This
time of year, most folks are longing for warmer days and the start of
the gardening season. Living in the northern Rocky Mountain region, it
can be discouraging to flip through national plant catalogs and realize
that many of the lush plants won't grow here. How can you determine
what will grow well in your area? The best way is to consider the
hardiness zone where you live.
The hardiness zone is a value placed on the plant's ability to
over-winter given the lowest mean winter temperatures. The zones range
from 1 to 11. A hardiness zone of 1 is the equivalent of surviving
through an Alaskan winter, whereas a hardiness zone of 11 means the
plant is suitable for overwintering in Hawaii!
Most of Wyoming and Montana fall in USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4, but a
few areas rate a 2 or 5. In general, any plants rated Zone 5 or higher
should be considered an annual plant if grown outside in our region.
But hardiness zones are an incomplete science, so if you're an
adventurous gardener, give arid plants rated zone 5 a chance in your
garden and see how they do.
When ordering seeds and plants, do it early before selections run out
and to help ensure your order arrives when you (and the weather) are
ready for planting. You'll see the hardiness zones listed with plant
descriptions in your catalog.
The United States National Arboretum web site will give you a good idea of what hardiness zone you live in.
Click here to access that website.
