ZONES...not even sure what topic to put this discussion in?

can someone explain to me the zone thing with regards to
'hardiness'? i guess what i am trying to figure out is how low
is the temperature a plant will be able to take?? and/or
can i look at a plants description under plant files to see how
low of a temp they can take? but then i have a question about
if my zone isn't there? ie...should i just take the highest temp
on the guide as the one that my plant will freeze at?

for example look at this:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/55244/

my zone 7 is not on there....yet i own the plant; am i reading it right by
saying that my ginger cant take temps lower than 40 or it could die?
or is it 20 degrees...i am so confused:)

what it is saying is that zone9a is the minimum zone. 20 deg is the lowest temperature for zone 9a. this plant is not rated for your zone. it can't take temperatures lower than 20 degrees.
Oftentimes you will see different zone ratings in different plant files and different vendors. there is no scientific rating system. The zone ratings for plants are all arbitrary. There are so many other environmental factors than just temperature that will determine if a plant survives or not. On the plant files you will see a section that tells where the plant is growing which is really more info than the zone alone tells.

so it is saying it is not rated for zone 7...

am i correct in ASSUMING that i am ok as long as it doesn't get to 20degrees? my brain is not getting this and i don't know why?

That plant is only rated for temps down to 20 degrees. Of course people do grow plants outside thier hardiness zones, ( a micro climate, or providing protection against a cold snap etc. Back in Virginia, we had a nursery that sold southern magnolias. They could be grown, but they had to bundled up in burlap for the winter.

Edited to add, that usually means an unprotected plant and sustained 20 degree temps. Some vendors push the envelope and others are very conservative.

This message was edited Oct 17, 2007 9:00 PM

sorry i am waaaaayyyy dense; if my weather stays above 20 degrees i am okay right?

yes! lol!

thank you; i don't know why my brain can't get wrapped around that.....maybe cause i dont have one??

just move to zone 9 then you don't have to worry! lol!

i wish....:)

Try this explanation .. zones tell you how cold your plants that are outside can get until it will croak and turn to mush. The number you look for when looking up plants is your Zone number which is 7a. If your zone is listed in the hardiness category it means your outside plants will be ok during winter.

The link is to a map of Zones in your state and some surrounding states.

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/hzm-sm1.html

If you still haven't got it, let us know and we'll keep trying until you do! And don't feel bad .. my brain refuses to understand chemistry.

X

Just to turn your brain to mush, the National Arbor Day Foundation has a different map and the American Horticultural Society has a heat hardiness map. We are all confused!

I am in a zone 9 and many gardeners along the Pacific coast are 9 also; but, their 9 is different from mine because they have cool evenings and certain plants demand that.

If I am not certain a plant will make it here I do like Len said and check the PlantFiles to see if someone else nearby is successfully growing it.

i grow alot of tropicals...my zone isn't listed for some of them....as in the ginger above....SO, should i look at the 40 degree zone (at which this isn't safe) or the 20 degree?

In zone 7a your average coldest winter temperature will be around 5 degrees. Some winters may not get into single digits. others will be below zero. You can look up the record for your area. If you grow tropicals/tender perennials you will have to provide protection. Unprotected plants will be mush when the ground freezes around them. In fact unless you have a microclimate, you would need to grow tropicals as a house plant or in a green house.

farmerdill; i realize i will have to protect/bringin etc tropicals....but what i am really trying to do is to figure out the lowest approx temp i have to bring them in?? i watch the weather everyday for hi and lo....i am bringing things in as i can....but there is a BUNCH....so i am trying to do them in waves....if my temp lo is 36 tommorrow night...(not real ).....then based on my research in plant files....do i need to bring the ginger in?

I would advise it. Frost may not kill it but it could be nipped and set back. 36 degrees probably would not affect it. But forecasts are not not accurate and one can have pockets of frost at 36 degrees average, Anytime a frost warning is issued, I would take heed. In this case zones have no meaning. You can grow tropicals at the north pole with adequate heating and lighting. Zones are only for outdoor plants.

ahhhhhhhhh(breathe a sigh of recognition) i like that(grin)....zones are only for outdoor plants...;

do i just look at the highest (hardiness) temperature on the plantfiles decription to judge whether or not to bring it in? (i am asking for other plants also)

example) it sez 40 degrees is the highest cold temperature that my plant can possible be damaged at?? is that what it is saying for zone 11....but since i am not rated do i look at the highest of the cold temps to judge what hardiness my plant has?

i hope i am making sense...i have a ton of tropicals and want to make sure i don't let them get damaged....or want to get them in b4 the temp gets too low...

Just heed the frost and freeze warnings and you will be ok.

thank you :)

Just to confuse me even more, the chart X linked to says I'm 3b...ackkkkk

OMG...yup i stay confused:)