Maybe, I don't live far enuf north!

[digitS']

(I came back to edit the title!)

Do Hardiness Zones tell Us Anything? Yes, of course, they tell us about winter cold.

Do they tell us anything about the actual Growing Season? Not really.

Here is an example from Zone 1:

Recently, I came across an account of a gardener's struggle to get plants started in Zone 1. I just thought . I mean the gardener was in northern Alberta but Fairbanks Alaska is Zone 1. Fairbanks is in the interior of Alaska. I know about those giant vegetables that grow in gardens in Anchorage on the coast but Anchorage is Zone 4. Come on! Zone 1??? We are talking about an average maximum of -50f over the winters!

So, I checked Sunset zones for info on Alaska. Here is what they say "The average growing season in Fairbanks is 113 days." What?! My Heavens, they have all that daily hours of summer sun AND 113 days?

I took a Google Streetview drive of Fairbanks just to check it out . . .

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think those zones tell us about trees and perennials, not annual vegetables. And they are very general. We all have our own microclimates. There can be a lot of difference in a valley versus top of a hill or north versus south slope.

Those zones are tools that can help, but dont use a 5 pound sledge to try to drive a thumb tack. Match the tool to the use.

 

[digitS']

One of my little fantasies (anyone else have those?) is to have a home in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern.

Actually, I was thinking - Tasmania. But, there's a problem with this. Garden prep begins about a month before last frost. I've got to grow all these plants that are going out there! So, I fire up the greenhouse in mid-March and move my 2 week old seedlings out there from the south window.

The Autumn frost comes and I'm outta here!! Well, no - not really. I've got another month to complete the harvest and put the garden to bed . . . then, I'm outta here!! Well, with a home in Tasmania, I'd arrive 6 weeks late and have to leave 6 weeks early!

It had never occurred to me that my problem is that I don't live far enuf north!!! This is totally foreign thinking to me! You see, I've got 8 months to fiddle around with plants and the outdoors here. I need exactly 6 months . Then, I could move south of Tasmania!

Steve

 

[digitS']

It is 6am.

I have been up for awhile.

After a high yesterday of 63f and a morning low of 49 - I nearly turned the heat back on this morning!

If we don't have a long warm spell in September and October again this year, or I don't move to Tasmania (!), I'm going to feel cheated!

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

Steve, another option is to move to the equator. Choose your elevation to get your condotions, but then you wouldn't have to worry about winter and summer.