Why Growing Zones are Overrated for Vegetable Gardening

Thank you for explaining this 😊

Huw, how much space do you leave between planters for your paths? Thanks

What about sunshine for tomatoes, basil, peppers (maybe you don't grow peppers)? If it's overcast most days can you still grow tomatoes?

I am still waiting for last year's first frost. I'll never get to plant!

Great so many great information, love that raised metal container could you tell me were you got it ? Thanks

Thanks

Can somebody help here? I planted Jerusalem artichokes in my home garden right next to the border of privet and laurel. I then discovered both are poisonous aargh!!! Will I be able to eat the artichokes? And how far from a laurel or privet is safe to plant veg?

I have that book now! Just got yesterday’s!!❤️❤️❤️

Great Video.

Actually growing zones are not only for vegetables. They are also a hardiness zone for ornament plants

Got my book yesterday. Love it !l live in Florida and started my first raised bed gardens this year. Hoping I have some success

I have found that the limiting factor her in Denmark where I live is not so much the temperature and last frost dates but the hours of daylight that hinder growth. Been gardening with Huw for years, love your books and plans but look to Canada as well with JM Fortiers new book Winter Gardening, where I finally realised how much daylight hours can mean during the 3 einter months.

Nothing to do with this video but can I use my rosemary prunings as a mulch? I've got a vast plant (2 metres by 3 metres). It's very woody and may end up being removed. There's far too much to compost. It's pretty woody but most of it easy to chop into small pieces. I live in Greece and could do with the mulch as the soil gets very dry. Has anyone else tried this? Thanks.

My garden is in zone 4 and have to say, it is rough. Greenhouses don't keep temperature inside higher than the outside. As soon as sun goes down, temperatures drop rapidly and things can get frost inside as well. Also way less sun and lower temperature in general in colder zones means less growth. And even though frost dates seem to match those of zone 8, we get random single frosts late May or even early June (accidents that happen every other year). This year we lost cherry blossoms, strawberry, oak leaves and other random things 💔

The exception to the frost dates would be in Florida. My first and last frost dates are a week apart in February. During the summer it’s just too hot for a lot of annual vegetables.

Hmmm… I think that growing zones actually have a major impact on self-sufficiency. For example, there no such thing as winter gardens in zone 4, which means that unless one spends thousands of dollars on a heated greenhouse (expensive when it's -40c) there is nothing to harvest between November and May, with rhubarb, some salad if there is no frost, and the start of asparagus. Sure I can grow kale under a plastic bucket but that is not self-sufficiency. There are lots of ways to extend the seasons, but it's still no more than 5 or 6 months of growing season, which greatly reduces the amount if food one will harvest.

I got my book in the mail as a surprise for mother's day. I opened the box and literally jumped! Haha I'm super excited to read it and add it to our library!

BOOK HELP! Some of the garden structure you say what size you've made for your garden, such as the hoop house, hot beds, and hoop beds. But your other raised beds have left me guessing. I know that I will need to make some adjustments, although I have the land to do your exact layout… for example I need wider paths for a wheelbarrow. But I need a starting point, since you are very exact with your planting (so many cm apart, with one in the middle…). Do you have a layout of your garden beds with measurements? At the very least, what is the measurement of your standard raised bed?

I received your book this afternoon! Phenomenal! Great job!

Such an important message! 💚 some folks don’t understand the zones and what they really mean.

Fava beans 😂.

Just received your book yesterday here in Canada. Love it!!

Received mine yesterday. Which was the day you released the video. Did not expect day 1 delivery. Nice job. Book looks great. I will take time to read it.

Love it! Doesn't quite apply to those who don't have frost. For us tropical gardeners, it is the beginning and end of our dry seasons and the elevation we are growing at. Definitely a good rule of thumb for any kitchen garden in temperate climates.