Planet Veggie Garden

So you’re juggling tomatoes and twirling zucchini. It’s enough to keep up with the summer harvest.
Just as all the retail ads are coming out with “back to school” sales now, it’s time to think about your fall crops.

One place to start is to know your “growing zone”. The USDA has a Plant Hardiness Zone map.

This is a de facto standard reference used for matching up specific species to your area as well as when they should be planted.

This map was published in 1990 using data from 1974-1986. (There are earlier versions of the map).

It divides the country in to 10 different zones based on “average annual minimum temperatures”… each zone being a 10 degree Fahrenheit range.
The zones are further sub-divided for a 5 degree range: A is the lower 5 degrees, B is the higher.

We’re a 9B.

It’s a general guide. It only uses the average minimum temps.

Sunset magazine went a few steps further and created a 24-zone map which incorporates length of growing season, timing and amount of rainfall, winter lows, summer highs and humidity.

We’re a 14 on their map.

Another thing you want to know for Fall planting – when is the first frost. Not a crystal ball exercise. Here’s a nifty site based primarily on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data. (Normalized data from 1971-2000).

It charts out your high & low temps and marks off your early & late frost.
You can also get a precipitation graph and a Daylight (hours of sun) graph.
Very nice.

And here’s a great chart of veggies, herbs & flowers by season, with planting referenced to the first frost.
For instance, you should get your Swiss Chard in 8-10 weeks before the first frost.

So now you can pencil out what you want to grow and when you need to start your seeds.
Botanical Interests has organic and non-GMO seeds.

The seed packets themselves are little garden mentors… they tell you interesting things about the species, what growing conditions it needs, how to avoid pests and diseases, how to start the seeds indoor and even harvesting tips and recipes.

There’s an easy to cut out plant tag with quick, at-a-glance critical growing details and a seedling drawing on the backside.

The packets also have nicely done artistic drawings… beautiful enough to frame. Shipping is extremely reasonable and the packaging quite special… sort of a gardener’s version of the iconic blue Tiffany’s box.

We’ve planned out what we’re growing and gathered up our seeds.

What about you?

No related posts.