USDA Hardiness Zones Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits

May 22, 2025

Are you new to gardening and wondering when and what to plant? Before you grab your trowel and seed packets, there’s one essential step: finding your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.

Knowing your zone helps you choose vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds that can thrive in your local climate. In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll break it all down and get you planting with confidence.

🌱 What Is a USDA Hardiness Zone?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 13 zones based on the average minimum winter temperature in each area. These zones help gardeners understand what plants are likely to survive the coldest parts of the year.

  • Zone 1 = coldest (as low as -60°F)

  • Zone 13 = warmest (up to 70°F)

  • Each zone is further divided into “a” and “b” (e.g., 6a, 6b) for more precision.

If you're planning to grow vegetables, herbs, or fruit plants, your USDA zone can help you time your planting and select seeds that will flourish in your region.

🔍 How to Find Your USDA Zone by ZIP Code

You can easily find your hardiness zone in just a few seconds:

👉 Pro Tip: We include zone-friendly planting tips on every product page!

 

🌿 Why USDA Zones Matter for Your Garden

Knowing your USDA zone is key to a successful garden. Here's how it helps when choosing seeds:

  • Vegetable seeds: Most veggies are grown as annuals, but frost dates matter. Zones help you determine when to start seeds indoors or plant them outside.

  • Herb seeds: Hardy herbs like thyme or chives may survive winter in colder zones, while tender ones like basil won’t survive frost.

  • Fruit seeds and plants: Many fruit varieties are perennial and need to match your zone to survive winters (like strawberries or blueberries).

By understanding your zone, you’ll avoid planting too early or choosing seeds that won’t make it through the season.

🔥 USDA Zones Were Updated Recently – Check Yours Again

In 2023, the USDA updated its zone map based on weather data from 1991–2020. The result? Many areas shifted warmer, changing zone designations across the country.

So even if you’ve checked your zone before, it’s worth checking again—especially if you’ve moved or are just starting out.

❄️ First and Last Frost Dates by USDA Zone

Your last spring frost tells you when it's safe to start planting outside. Your first fall frost helps you know when to harvest or bring plants inside.

Here’s a general guide by zone:

USDA Zone Last Spring Frost First Fall Frost
Zone 3 May 15 – June 1 Sept 1 – Sept 15
Zone 5 April 15 – May 1 Oct 1 – Oct 15
Zone 7 March 15 – April 1 Oct 15 – Nov 1
Zone 9 Feb 1 – March 1 Nov 15 – Dec 15
Zone 11+ Frost-free all year Plant anytime!

 

🌡️ USDA Zones at a Glance

The USDA divides the U.S. into 13 zones based on the average minimum winter temperature. Most home gardeners are in Zones 3–10, which cover nearly all of the lower 48 states.

Each zone moves up in 10°F increments:

  • Zone 3: -40°F to -30°F

  • Zone 4: -30°F to -20°F

  • … and so on up to:

  • Zone 10: 30°F to 40°F

Let’s break down what to plant and when for each zone.

🧊 Zone 3 – Very Cold Winters

Avg. Last Frost: Late May to Early June
Avg. First Frost: Early September

Climate Notes:

  • Very short growing season (~90 days)

  • Raised beds or greenhouses help extend growing time

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Kale, carrots, peas, radishes, turnips, lettuce

  • Herbs: Chives, parsley, dill (plant early), basil (start indoors)

  • Fruits: Strawberries (everbearing), hardy rhubarb

Planting Tips:

  • Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost

  • Use row covers or cold frames for early season protection

  • Direct sow cool crops in late May

❄️ Zone 4 – Cold Winters

Avg. Last Frost: Mid-May
Avg. First Frost: Late September

Climate Notes:

  • Slightly longer season than Zone 3 (~100–120 days)

  • Mulching helps retain soil warmth

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Beets, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, cabbage, peas

  • Herbs: Oregano, mint, cilantro (cool weather), basil (after frost)

  • Fruits: Raspberries, blueberries (cold-hardy varieties)

Planting Tips:

  • Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants indoors

  • Cool-weather crops go out mid-May

  • Warm-season crops can be transplanted by early June

🌱 Zone 5 – Cold to Moderate Winters

Avg. Last Frost: Early May
Avg. First Frost: Mid-October

Climate Notes:

  • Decent growing season (~120–150 days)

  • Most common zone in the northern U.S.

