Why is Knowing My Hardiness Zone Important?
The climate in your region will largely affect what vegetables you choose to plant in order for them to thrive and produce a high yield. No one wants to put in the hard work of prepping the garden, buying expensive tools, and starting new seeds or bulbs just to have them wither away at first frost.
By taking this extra step to research your zone, you can grow plants with confidence knowing they are best suited for your climate.
How are the zones separated?
Temperature have been recorded by USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for decades with the first recommended growing zone map released in 1990. Extreme low temperatures to average high temperatures are used to create the maps.
To be specific, the USDA creates these maps on the basis of the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10° Fahrenheit zones.
What Does Hardiness Mean for plants?
Plant hardiness refers to a plant’s capacity to withstand harsh growing conditions. As a result, the ability of a plant to withstand cold, heat, drought, flooding, or wind is commonly used as a test of hardiness. Plant hardiness is determined by the geographic location of their native environment: longitude, latitude, and elevation. These characteristics are frequently translated to a hardiness zone.
This means you have a better chance of growing healthy plants based on their hardiness zone.
Note:
Gardeners should keep in mind that results may vary, especially when choosing plant varieties that “stretch” the limitations of their rated zone. Remember to think about the environment and be prepared for weather changes, as they are unpredictable. We cannot guarantee success based off the above USDA Maps.