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Planting Scheduling: Tips on Growing Zones & Frost Dates

Two Garden Measures

Hardiness zone and frost dates are used differently to decide what and when to plant.

What Is a Growing Zone

Hardiness zones measure extreme cold temperatures to tell you what can survive as a perennial where you live.

A Finer Scale for Growers

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Visit Gardening.org

Today's interactive hardiness maps give results down to the town you live in.

What Is the Point of Plant Hardiness Zones

Hardiness zones are designed to tell us which perennials can survive where we live, based on the worst winter temperatures they will endure.

Check your Area

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Visit Gardening.org

Many countries have their own plant hardiness maps, or have maps available that have been constructed using the USDA model.

Hardiness Zone

Use hardiness zone information to tell you what trees and perennials you can grow successfully.

Frost Time

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Visit Gardening.org

For annual and vegetable gardening, it is the frost dates that matter the most.

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Visit Gardening.org

Learn what your plant hardiness zone is and your frost dates, too. Do not assume that all people living in your zone have the same frost dates or growing season--they do not.