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, corn, squash, spinach

  • Herbs: Basil, thyme, parsley, dill

  • Fruits: Strawberries, apples, cherries

Planting Tips:

  • Start seeds indoors in late February to March

  • Direct sow cool crops in mid-April

  • Plant tender crops outside after May 10

🌿 Zone 6 – Moderate Winters

Avg. Last Frost: Mid to Late April
Avg. First Frost: Mid to Late October

Climate Notes:

  • Great for beginner gardeners

  • Growing season: 150–180 days

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Zucchini, tomatoes, kale, carrots, lettuce

  • Herbs: Sage, oregano, cilantro, basil

  • Fruits: Peaches, pears, melons (with care)

Planting Tips:

  • Start warm-weather seeds indoors in February/March

  • Direct sow hardy crops mid-April

  • Transplant tomatoes/peppers after late April

🌤️ Zone 7 – Mild Winters

Avg. Last Frost: Early April
Avg. First Frost: Early November

Climate Notes:

  • Long growing season (~180–200 days)

  • Fall gardens thrive here

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Okra, sweet corn, tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, cabbage

  • Herbs: Basil, rosemary, thyme, dill

  • Fruits: Blackberries, figs, watermelon

Planting Tips:

  • Direct sow cool crops by mid-March

  • Transplant tomatoes and peppers in April

  • Start fall crops in late July to early August

🌼 Zone 8 – Warm Winters

Avg. Last Frost: Mid to Late March
Avg. First Frost: Mid to Late November

Climate Notes:

  • 8+ month growing season

  • You can grow nearly year-round with planning

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: All summer crops—beans, melons, cucumbers, peppers

  • Herbs: Cilantro (fall/winter), basil (spring/summer), chives

  • Fruits: Citrus (lemons, limes), strawberries, melons

Planting Tips:

  • Start warm crops indoors in January/February

  • Direct sow in March

  • Consider planting a fall and winter garden

🌞 Zone 9 – Hot and Sunny

Avg. Last Frost: Late February to Early March
Avg. First Frost: December (if any)

Climate Notes:

  • Excellent for heat-loving plants

  • Some cool-season crops struggle in summer

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Eggplant, peppers, sweet potatoes, okra, cucumbers

  • Herbs: Basil, oregano, mint (partial shade), dill

  • Fruits: Citrus, melons, figs, pomegranates

Planting Tips:

  • Direct sow starting in February

  • Avoid planting lettuce or spinach in midsummer

  • Use shade cloth to protect tender greens in July–August

🏝️ Zone 10 – Subtropical

Avg. Last Frost: Rare
Avg. First Frost: Rare

Climate Notes:

  • Year-round growing season

  • May need to grow “cool crops” in winter

What to Plant:

  • Vegetables: Tomatoes (fall/winter), peppers, okra, beans

  • Herbs: Basil, lemongrass, thyme, mint

  • Fruits: Bananas, avocados, citrus, papayas

Planting Tips:

  • Grow lettuce, spinach, and kale in cooler months

  • Summer planting = tropical crops only

  • Mulch heavily to protect from heat and retain moisture

✅ Final Planting Tips by Zone

  • Zone 3–5: Focus on short-season crops and start seeds indoors

  • Zone 6–7: Great mix of spring and fall planting—plan for both

  • Zone 8–10: Multiple planting windows and extended seasons—time crops accordingly

 

If you have any specific questions please don't hesitate to reach out!  We're here to help you on your gardening journey!

 

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