You're right Mindy. It would be foolish for me to give information to someone wanting to know about growing in southern California. Just as foolish for me to take advise from someone there.

Brilliant!

Makes sense to me.

Claire

It's good to know a gardener's USDA zone - but that alone is inadequate information (for instance, zone 8 in the Pacific Northwest is a lot different than zone 8 in central Texas).

And while it's certainly possible for someone in this forum to give incorrect advice based on regional differences, posters shouldn't assume that advice isn't useful just because the person giving it isn't from their state and zone.
Many of us have lived and gardened in diverse parts of the country and have experience with a given plant under widely different conditions.

You are wise and correct in all your statements. And don't you think it's important to know a poster's zone and location? Your point about z. 8 texas being completely different from z.8 Pacific NW- is a perfect example of the need for LOCATION, as well as zone, to be listed.
best,
mindy

All very good points. And I can personally confirm that my Z8 would not have the same soil ph, rainfall amounts, summer temps, snakes, critters, or insects as Z8 Texas :)

"z8 Wa coast"- now THAT's what I'm a'talkin' about!!!!!- your zone AND your location- what a difference that info makes in giving advice, asking advice, etc.
And Hey, all the other posters above have also included zone and location! Now, let's hope we can keep bumping this post up on the list ,and get other posters to join in the 'zone and location-listing'gang! It certainly does save alot of us the wasted time of having to ask the "Well, uh, where are you? What zone are you in?" questions before we can help someone.
thank you!
Mindy

"You are wise and correct in all your statements."

Thank you. I will adopt this is a signature line at the end of all my posts. ;)

eric,
o.k., You do that! and I'll list my husband's aphorism:
"Vote for me 'cause I'm always right and I never lie"!!
best,
mindy

Zone Schmone!

We pay entirely too much attention to zones.

I have at least 3 zones in my garden. Which should I list?

I've been gardening here for 10 years, next July 4th, and my zones have changed since I got here.

In my garden, there are (at least) two zonal ratings which are more far important than the traditional hardiness zones. Those are heat zones and wind zones. How many very hot days do I have each year? How many days with winds over 20MPH?

How about humidity zones? How about lack of humidity zones? How about xeric months in a coastal climate? Flood zones? Parts of the garden which are submerged in saltwater a couple of times a year? Saltfog zones? Rainwater flood zones? Trucks backing over your garden zones ( I have a corner lot) ?

I think I've made my point. I am gardening in a coastal zone 7, but I can grow plants rated to zone 8 with ease, while failing to grow plants rated to zone 6.

Hardiness zones are guesses, and over-rated guesses at that.

well, donn, certainly interesting to hear about all the factors that you think discount a zone system. For me, when i read your comments, i simply am reminded about how ALL of us have stories about "why can i grow ___ but I can't grow ___"; experiences that effect our gardening identity beyond just our zone. Like eric's comment on z.8 texas being worlds apart from z.8 PNW. And the 3-plus zones in your garden- isn't that we call 'microclimates'?
We all have our versions of these things. But zone7a LI NY surely does set you apart from z.3 newfoundland, and informs me better for talking with you,so thank you for listing it.

best,
mindy

I list not only the zone, but the state and country as well - keeping in mind that not all Gardenweb posters and lurkers are from the US or even North America.

Not sure that zone information is useful for members outside N. America?

It does drive me a little nuts when people don't list their location. The Nature and Home forums don't display the zone at all, and I am constantly looking up people's home page on those forums to get an idea where they're from.

I will in future try to be as detailed as possible, as you never know who could be lurking...

HO HO HO, ERIC OH OH OH !

mindy

I was always told I live in 5/5b zone but now I understand they changed it to 6--Around Kansas City ,Mo area. So pays to check your zone again.

yes, finchelover, i understand those new zones can be accurate, but for me, for instance, I don't care what they tell me my zone is, I know from what I can and cannot grow- that my particular spot is Z.5, even if they want to tell me it's higher!! At any rate, we do the best we can w/ our zone i.d. - at least it will be close to accurate, and other GW posters will have a good approximation of our situation!

best,
Mindy

I agree, it helps seeing the zone and state before answering a question.