New here, Confused on zones

joyful_garden

16 years ago

I know that I'm in zone 9 but I have also seen zones with a letter following it. What does this mean?

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Comments (11)

countrynest
16 years ago
The letter is a specific sub zone within the larger zone.
What city are you near?
By the way,WELCOME!!! to the forum.
Felix
joyful_garden
Original Author
16 years ago
I am in Saint Cloud. Just south of Orlando. Thanks for the welcome. I'm trying my first veggie garden in 8 years. Having trouble keeping the rabbits from eating everything before it matures.
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I have seen the NIP growing in Florida too. It's odd how they are in an outdoor setting, vs indoors. The needles change in orientation, upward outdoors and downward indoors. I thought mainland Florida would be too cold for them, but I saw them growing there, as well as the Florida keys. Joeinmoe, how do you coat them? You surely aren't covering NIP, planted in-ground in your yard and overwintering them each year? Are you covering them with ice or I have really misunderstood your post? I've had a bit to drink so am more dim-witted than usual. I have 2 "hardy" palms in-ground, which are covered. I have one that is potted, which is indoors. That would be great if have overwintered NIP, in-ground, joe. If you have time go look on the Tropicalesqe forum. There is a guy on there that kept a palm alive for many years in zone 4 Utah, I THINK. He finally couldn't do it anymore, it got very large. I would say 10 ft tall before he stopped covering it. His posting name was Arctictropical, I am 80% sure of that. He had covered them with a styro box and used lights wrapped around the palms. If you have some spare time look on the Tropicalesque forum. Arctictropical I am pretty sure is the name. If not it is similar. Boy, I have gone really off topic here. The posts about the overwintering of some hardy to zone 7 -8-9 may take a while to find, but the guy on here has done it in zone 4, for years. That is until his windmill palm, zone 7 hardy got too large for his enclosure. I have 2 palms in the ground, I already mentioned, but it is only covered by burlap. I may try to overwinter a palm or 2 in the winter of 2014-2015. I will have to use those that grow slow close to the house. Has anyone over-wintered any tree for several years by covering/ artificial means for more than 4 years?
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La Quinta is Sunset Western Garden Book climate Zone 13 (Low or Subtropical Desert). You would also be in USDA climate Zone 9. They are different zoning systems. The Sunset Zoning system is a more accurate way of determining what plants to grow where you are. Their zoning system is part of the referencing method in the "Sunset Western Garden Book", the only book you should be using for determing plants for your garden and landscape. The USDA zoning system would suit you ONLY if you were talking with someone back east, who works on the USDA system. But what grows in USDA zone 9 there does not necessarily grow in Zone 9 here. Confusing. Sunset also produced a book a log time ago (I am sure now out of print) entitled "Desert Gardening". It was a wonderful reference for you area. Maybe your library has it. Joe
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the_musicman
16 years ago
Hi! welcome!

St. Cloud, huh?
That means you are firmly in zone 9b.
9b is the northern threshold for many tropical plants, as you probably don't see but maybe one or two bad freezes every year. Depending on what you grow, the distinction between 9a and 9b can be very slight. USDA zone 9 is also the southern limit for many northern, temperate plants.

You live in a unique and challenging location that allows for plant diversity unlike most other places in the country. That's what it means :)
joyful_garden
Original Author
16 years ago
Musicman! Thank you!!
I am a 37 year old woman who has only begun to scratch the surface of my interest in plants. My mother has an oasis of plants in her yard so what I have available to me is so very expansive. My mom can grow anything. Many times I go to her and say I need something that does this, looks like this, needs this, etc. My mom is also in Saint Cloud. I am working on my veggie garden this year, haven't gotten into much else yet. Would also love to do a cut flower garden. Thanks for the info, I already love this forum!!
Joy
happy_girl
16 years ago
Welcome Joy, from another St. Cloud gardener. This is a great area to garden in & I know you will enjoy your plants.
solstice98
16 years ago
Welcome Joy!
auntiejan
16 years ago
Welcome, Joy! I hope you will continue to stop by and maybe post some pictures of your garden. Lots of people with lots of Florida gardening knowledge here.

I am in Melbourne, which is not all that far from St. Cloud. Zone 9B is a good zone, like musicman said, "unique and challenging". Keep in mind that each area has its own little microclimate as well, which can only be determined from observation and experience. But you'll figure it out and become a wonderful gardener like you mom!
joyful_garden
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the welcomes. I kept finding links here when I would search for info on Google so I finally joined. Auntie Jan, I am very familiar with Melbourne. I love it over there and we go there at least a couple of times a month. Right now my garden is soooo not impressive. I wouldn't want to post a pic of it. It is still being eaten. I don't have a lot of space to work with but my green beans are flourishing and just bloomed today. I am REALLY shocked that I have iceberg lettuce doing wonderfully EXCEPT for the rabbit problem. I am one that likes to challenge the rules when it comes to plants so I try to force things that are not known to grow well here. You all are so nice and I look forward to chatting more. By the way, happy girl, I'm in E St. Cloud. What part are you in?
nytrinigemini
16 years ago
Joy welcome.....thats exactly how I found the forum...I started gardening and googling and GW always came up...joining was the best decision I ever made for my plants. You will love it.
happy_girl
16 years ago
Joyful, I'm on Wisconsin at Lakeshore. The lake helps to moderate my temperature. It is never as cold in my yard as the published temp. Stop by & introduce yourself anytime you are in the neighborhood.
joyful_garden
Original Author
16 years ago
Happy Girl. Wow, I know exactly where you are. I live across the street from Lake Lizzie so I know what you mean about the temps. It also brings some very nice breezes in the spring time.

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New here, Confused on zones

Comments (11)

countrynest

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New here, Confused on zones

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countrynest

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