Hey everyone! I'm curious to know what climate measures you all use apart from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. I've always relied on the USDA zones, measuring the average coldest temperatures, and they've helped with perennials and winter annuals. However, I've noticed that many locations that fall within the same USDA zone can have drastically different climates. For instance, USDA Zone 9 includes both Seattle, WA, and Tucson, AZ, though their climates are distinct. I think there are other valuable measures to consider, like heat zones, average last frost dates, chilling hours, and climate normals, which can provide more context to our growing conditions. Would love to hear what other people use to gauge their climate for gardening!
3 Answers
I've found that knowing the average last frost date is way more helpful for vegetable gardening than just relying on the USDA zones. Since most veggies are grown as annuals, their survival is less about the coldest winter temperatures and more about when the frost risk passes.
In southeast Texas, it's often easier to protect tomatoes from a snowstorm than from our sweltering summers. The humidity impacts your plants significantly, so I find it more important to discuss heat stress than just zone classifications.
I really wish more folks would use the Köppen climate classification system. It accounts for factors like temperature and precipitation, which help to understand gardening in different areas. For someone living in an arid climate, many tips from the eastern US just don’t apply. Plus, it works globally, so advice from a gardener in another country can be relevant!