You’ve checked your USDA hardiness zone, selected plants rated for your area, and watched them struggle or fail completely while the same varieties thrive hundreds of miles away in an identical zone. The missing...

Mark your calendar for late February through early March—that’s when Zone 9b sees its last frost, typically between February 15 and March 15. Your first frost won’t arrive until late November through mid-December, giving...

Mark your calendar now: Zone 7’s extended growing season means pests and diseases operate on predictable schedules, and timing your prevention efforts correctly makes the difference between a thriving garden and a struggling one....

Locate your official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone by entering your zip code at the USDA’s online database, which divides North America into 13 zones based on average annual minimum winter temperatures. This number tells...

Your tomato seeds don’t care what state you live in—they care about your last spring frost date. That single piece of information, tied directly to your zip code, determines whether your seedlings thrive or...

Mark your calendar with your local last frost date and count backward six weeks—that’s when you’ll need to apply dormant oil sprays to fruit trees before pests emerge from winter hibernation. Check your USDA...