USDA Growing Zone Guides
Find the best vegetables, fruits, and herbs for your USDA Hardiness Zone. Our comprehensive guides include planting calendars, variety recommendations, and zone-specific tips for gardening success.
Zone 5 gardeners can grow most vegetables with a 140-160 day growing season, but must start seeds indoors and use season extension techniques. Best crops include cold-hardy varieties: tomatoes, peppers, and squash started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; direct-sow beans, corn, and squash after soil warms; and plant cool-season crops like lettuce, peas, and brassicas for spring and fall harvests.
Zone 6 offers a versatile 160-180 day growing season suitable for most vegetables. Start warm-season crops indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, direct sow beans and corn after last frost, and plant cool-season crops in early spring and late summer for extended harvests. Zone 6 gardeners can also grow many fruit trees and berry bushes successfully.
Zone 7 provides a generous 180-200 day growing season ideal for most vegetables and many fruit trees. Plant cool-season crops in February-March and again in August-September for extended harvests. Warm-season crops thrive from May through September. Many perennial herbs and borderline-hardy fruits succeed with proper placement.
Zone 8 offers a 200-240 day growing season with mild winters, allowing year-round gardening. Cool-season crops thrive from fall through spring (October-May), while warm-season crops produce from April through October. Heat-tolerant varieties are essential for summer, and many gardeners take a summer break during the hottest weeks.
Zone 9 allows nearly year-round gardening with minimal frost risk. Cool-season vegetables grow from fall through late spring (September-May), while warm-season crops thrive from March through November. Plan around summer heat by shifting to heat-tolerant crops like okra, sweet potatoes, and peppers during the hottest months.
Understanding USDA Hardiness Zones
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 13 zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. Each zone represents a 10°F difference, and zones are further divided into 'a' (colder) and 'b' (warmer) subzones.
Knowing your zone helps you choose plants that will survive your winters and thrive in your growing season. Use our zone-specific guides to find the best vegetables, fruits, and herbs for your climate, along with optimal planting times.
Find Your Zone: Visit the Zone Finder to determine your USDA zone by zip code, or check the USDA's official interactive map at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Quick Zone Comparison
| Zone | Min Temp | Growing Season | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5 | -20°F to -10°F | 140-160 days between last and first frost | Tomatoes, Peppers, Zucchini |
| Zone 6 | -10°F to 0°F | 160-180 days between last and first frost | Tomatoes, Peppers, Winter Squash |
| Zone 7 | 0°F to 10°F | 180-200 days between last and first frost | Tomatoes, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes |
| Zone 8 | 10°F to 20°F | 200-240 days; many gardeners have year-round production | Tomatoes, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes |
| Zone 9 | 20°F to 30°F | 250-300 days; year-round possible with planning | Tomatoes, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes |
Gardening Success Starts with Your Zone
Your USDA Hardiness Zone tells you more than just what plants survive the winter. It determines your frost dates, growing season length, and which vegetable varieties will thrive versus struggle in your climate.
Our zone guides go beyond simple plant lists. Each guide includes a monthly planting calendar, recommended varieties bred for your climate, common challenges with practical solutions, and tips from experienced gardeners in your region.
Whether you're in cold Zone 5 learning to extend your short season, or warm Zone 9 navigating year-round planting, our guides help you make the most of your growing conditions.