Why Growing Zones are Overrated for Vegetable Gardening
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- čas přidán 13. 05. 2024
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I wanted to make a video that highlights a more important way of looking at growing climates when it comes to growing annual vegetables. Rather than focusing on extreme minimum winter temperatures,, where not many annuals will be in the ground anyway, it is far more important to know the growing window you have
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#growingzones #vegetablegardening #selfsufficiency - Jak na to + styl
My husband has been building me a disability garden after a nasty car accident nearly a year ago. Today I was able to roll my wheeled cart into the garden for the first time. We planted a tomato and a few seeds in the vey tall raised beds. My tears watered the soil. Its not the same as before of course but its huge to have my hands in the soil again. He rigged a water spigot I can use and put the flower pots on blocks so I can smell the blossoms. He also made access path so I could collect the eggs from the nesting boxes. It is my magic garden, built with love. It was fitting that your book arrived today.
I wish you a good recovery and enjoy your wonderful garden ❤
I just got my book today!! I love it!!
Sorry to read of your accident, but you have a good man there. A beautiful comment to start my day. Best wishes.
Wishing you years of happiness in your garden 💐🥂
I am glad that you and your husband have found a way forward for you to enjoy your garden. It is precious. It will be very healing for you. 🙏
I could not care less about time zones and all the things people say I cannot do.
My garden is located on the slope of a mountain in the Andes at 3,000masl. I grow things that people say should be impossible... and outside! I try growing things that I like. I have yet to build a better greenhouse for cucumbers, eggplant and watermelon, but I grow tomatoes, peppers, lemongrass, passion fruit and a bunch of things some people say are crazy. I save my own seed and those new plants get stronger every time theyvare planted and saved, specially if they came from volunteer plants.
My method is basic and simple. No gadgets. I try and sometimes fail and try again.
Keep growing people!
God bless! I am a gardener in the Yukon reading this and sending you positive energy
@@victoriaman117 Lord bless you too! Yukon must be lovely... My garden is in the Andes in Cusco. Small for some standards, but very productive and a joy to work.
@@ml.5377 I have actually been to Cusco lo! It was beautiful country. It makes me happy to know there are people all over the world aiming to have more authentic life closer to nature.
This is very true! Here in Southern Finland my growing zone is USDA zone 6a but our short growing season (around 100 frost-free days) limits my gardening much more than the minimum annual temperature. I've been jealously watching Ohio gardeners within the same zone planting their summer gardens while our last frost date is still 2-3 weeks away 😄 The zones are actually only useful when choosing perennials 🍎
I am in zone 6a Oregon high desert outback silver lake 😎 short growing season, but I just let stuff go to seed get those seeds, and so forth, I'm doing alright.
Protip: Use a spreadsheet. Plop in your last and first frost dates, then use that to calculate when to time sowings, based on how much time it needs before planting out. Experiment and update the spreadsheet as you learn what works in your microclimate.
Even simpler, sync up to a local plant. I use dandelions
@@MessoriusPrime Yep, I do that too. Here in Norway, the flowering of Prunus padus is a good indicator of the average last frost date. Which is right now in my location.
@@MessoriusPrimeso you’re saying that when you see dandelions pop up it’s about the last frost and you can plant seedlings in the ground?
My pre-ordered copy of “The Self-Sufficiency Garden” arrived today! Thank you, Huw and Sam… I can’t wait to dive in!
Got my book yesterday. Love it !l live in Florida and started my first raised bed gardens this year. Hoping I have some success
An indication on how useless grow zones are is the fact that we used to be in U.S. zone 5, but the govt few years ago decided we are in zone 6 due to the "warming trend". However, our last frost date and first frost date has never changed. Our last frost date is still May 15th, and our first frost date is still Oct 15th, regardless of what "zone" we are in.
Same here in Upstate NY.
Same dates apply to us here in the Netherlands, zone 8.... 👀
USDA Zones apply to annual average low temperatures, not frost dates.
@@harshalshah4685 Our low temps haven't changed either, it still gets down to -10ºF or a little below, even though we are in a "warmer zone".
I'm in Ohio too and for perennials and fruit trees I stick to zone 5 when buying plants because every year we get just enough subzero days to kill anything that needs true Z6 winter temps.
I got my book in the mail as a surprise for mother's day. I opened the box and literally jumped! Haha I'm super excited to read it and add it to our library!
