops/yr
N-fix shrubPigeon Pea (FF)Direct-sowPeas & mulch
Climbing fruitMaypop Passionfruit (N)Root divisionAromatic fruit
Bee coverMammoth Sunflower (FF)Direct-sowSeeds & pollinators

Plant two pecans for cross-pollination and give them at least 30 ft to spread.

Establishment Cheat-Sheet (Late May → Sept.)

TaskTimingDetails
Dig & plantSame day as purchase Set root ball 1 – 2 in above grade for drainage
WaterDeep soak at planting,
then 2×/week when rain < 1″		 Five-gallon bucket with holes = slow release
MulchImmediately 2 – 3 in wood chips, keep trunks clear
Nutrient boostJuly & September ½″ compost + chopped pigeon-pea or sunn-hemp biomass
Structural pruningLate winter Shape peaches, figs, mulberries ≤ 8 ft

Final Thoughts

Starting a food forest between Memorial Day and the Fall Equinox takes advantage of nature’s irrigation budget. Choose the guild that fits your palate and yard size, plant the entire stack at once, and watch a self-feeding, sun-powered ecosystem establish itself before Halloween.
Questions or success stories? Leave a comment—we love seeing new guilds thrive!

Sources

Donald Richardson
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Embracing Change: Ocala Food Forest's Journey Through USDA Planting Zone Updates