December 12, 2022
Plants are classified into hardiness zones based on the minimum temperature they can tolerate for survival over the winter season. The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 separate zones. Each zone is then further divided into A and B categories. The map is updated every 10 years to reflect changing average minimum temperatures across the continent. Category A reflects a 5-degree Fahrenheit difference from category B within each hardiness zone.
Again, the zones reflect the minimum temperature the plant can tolerate. Different plants have different ideal growing conditions, some like warmer temperatures, some prefer colder. Some plants need special individualized care altogether, it depends on the species and variety. In order to make sure your plants are being taken care of in the best way possible, it is important to know which hardiness zone you are in. This will give you an idea of what temperatures your plants can tolerate. Having this information in mind will make trips to the nursery an easier and more fulfilling experience.
Lastly, you don't really need to know your hardiness zone for each of your plants. The Taim.io app can determine which crops are best for you, and you don't have to bother with looking up hardiness zones, weather data, frost dates. Don't make things harder than they need to be!