Cats Critters and Garden
Deeply Rooted
I always just glance at them on seed packets, to see when to plant (I think they are the same thing :/ ). Who makes them up, how do I find out mine, and basically any thing else you can think of. :bee
Teach me about Gardening Zones
- Thread starter Cats Critters and Garden
- Start date
hoodat
Garden Addicted
The zones on the seed packs are usually USDA zones. They are based on only one thing; how low the temperature gets in that zone. I prefer the Sunset zones. They look at the overall conditions in that zone. It doesn't do that much good to know how low a plant can take it without freezing when you are growing annuals, as most veggies are.
You can Google USDA zones and they will give you a map showing the various zones. Just look for your spot on the map.
You can Google USDA zones and they will give you a map showing the various zones. Just look for your spot on the map.
- Thread starter
- #3
Cats Critters and Garden
Deeply Rooted
Thanks! Looks like I'm in Zone 5b.
hoodat
Garden Addicted
Here is a link to maps of the Sunset zones. Just look at the column on the left of the page and click on the one that best describes your area. You will get a map and brief description of the overall conditions you can expect and a few typical plants for the area.
http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/climate-zones-intro-us-map-00400000036421/
The Horticultural Society also has put out a heat map which is the opposite of the USDA hardiness map but I think you have to buy that one.
http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/climate-zones-intro-us-map-00400000036421/
The Horticultural Society also has put out a heat map which is the opposite of the USDA hardiness map but I think you have to buy that one.
897tgigvib
Garden Master
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2012
- Messages
- 5,439
- Reaction score
- 929
- Points
- 337
Another great classic topic!
What usda zone are you in?
are your microconditions tougher or nicer than your zone? why?
what sunset zone are you in?
when's your reasonable expected last frost? between when and when that you know of?
usual first frost? between when and when that you know?
does it rain during your summer or is it dry?
What usda zone are you in?
are your microconditions tougher or nicer than your zone? why?
what sunset zone are you in?
when's your reasonable expected last frost? between when and when that you know of?
usual first frost? between when and when that you know?
does it rain during your summer or is it dry?
digitS'
Garden Master
But see, the USDA zones are about the hardiness of perennial plants. Winter extreme cold is all they indicate. They aren't about growing season conditions.
A zone 9 can be on the coast of the Pacific North West . .
. Aand, in the desert of Arizona . .
. Aand, on the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama.
Much emphasis on hardiness zones is kind of crazy when people are trying to grow annual plants in vegetable gardens.
Steve
i am not really being argumentative . . . i'm just sleepy . . .
A zone 9 can be on the coast of the Pacific North West . .
. Aand, in the desert of Arizona . .
. Aand, on the Gulf of Mexico in Alabama.
Much emphasis on hardiness zones is kind of crazy when people are trying to grow annual plants in vegetable gardens.
Steve
i am not really being argumentative . . . i'm just sleepy . . .
hoodat
Garden Addicted
Climate change is also changing your actual zone. Plants and animals formerly found only in the South or at low elevations are slowly moving North and to higher elevations.
so lucky
Garden Master
No question that California has lots of different climates and areas that need to be recognized separately; seems Sunset did a pretty good job of that. But I couldn't even find Missouri mentioned at all. Just swept right past us "from eastern Kansas to northern Kentucky" type of statements. Booo!
seedcorn
Garden Master
I learned something in this thread. I'd never recognized the difference between USDA zones. There is a hardiness map that tells you the average coldest temps for each area, then there is the USDA zone map that tells you the average growing degree days in that area. While Indiana is quite different than S. Dakota in terms of hardiness, we are the same in growing degree days. Will have to do more studying on this. Great question.
digitS'
Garden Master
Are you finding a Growing Degree Days map for a broad area of the country, Seedcorn?! I'd like to see it 
.
It looks like southeastern Missouri would be in either Sunset 33 or 35, So Lucky: Central Plains (link) They are real broad brushstrokes, aren't they?
Imagine that you live in a mountainous area like Colorado and you thought you were going to learn something from the USDA hardiness zone map. I would hate to be a gardener in central Colorado and trying to find my location on that map! Oh, if you live near a weather station, it might be somewhat easy - altho' with Colorado's daily variables, gardening is never going to be "easy." The Colorado zone map, however --- looks like a crazy quilt!
I have gardens in multiple locations, all withing 20 miles (it used to be 28 miles). With similar elevations and on level land, there aren't too much differences in temperature. My gardens have some difference in "exposure." One location has considerable shade right now because of how close it is to a steep, tree-covered hill. Since the wind usually comes over the hill, it is very protected from wind. This isn't true at all for another garden. There is no shade on that garden at any time of the year and it is several miles from any hill. Dang! The wind blows thru there at a fairly good speed even when there is little wind anywhere nearby. The summer sun is merciless!
Yes, I can have frost one place and not another. It is hard to be certain about which might experience frost first or last, however. Generally, the more exposed garden will be first but cold air can drop down off the hill to the garden nearby. Since it is usually so protected, that has caught me off-guard. I mean, I've been at these locations over 15 years and still can't count on my experience to know which will experience an earlier first frost.
Steve
.It looks like southeastern Missouri would be in either Sunset 33 or 35, So Lucky: Central Plains (link) They are real broad brushstrokes, aren't they?
Imagine that you live in a mountainous area like Colorado and you thought you were going to learn something from the USDA hardiness zone map. I would hate to be a gardener in central Colorado and trying to find my location on that map! Oh, if you live near a weather station, it might be somewhat easy - altho' with Colorado's daily variables, gardening is never going to be "easy." The Colorado zone map, however --- looks like a crazy quilt!
I have gardens in multiple locations, all withing 20 miles (it used to be 28 miles). With similar elevations and on level land, there aren't too much differences in temperature. My gardens have some difference in "exposure." One location has considerable shade right now because of how close it is to a steep, tree-covered hill. Since the wind usually comes over the hill, it is very protected from wind. This isn't true at all for another garden. There is no shade on that garden at any time of the year and it is several miles from any hill. Dang! The wind blows thru there at a fairly good speed even when there is little wind anywhere nearby. The summer sun is merciless!
Yes, I can have frost one place and not another. It is hard to be certain about which might experience frost first or last, however. Generally, the more exposed garden will be first but cold air can drop down off the hill to the garden nearby. Since it is usually so protected, that has caught me off-guard. I mean, I've been at these locations over 15 years and still can't count on my experience to know which will experience an earlier first frost.
Steve