This is exactly why when I started gardening (6a Massachusetts) I was SO confused by your videos! I thought I couldn't grow the same crops as you because you're zone 8. Our frost dates are exactly the same. I now just follow you. :) Thank you Huw! Hello from MA!
Always amusing to remember that Atlanta & Southern Georgia in the States and then Scotland and the Northern UK are both 8a/8b.
Amusing to see Americans thinking they know what goes on in the World when they never left their own country ever. Within both Scotland and the North of England it's very variable throughout, between 6 and 9.
@@lksf9820 no idea what you’re on. I’ve left the country plenty and 8a/8b are firmly within your “between 6 and 9” range, so my statement is accurate. I didn’t say “all of Scotland is 8b,” so maybe log off the internet for a while. Not everything has to be so confrontational.
🤦🏻♀️
Thank you Huw... great encouragement video! Receiving your book soon! Very excited... can hardly wait! Blessings on your growing season Kiddo!🌻🐛🌿💚
The exception to the frost dates would be in Florida. My first and last frost dates are a week apart in February. During the summer it’s just too hot for a lot of annual vegetables.
Yes, the growing window is important 👍
I think frost dates are overrated too! The climate and therefore the seasons are changing so much. I think we'll be far more reliant on adopting covered gardening methods going forward, just to get in a viable growing season!
Yes, we have had a very rainy Spring and things in the ground are drowning.
I don't know how our potatoes didn't rot in the ground but we got a good harvest.
The things I have in containers are out performing the same varieties in the ground this year.
I need to rebuild the greenhouse we lost most of it in a fire. A covered place would be great right now!
Frost dates have always been an average
I have a unique micro climate in my garden. It is south facing, south UK but high walls make it like a victorian wall garden. My garden gets hotter than those around me and I very rarely get frosts. This means that I can grow such a diverse range of plants.
My only complaint is, at times, it's too hot to work outside during the middle of the day!
I'm 10a, but because of microclimates, I don't plant winter squash seedlings until late July, early August since our summer is heavy fog and the leaves get mildewed. Carrots go in in the Fall and Winter over for abundance in Spring. Same for tomatoes. Better planted in late summer and winter over. No issues with frost. It's the fog that messes up traditional growing patterns
Where I’m at in 9a, planting anything in the summer is impossible because temps are 40c continuously. Even established plants stop producing fruit for like two months
Such a good point! We get that summer fog too and so many people in the area lose crops when we get an extra foggy start to summer. I started our new garden late last year because we were still building the boxes and fencing, so plants went in the ground starting in late summer early fall and had the best harvest!
Where do you all live, sounds crazy. Plant eating fog 😂
@@jenyoung2473Haha! In the santa cruz mountains, CA :)
Makes good sense to me! Anticipating delivery of your latest book….any….day….now. My early spring crops are coming along nicely. My radishes are in bloom, so I’ll be pulling those soon and replacing with cantaloupe (musk melon) transplants that are ready for planting. I’ve got containers of potatoes along my driveway - best growth I’ve ever had. I’ll be planting sweet potato slips in another 2 weeks, I’m loving the “sucession planting” advice you’ve given! Thanks, Huw. ❤
You're correct, zones are for perennials and fruit tree selection and for planning winter protection for early/late planting or degree of protection for overwintering. That said, I do pay attention when it's mentioned because it helps me adapt to my garden as a general guide but summer conditions are far more helpful. US Z6 in Oregon and Kansas are wildly different from my Ohio garden in the summer and that's where it counts.
Microclimates matter. My garden has on average 30 more frost-free days than my friend across the street. I'm sheltered from North and West winds, it's up against the house on the North side, the beds are surrounded by concrete pavers and it's on high ground with a slope to allow cold air to drain so there's no frost pocket. Every year she gets nailed by the last/first frost and mine doesn't blink. We have to hit hard freeze temps before I get a frost. I got lucky with site selection but if you have the option, a hundred feet can make a difference. My lower garden (berries/fruit trees/asparagus) suffers as hers does.
Such an important message! 💚 some folks don’t understand the zones and what they really mean.
Yes, I realised that when watching you. Our frost dates are very similar even though I am 5b/6a, so you videos have helped me learn how to garden in this zone. Looking forward to your book!
I received your book this afternoon! Phenomenal! Great job!
finally received your new book in the states. after a brief scan, I'm so excited to go through it with my highlighter. thanks for all your hard work.
