Bloom And Grow Radio

When I first started gardening, the second someone mentioned hardiness zones or frost dates, my eyes would immediately glaze over.I had no idea what my USDA hardiness zone was. I didn’t know how to find my last frost date. I didn’t understand what “Zone 6B” or “Zone 10A” even meant for my plants. I had lived in the same place my entire life and somehow never once looked at a zone map. I didn’t think it mattered.Now, after years of gardening (and now living in South Florida in zone 10B), my hardiness zone and frost dates are second nature to me. But whenever I talk to new gardeners and say, “Oh, I’m in zone 10B,” I see that same glazed-over look. And I get it. Words like USDA hardiness zone, frost dates, and microclimates sound technical and overwhelming. They’re not exactly things we learned in school.But understanding your gardening climate is one of the most important things you can do as a plant parent.Knowing your hardiness zone tells you what plants can survive your winters. Knowing your first and last f