If that’s your first time growing crops at home, you might be tempted to grow all the exotic fruits and vegetables you’ve always been curious to taste.
Well, you should probably hold off on that. You can’t just grow around growing whatever you want.
You need to research whether these crops are compatible with your hardiness zone. Where can you find that information?
Right here! I’ve created the ultimate guide to zone busting so you can choose your crops strategically.
1 – Hardiness Zones 1-2
Growing crops in hardiness zones 1-2 is more challenging than you think because you’re dealing with ice-cold temperatures. In other words, you want to choose tough, hardy, adaptable plants that can withstand -50℉ to -60℉.
Combine that with a short growing period (90-104 days), and you get a limited number of options. Don’t worry, though. You’ll still have enough to grow a decent harvest.
Now, to the million-dollar question: What can you grow in these two zones?
Compatible plants include asparagus, cucumbers, runner beans, north circle butternut, dottenfelder cabbage, winter squash, and more. Not bad for freezing temperatures.
2 – Hardiness Zone 3
The best part about living in Zone 3 is that you’re not limited with your crop options. And with a growing season of 100-120 days (from March to September), you might need to do some planning before you start the growing process.
Where to begin? Well, I recommend planting skirret, wild broccoli raab, bergamot, Aronia, autumn olive, elderberry, or scout apricot.
These are the ideal choices for that zone and will thrive in the weather it offers.
3 – Hardiness Zone 4
In Zone 4, temperatures can fall to between -30℉ to -20℉. Mid-May is the perfect time to start growing your crops outdoors. Like zone 3, the growing season here is around four months.
So, you still have plenty of options to choose from. These include Northern Spy apples, Black Ice Plum, Meteor Cherries, and Toro Blueberries.
4 – Hardiness Zone 5
Now, we’re finally setting foot into medium-length growing periods, with Zone 5 having a five-month season. That said, the average minimum temperature here is -20℉ to -10℉.
So, you still want to limit your choices to cold-hardy edible plants. The most common options in that zone are chives, beets, and butternut squash.
5 – Hardiness Zone 6
If you live in the Mid-Atlantic United States, you’ll have some freedom with your crop options, as hardiness Zone 6 offers cold winters and hot summers.
Unfortunately, this one doesn’t have as long a growing period as Zone 5 (around four months), so you might want to stay clear from slow-growing variants. The best crops to grow in Zone 6 are Gala Apples, Bosc Pears, and Damson Plums.
6 – Hardiness Zone 7
In Zone 7, you can choose variants that can withstand some heat, as the average minimum temperature is 0℉ to 10℉. You also get to enjoy a seven-month growing period (mid-April to mid-November), so you’ll end up with a diverse harvest.
Here’s the thing: You want to grow your crops in batches, one for the cold months and the other for the hot ones.
Cold variants involve peas, arugula, parsnips, and turnips, while warm variants include tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.
7 – Hardiness Zone 8
I don’t know about you, but I’m done with cold weather for today. I’m longing for some heat, and Zone 8 offers just that.
With an average minimum temperature of 10℉ to 20℉ and a six-month growing period (April to October), you want to choose plants that love warmth. Your best options in that zone are cantaloupes, grapes, beans, and brussels sprouts.
8 – Hardiness Zone 9
Things are heating up quickly in Zone 9, as the average minimum winter temperature is around 20℉ to 30℉. It also offers a nine-month growing period, from February to November.
You might face climate variations throughout the growing season, so you want to diversify your crops a bit to accommodate these changes. Suitable variants include hibiscus, kiwi, pumpkin, and citrus.
9 – Hardiness Zone 10
Zone 10 covers various tropical areas in the United States, like Southern California, extreme-southern Texas, and Hawaii.
This zone’s growing period is surprisingly long, as it extends from January to December. The average minimum temperature here is 30℉ to 40℉, so go with go with heat-tolerant plants.
These include beets, papaya, watermelons, radishes, green onions, tomatoes, and carrots.
10 – Hardiness Zone 11
The average minimum temperature of Zone 11 is 40℉ to 50℉. You can probably tell it doesn’t get any frost whatsoever.
Like Zone 10, the growing season here covers the entire year. So, focus on plants that thrive in heat all year-round, like cilantro, stevia, green beans, and corn.
11 – Hardiness Zone 12
Zone 12 doesn’t tend to get any cooler than 50℉ to 60℉.
You can probably tell that cold-hardy variants are off-limits at this point, and tropical plants are your best friends. What tropical plants can you grow in that zone?
Pineapples and mint are excellent to add some freshness to your food. Black pepper and lima beans are also popular options.
12 – Hardiness Zone 13
We’ve finally reached the final boss. If I had to add a new synonym to the word “hot” in the dictionary, it’d probably be hardiness Zone 13.
It’s the land which only a few mortals have survived throughout history. Too dramatic?
On a serious note, though, this zone offers blazing 60℉ to 70℉ winter weather, so your garden should be a tropical paradise year round.
Ideal plants to grow in that warm zone include papaya, mango, banana, African breadfruit, rosemary, and Amazon Tree grapes.
Final Thoughts
You now know the ideal crops to grow in each hardiness zone in the country. So, the next time you want to grow new crops in your garden, make sure your zone’s conditions meet their requirements.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.