My book came while I was watching this video! Eeeeek! Thank you for writing everything out SO CLEARLY. it really helps my literal brain to have precise instructions.
I'm so excited. Your book arrived today!
My book arrived about an hour ago. Thank you so much for creating this!
Just picked up a copy of your gorgeous new book! Congratulations! It is beautifully done. I'm getting a copy for my sister-in-law too!
Received mine yesterday. Which was the day you released the video. Did not expect day 1 delivery. Nice job. Book looks great. I will take time to read it.
Hello from Florida, USA 😊. My pre-ordered book just arrived and I'm so excited to get started! It looks amazing at first glance!
Just got my preordered book! Even though I am growing in a zone 3 (very short growing season - like 4 month) with very low succession planting rate, still find some useful tips from the book. This year trying to interplant to get early crop before the mane plant get to mature. Anyway you can garden in any zone! Happy gardening!
Just received your book yesterday here in Canada. Love it!!
Thank you so much!
My pre-ordered copy just landed on my doorstep! 😁 Off to my greenhouse I go to sit and have a read 🥰
Happy reading☺️☺️
Just got your book in the mail… (I had pre ordered it here in Canada from Amazon). It’s a lovely book! I can’t wait to read it. The lay out is great and I really do love the mat finish in the cover.
My book arrives tomorrow for my birthday ❤
I got an email from Amazon yesterday, to tell me it's been shipped! :)
Hooray!
Hey Hey, just bought your book. Love it.
I received my copy of the book today.
Thank you.
We shall move on much more enlightened...
Love it! Doesn't quite apply to those who don't have frost. For us tropical gardeners, it is the beginning and end of our dry seasons and the elevation we are growing at. Definitely a good rule of thumb for any kitchen garden in temperate climates.
Great information! I use my hoophouse and covers to harvest greens, beets, radishes and carrots earlier and later in season than if planted outside. Don't be afraid to experiment , You may fail or may succeed. Remember that seeds packages are not expensive. So go for it.
I live in Tennessee, USA and have been checking my mailbox all day for the book! 😍
Just got my copy of the book! A quick thumb-through has been ready to dive-in. 😊
I have found that the limiting factor her in Denmark where I live is not so much the temperature and last frost dates but the hours of daylight that hinder growth. Been gardening with Huw for years, love your books and plans but look to Canada as well with JM Fortiers new book Winter Gardening, where I finally realised how much daylight hours can mean during the 3 einter months.
My garden is in zone 4 and have to say, it is rough. Greenhouses don't keep temperature inside higher than the outside. As soon as sun goes down, temperatures drop rapidly and things can get frost inside as well. Also way less sun and lower temperature in general in colder zones means less growth. And even though frost dates seem to match those of zone 8, we get random single frosts late May or even early June (accidents that happen every other year). This year we lost cherry blossoms, strawberry, oak leaves and other random things 💔
I pre-ordered and it will be here today 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 So excited!!!
I'm also in zone 5, but in Canada, and our extreme cold is below -30°C. It's hilarious that according to the zone map, we're in the same zone, but while you're pulling winter carrots and leeks I've got rock solid frozen soil under a foot of snow and ice.
Same here in Maine.
Yes, I learned that too. It's more for perennials. I am lucky I can grow asparagus here in North Carolina. I have to be careful with tomatoes just because of all the rain, lol.
I got notified that my book has shipped and is on its way. I cant wait!!
Just got my copy delivered today!
Huw! I just got my book today here in Wisconsin USA!
This year in the Laurentians of Québec, our average last frost day is June 1. Our actual last frost day was weeks ago. Very weird spring. The cows are calving females like crazy (18-2 so far), and they're all incredibly docile while tagging. The wretched Canada Geese that have infested fields here were fewer than usual, and the residents have all but vanished. So anyway, this year I'm both late and early no matter when I plant ...
I have that book now! Just got yesterday’s!!❤️❤️❤️
Great Video.
🐝thanks for the great video🌻
Feeling refreshed 😮
I cannot completely agree... let me explain. I live in northern Italy (zone 8B). Last frost date is around 10 of april and first winter frost around end of november. My problem is that during the previous 3-4 seasons we had temperatures over 35°C for most of july and august... almost all vegetables stop growing, some start dying at those levels. So, for hotter climates, we should also take it into account. (for example, all my bean pods fell out last july and most of my peppers were sunburnt). Next summer I am arranging shadow nets... le's see what happens.
