Howdy folks,

New poster here, old overgrow member before it died R.I.P. Thought I'd add a few links as we start thinking about 2011 for dates and things to keep in mind.You'll notice much of it is from the farmers almanac website, great resource.


-First is the USDA hardiness maps which shows the average minimum temp of the united states, simply click the area of the map for your region:

National Arboretum - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

-Frost freeze chart for major areas, shows first and last frost estimates and length of the growing seasono in days (useful for picking your strain):

frost freeze freezing chart

-Moon planting dates, I usually go by the pepper category since its a cooler climate here and I start indoors but you may adjust to your area simply enter your zip code or type the city/state. Planting by the moon isn't necessary, its just one of my quirky things:

2011 Best Planting Dates for Seeds

-Duration of daylight chart for a whole year so you can estimate how much light your plants are getting (you'll have to figure in your gardens light obstacles i.e. if its on a slope etc to get a better estimate)

Duration of Daylight/Darkness Table for One Year: U.S. Cities and Towns

-Sunrise and sunset chart to calculate when your plants will be receiving their light (useful for when to water or visit your site). You can also set the long/lat if you want to be extremely specific through a link on the page. Something also to note with this link and the last is that they dont account for daylight savings.

Sun or Moon Rise/Set Table for One Year: U.S. Cities and Towns



A few tips for predicting a frost
Consider these factors when the radio and TV reports say "frost tonight."

How warm was it during the day? If the temperature reached 75 degrees F (in the East or North) or 80 degrees F (in the desert Southwest), the chance of the mercury falling below 32 degrees is slim.

Is it windy? A still night allows cold air to pool near the ground; a breeze keeps things stirred up.

Is it cloudy? If the Sun sets through a layer of thickening clouds, the clouds will slow radiational cooling and help stave off a frost.

What is the dew point? As a rule of thumb, don't worry about a frost if the dew point (the temperature at which water vapor condenses) is above 45 degrees on the evening weather report.

How is your garden sited? Gardens on slopes or high ground often survive when the coldest air puddles down in the valleys and hollows.


Hope this helps everyone get off to a great season I'll be looking forward to some fantastic grow journals. I'll be adding more of my fave links as i go through them this year.:thumbsup:

~Neon
neonzr Reviewed by neonzr on . Tools to prepare for your grow (maps, dates, charts oh my!) Howdy folks, New poster here, old overgrow member before it died R.I.P. Thought I'd add a few links as we start thinking about 2011 for dates and things to keep in mind.You'll notice much of it is from the farmers almanac website, great resource.;) -First is the USDA hardiness maps which shows the average minimum temp of the united states, simply click the area of the map for your region: National Arboretum - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map -Frost freeze chart for major areas, shows Rating: 5