Simple and rich gardening support for people who want to keep a garden and live seasonally
It is important to know what USDA Hardiness Zone you live in and what your Spring/Fall Frost dates are. Understanding what zone you live in and when to expect frost will help you better understand when to plant your garden and when to be on guard to protect vulnerable plants.
Finding your Hardiness Zone
In order to find out what your Hardiness Zone is, visit this website: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/. Enter your zip code in the the upper-left hand side of the map to find your location and zone. Once you know your zone, You will be able to use that information to identify which plants are most likely to thrive in your area, better plan the planting of your spring and fall garden, and better understand your regional climate.
Finding your Frost Dates
Once you find out what Hardiness Zone you live in, you can use that information to help find your frost dates.
Below is a general guide to get started.
- Zone 6
- First Frost – October 1st
- Last Frost – May 1st
- Zone 7
- First Frost – October 15th
- Last Frost – April 15th
- Zone 8
- First Frost – November 1st
- Last Frost – April 1st
The first frost date simply means that there is a greater than 10% chance a frost will occur on any given night in your area after that date. The last frost date means the chances of a frost on any given night are less than 10%. Within each region there are micro-regions that can cause these dates to vary widely. Note each season when your first frost appears and combine that information with the above to settle in on the most likely date for your area.