Perhaps we need a summer extreme hardiness zone system?
@@HuwRichards I'm afraid this will be the trend of the next decade, at least.
@@HuwRichards YES. I live in the southeastern US, and we have far more issues with the temps in July/August than anything in the winter for our seasonal veggies.
Shade cloth. I believe shade cloth is the answer. I'm in Central Texas and July and August are like 40c. Only the tough survive, and tomatoes aren't tough. I think what we could do is do shade cloth on those raised bed covers or even over stakes and tied down. I'm gonna try it this summer.
I'm in the hills of southern Oregon and we're already having a solid week of 80°F/26°C, so if I leave the greenhouse door closed until 9:30 am, it's up to 90°F/32°C.
Our last frost date is next week, and last week we had a night of 34°F/1°C!
I'm losing my mind trying to decide when to plant warm weather crops 😂
I got my book today!!! Yeah!!
We are 5b and I will say it's been pretty accurate for what I can typically grow and not grow.
Every year I'll try some watermelon, and every 4-5 years it's warm enough to get a few, but most years, nothing.
My book is out for delivery now! I know what I'll be doing tonight!
Great so many great information, love that raised metal container could you tell me were you got it ? Thanks
I live in zone 11b and it really sucks when I want to grow root crops like radishes/ carrots and beets and get only leaves and no roots. Also with our humidity 75-80 per cents leads to fungal diseases already in End May - Middle June ( almost impossible to grow cucumbers).. So hardiness zone yes matters.
Thanks
My book is coming today. Hoping my 3a zone garden can extend. I use to start seeds in the house but they got so leggy even with a light.. I got a veg trug with a cover and it helps a bit in the spring. The plants get too tall for it to work well in the fall but it does give me 4 extra weeks.
Once you know what your average frost dates used to be, get on a good weather forecast and see if you can push your season a few more weeks. I've done this for the past three years and it gives me about two to three weeks head start to what growing dates used to be decades ago. Climate change already has expanded my growing season about four weeks from what it supposedly is. Depending on the source I am located somewhere between USDA zone 7a and 8a. My frost dates are supposed to be as you mentioned them Huw, but by now I can safely plant out in latest April and keep tender plants comfortably outside until early to mid November. Cheers
❤ Thanks for info. Excited as your book arrives today. I can grow throughout the year but want to do so more intensionally. My zone has changed from 8 to 9 over the years but gardening window is roughly the same. We do get years with very strange weather
New Book!!!❤
Oh well done. Taking into account different parts of the world 🌎 ❤
What I am having trouble with for the last couple of years is that in my growing zone the last frost date is mid-late March. However, the constant rain in the Pacific Northwest in spring, and chilly 40 degree Fahrenheit nights until mid to late May, it seems like I am waiting too long and then Don't always have enough time to harvest for some things. If I start at end of March nothing happens until early May and sometimes seeds are washed away or mold, and starts just wither because of the cold and wet. I have a very small area for growing with metal beds and I love them, just can't figure out the actual best practices for my area. I have ordered your book but am afraid it's just going to say the same thing all the others do about the last frost date. I need to know about what temps to sow what plants. Arghhhh. Always a challenge with gardening. But I love it just the same.
I am in Barbados in the caribbean , we are averaging 82F , someone needs to come out with a book for hotter climates of the world, we dont have seasons, just continuous sun, we have rainy season or dry season, years ago it use to get cooler around December into January February now it is hot all year around.
Excellent video! What about areas that don’t get frost most years but still have 4 seasons? I feel like lower temps, even if they aren’t frosty, affect the ability for annual veg to grow well. But I am wondering if I can grow enough vegg to be self sustainable year round, even over winter. My garden definitely slows down and gets overrun with mildew in the winter. Hope my question makes sense :)
I never knew growing zones where for annuals ? It s about your summer nothing to do with how they handle frost ....
Do you still work with the heat bed? And would you still recommend that?
If one is growing for fruit or seeds, growing season temperature is as important as frost free period.
Even perennials need a growing season long enough with the right temperature to produce ripe fruit and seeds.
Minimum winter temperature doesn't corelate with average summer temperature.
Absolutely! That's why I'm talking about annual vegetables in this video.
BOOK HELP! Some of the garden structure you say what size you've made for your garden, such as the hoop house, hot beds, and hoop beds. But your other raised beds have left me guessing. I know that I will need to make some adjustments, although I have the land to do your exact layout... for example I need wider paths for a wheelbarrow. But I need a starting point, since you are very exact with your planting (so many cm apart, with one in the middle...). Do you have a layout of your garden beds with measurements? At the very least, what is the measurement of your standard raised bed?
