The Urban Chaos Cottage

Living and gardening in Miami (aka Zone 10 Paradise or Plant Chaos Central) is like trying to grow a jungle on the surface of the sun—with a 90% chance of surprise thunderstorms.

The heat? Relentless.

The humidity? A full-body experience.

But oh, the growing season? Practically year-round.

While the rest of the country is digging their way out of snowdrifts, I’m out harvesting mangoes in flip-flops and arguing with a basil plant that’s decided to go full rainforest.

In Zone 10, you can grow almost anything—if it doesn’t drown, melt, or get eaten by an iguana first (true story), and let’s not forget the flocks of wild chickens on every corner, though I find them a bit more helpful, that is, until they decide to lay eggs in your yard… oh wait, Free eggs! (Please don’t steal eggs, these wild hens are rabid!)

Tomatoes are best in winter, go figure (and here I am growing them in the middle of May), peppers thrive year-round, and herbs like mint grow so fast they might ask you to pay rent (wish I were joking). Just don’t forget to water your plants…twice a day…except maybe during thunderstorms…or they’ll go crispy faster than a tourist at South Beach.

The key to success? Shade cloth, mosquito spray, and the patience of a saint. And if that doesn’t work, just wing it. That’s what I usually do. But hey, where else can you snack on papayas in January while dodging iguanas and pretending your patio is a full-on homestead? Welcome to the tropical gardening dream—with a side of chaos.

And if you need some tips on where to begin this month, check out my little planting guide for May: Zone 10: May Planting Guide