So what are USDA Plant Hardiness Zones ? And what is this ‘ first frost free date ’ we hear about as gardeners so often ?
The Plant Hardiness Zone is a standard set by the USDA ( United States Department of Agriculture ) and is figure by accumulating many years of datum . Zones are used by gardener to avail find out which industrial plant will most likely flourish in their area . “ The maps are establish on the average annual minimum wintertime temperature , divided into 10 degree - F Zones ” . There are 13 Zones , the coldest being Zone 1 and the warm is Zone 13 .
In Santa Fe , we used to be in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5 but nowSanta Fe is in Zone 6b ( -5 to 0 ° atomic number 9 ) . The intellect our Zone has been changed according to the USDA is because it has better example to keep up with more entropy gathered throughout the years- not needs because it ’s have warm ( although I do believe that too ) . Some areas in our county could be Zone 6a ( -10 to -5 ° degree Fahrenheit ) if they are closer to the mountainous areas . If you are not sure what zona you know in ( where ever you populate ) go to theUSDA plant hardiness siteand eccentric in your energy computer code and it will tell you what zona you are in - it ’s as simple as that . So when you go to a nursery and the works tag end says geographical zone 7 - bury about it — it wo n’t outlive our winters but any tag with Zone 6 or low turn should pull round .
The intermediate first frost costless dateis the date that we can safely put flora alfresco in our gardens . placard I saidaveragebecause some years we are dusty and some years warmer . You ’ll just have to watch the weather closely in spring for adjudicate if you desire to attempt to sneak them out earlier in your sphere if spring looks like a warm one . InSanta Feour first average frost free date is May 15 . So plant away outside after May 15 , unless you hear we are getting a arduous freeze ! Of course if you are starting them in a hoophouse or greenhouse , you could start seedlings much earlier .
Now , once you know your planting zone and first frost gratuitous date , you could use the many tools available on the web for reckon all kinds of things from seed starting to succession planting to harvest home times . Many come company have web puppet to assist you figure the date . In my next postal service I will show one such tool I use .
