Climate Guides

Zone 11 is frost-free year-round. Grow tropical crops and winter vegetables. Summer heat and humidity are the main challenges.

Zones 3-4 have 90-120 frost-free days. Focus on fast-maturing varieties, start seeds indoors, and use season extension.

Zone 10 has almost no frost. Grow tropical and subtropical crops year-round. Summer heat is the main challenge.

Zone 5 has 150-180 frost-free days with last frost in May and first frost in October. Grow a wide range of vegetables including tomatoes and peppers.

Zone 6 has 180-200 frost-free days. Last frost is mid-April, first frost mid-October. Nearly everything grows here.

Zone 7 has 200-220 frost-free days. Last frost is early April, first frost late October. You can grow year-round with cold protection.

Zone 8 has 220-250 frost-free days. The challenge is summer heat, not cold. Grow cool-season crops in spring and fall, warm-season in summer.

Zone 9 has 250-300 frost-free days. Summer heat is extreme. Grow heat-tolerant crops in summer, cool-season crops in winter.

Indoor growing ignores USDA zones. Control light, temperature, and humidity to grow herbs, greens, and even dwarf tomatoes year-round.

Australian growing inverts Northern Hemisphere seasons. Summer is December-February. Match crops to your zone.

European growing varies from Mediterranean to Nordic. Match crops to your region.

UK gardening uses RHS hardiness ratings, not USDA zones. The growing season runs March-October. Key challenges are short days and cool summers.