Gardening News & Tips

In 1960, the original USDA zone map was done to show plant hardiness for planting regions.

In 1990, the gardening zones were revised and the maps are recognized as the best indicator of minimum temperatures available.

For example, to use the gardening zones map, find your area, then match its color-coded pattern to the key showing average annual minimum temperature. The key indicates what hardiness zone you live in.

Keep in mind that the map is a general guide; your particular climate conditions may vary. In 2006, the gardening zones were updated by the National Arbor Day Foundation to reflect the warmer climate experienced in many parts of the country since the last revision.

Gardening zones types

There are eleven gardening zones numbered zone 1 through 11. Each zone is 10

Winter container gardening isn't just for people in moderate temperatures. I can include those that live where snow is abundant. Of course, there are two different manners of container winter gardening.

The first is to keep the containers outside. The types of plants grown in these types of winter container gardens must be hardy to at least two temperature zones above yours. That's because the containers expose the roots to the exterior cold. Normally, the ground takes much longer to cool, but a small container only takes hours.

Some of the most best attractive plants for winter container gardening in milder areas are flowering kales and cabbages. The leaves of the kale have bright colors that bring spectacular color to your exterior, in normally drab, drizzly weather. Most of these plants are edible so you can eat your landscape if necessary. Annual grasses, sage, flax and pansies are also some interesting choices for a winter container garden. Radishes actually need colder weather to germinate and some truck farmers sprinkle the seeds on the snow in colder areas.

Winter gardening is not for those from the frozen North, unless they have a heated greenhouse.

It's more for the people in the milder climates such as Sacramento, Ca or the state of Washington where the weather doesn't drop much below 35 degrees. The vegetables from a winter garden are far more of a delight, simply because they often taste better since you've allowed them to grow to maturity before you picked. You also have a much fresher vegetable when you grow your own.

Some plants thrive as winter plants. They often require cooler weather to either germinate or develop. Some examples of winter crops that love the cooler weather include root crops like beets or carrots and their leafier counterparts such as lettuce or collard greens. You can divide the types of vegetables you plant by the planting dates. Those with an earlier planting date require more time to mature.