I used to live in SW Florida (Ft. Myers Beach) and I can tell you the most wonderful thing I've ever seen was Florida in my rear-view mirror!

That being said, I think you should consider growing things that like heat. Tomatoes like heat. I'd also set things up so you can throw 70% shade cloth over the garden from about 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

If you decide to grow toms, know this: they like at least a 12 degree temperature difference between night and day. This is needed to set fruit.

Additionally, their photo-period (the amount of time they spend basking in the sunshine) should be about half of their in-the-dark time. That's the way they like it.

I'd use the static technique and invest in an electronic "intermittent" timer that would wet things down a couple times a day to keep things from drying out. These timers will let the sprinklers come on for as little as 5 seconds. All you want is a hedge against total dry-out.

Strawberries like heat too and they can be grown using static technique also. If you're in the dark as to techniques available, click on "Technique" on my Web page (URL in profile).

Okra is the only vegetable that does well during the hot rainy season. Most others are hardly worth the effort.
Planting a spring garden in Febuary and a fall garden in August will give you a good return for your labor, and cover most of the year.

Hydro can be done economically if you build your own systems and use commercial sources for supplies.

Norm

I live in NW Florida and basically the summer is a loss cause for any gardening. Just take off the months of July/August and the rest of the year isn't that bad.

Also your main issue with hydro in a warm climate is water temp. You MUST keep your rez cool or bacterial will thrive in it, root rot, etc. You can use products like hydrozyme and SM-90, H202, to try and squelch the bacteria. I know that strawberry farmers (hydro) are all over orlando/tampa area.. so I'm sure you can do something.

::chris