Planting calendar

What is a climate zone?

A climate zone (hardiness zone) groups places by how cold their winters get. It is based on the average coldest night of the year: the lower the number, the colder the winter. Each zone covers a 10 °F band and is split into “a” (colder half) and “b” (warmer half). The zone tells you when frosts end in spring and start in autumn, which is what sets sowing and planting dates.

Find your zone

Enter the lowest temperature your area usually reaches on the coldest winter night. You can find it in your national weather service's climate normals, or by searching “hardiness zone” with your town's name.

Zones follow the USDA system; values are averages, so treat them as estimated.