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Re: USDA zones (was Re: location)

Cousin Ricky said,
>All that said, it should be noted that the USDA zone system is not
>usually relevant to the square foot method.  It seems to be intended as
>a winter survival guide for perennials.  If you want to grow something
>such as kale or spinach through the dead of winter, then yes, it is
>important to know your USDA zone.  Otherwise, more specific clues about
>your climate would be more helpful.

Definitely correct.  USDA (my employer) decided that excess cold was the #1
thing that sunk the ship for trees, shrubs, and perennials.  Hence their
zone map is all about average min. temp over winter in a given area.

For veggie growers (which includes most square footers), last and first
frost dates and average summer MAX temps are much more important.

The American Horticultural Society's 1997 heat-zone map is more telling.  I
don't think it's online (AHS sells it for about $15).  Luckily, my heat and
cold zones are the same--7--so I don't have any trouble remembering them.

Dallas is also cold-zone 7, but I bet it's not heat-zone 7, especially this
summer!

--Janet

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