We don’t get frost in southern Florida - Zone 11 - how do you adjust to match the book’s timeline? Just got mine in the mail.
Hmmm... I think that growing zones actually have a major impact on self-sufficiency. For example, there no such thing as winter gardens in zone 4, which means that unless one spends thousands of dollars on a heated greenhouse (expensive when it's -40c) there is nothing to harvest between November and May, with rhubarb, some salad if there is no frost, and the start of asparagus. Sure I can grow kale under a plastic bucket but that is not self-sufficiency. There are lots of ways to extend the seasons, but it's still no more than 5 or 6 months of growing season, which greatly reduces the amount if food one will harvest.
What about sunshine for tomatoes, basil, peppers (maybe you don't grow peppers)? If it's overcast most days can you still grow tomatoes?
I am still waiting for last year's first frost. I'll never get to plant!
Growing window in Qld australia…..autumn (March) to the second month in summer(Jan) too hot and humid to grow anything.
Can somebody help here? I planted Jerusalem artichokes in my home garden right next to the border of privet and laurel. I then discovered both are poisonous aargh!!! Will I be able to eat the artichokes? And how far from a laurel or privet is safe to plant veg?
Huw, have you ever looked into Sonic Bloom or electroculture? might be worth an experiment!
I plant my fava beans, garlic, carrots, parsnips, cilantro, dill, etc. in December in zone 8 in the US. I also grow lots of greens and lettuce all winter but keep them under a small poly tunnel. It’s mid May and I’ve been harvesting since March. Everything is so sweet and crisp!
Zone 8 is basically tropical you can grow all year round there. Zone 4 hear. Our last frost date is tomorrow. You need to know your weather, where I live it can reach below 0 into April.
@@TyLovePie We have long periods of below freezing temperatures all winter, so, not tropical, but not zone 4 either, thank goodness.
That's not true when it comes to frost dates, my last frost date is also tomorrow, even though I'm zone 8. I explain this in the video :)
@@Mrs.TJTaylor my rother is in zone 8 in the USA. Typical zone 8 climates in the USA get below freezing but still can support growing. You are not growing anything in zone 4 in the winter. Temps are -20s for weeks at a time.
@@HuwRichards yes you last frost date might be similar but the average temperatures are not going to be the same. While you might have "freezing temps" your all time record low temps are what we regularly have through the winter.
Nothing to do with this video but can I use my rosemary prunings as a mulch? I've got a vast plant (2 metres by 3 metres). It's very woody and may end up being removed. There's far too much to compost. It's pretty woody but most of it easy to chop into small pieces. I live in Greece and could do with the mulch as the soil gets very dry. Has anyone else tried this? Thanks.
My zone is 11 or even 12 i live in the Caribbean so i have a long growing season but with the heat cant grow certain plants
USDA Zones apply to annual average low temperatures, not frost dates. This is for planting perennials.
Welp, I just bought the book.
Will there be a german version of the book in upcoming time?
Bare with, just asked my publishers and they are asking the German team!
@@HuwRichards I woukd love that😍
Actually growing zones are not only for vegetables. They are also a hardiness zone for ornament plants
🎉🎉🎉🎉 Today!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I do not agree. We had some years with the first frost in the beginning of October and then spring temperatures until christmas. The range is too wide to be safe, sorry.
If you grew 1300 lbs of food in 1 year, but a person eats an average of 1900 lbs a year, how do you claim to have fed a family of 4 with only your garden? Sorry if I have things mixed up, just curious where I'm going wrong with the numbers
As I stated in the video, 5 portions of veg per person daily, not completely feed someone everything every day
@@HuwRichards thank you so much for the explanation! I want you to know I'm not trying to be a critic and am a huge fan. I pre-ordered your book weeks ago and have been looking forward to today! Hope you're having a wonderful day and you sell out of all your books.
@@nicholascanoy4553 no problem at all! And super grateful for you pre-ordering, I hope you enjoy the book☺️🌱
Fava beans 😂.
Best wishes on the North American launch 🙂
My book is supposed to be here Saturday 🎉. TeresaSue
Highly practical advice as always Huw. G
Good luck with the American launch.
my book is out for delivery right now. I pre ordered last year.