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Good morning. Temperature is 20 degrees at 8:30 AM. It is cloudy, and windy. The air is damp as the snow storm is south of us like Waterloo, Iowa City, Dubuque and further south. BUT there is moisture in the air. We don’t have snow, and don’t think we are going to get any. High today of 24 degrees and this weather is being caused by a cold front, so tonight will be 7 degrees. Stay safe, stay warm. I have put two articles together. Enjoy
At the end of the writing, I have the difference between 5A and 5B zones. Here in north central Iowa we are 5B. I have been saying this for years… The last frost date is typically May 15.
I love begonias, my mom grew lots of them and they are so colorful and grow in the shade. Here is the care of them.
Brighten Shaded Areas With Begonias
They can be grown in hanging baskets, flower boxes and other shaded to partially shaded areas in your garden.
Add fertilizer or compost before planting in well-drained soil.
Keep the soil moist, but do not overwater your begonias.
In colder areas, start the bulbs indoors about six weeks before the last frost is expected.
Begonias take time to grow and flower. Once in bloom, they'll flower throughout the summer and into fall.
Now what is the difference between Zone 5A and 5B?
Zone 5 is one of 13 USDA Hardiness Zones (United States Department of Agriculture). Each zone is divided into two subsets. Zone 5 subsets are 5a and 5b. The zone designations can aid you in selecting plants that will survive each zone's cold temperatures.
Zone 5 Hardiness Temperatures
Each zone is determined by the average minimum winter temperatures of each. The temperatures for each zone are separated by a difference of 10°F.
Zone 5 is 10° colder than Zone 6.
Zone 4 is 10° colder than Zone 5 and so on.
Subset Zone Temperatures
Each zone subset is separated by 5°F. For Zone 5, the temperature range is:
Zone 5: The minimum average range of temperatures is -10° to -20°F.
Zone 5a: This subzone has a minimum average temperature of -15° to -20° F.
Zone 5b: This subzone has a minimum average temperature of -10° to -15°F.
The temperatures can drop below the average minimums due to unusual weather patterns.
2012 Hardiness Zone Changes
In 2012, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) updated the 1990 hardiness zone with a 5°F half-zone increase. This change is possibly due to better mapping technology along with greater participation in data sharing by weather stations.
Frost Dates
The majority of vegetables can be grown in Zone 5. This zone is considered a medium growing season, but is shorter than higher numbered zones. Many vegetables can reach maturation before the first frost.
The last frost date is typically May 15.
The first frost date is October 15.
It's important that Zone 5 growers keep up with temperature changes, especially frost warnings. A frost date app is an excellent gardening tool for short growing seasons, so you receive information for your zip code about frost warnings.
Growing Season Extenders
You can increase the growing timeframe with such things as raised beds that keep the soil warmer than field crops. You can also use hoop tunnels over raised beds/rows or plant inside cold frames.
Zone 5 Growing Tips
The hardiness zone map is a valuable tool for growing the plants best suited for your region. There's a wide variety of Zone 5 vegetables, fruits, nuts and other plant life you can grow.
Vegetables include beans, beets, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and most vegetables.
Nut trees ideal for Zone 5 include walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnut and hickory nuts.
Start seeds indoors at least six weeks before the last frost date or sooner.
Check the zone and days on vegetable, herb and flower seed packets and plant containers. The days represent the maturation time from seed sowing to harvesting or flower blooming. Use this information to plan your garden.
Considerations Beyond Zone Designations
The designated USDA Hardiness Zone Map uses the low temperatures to divide the country into various zones. The zones are meant to guide you in selecting suitable plant life for your climate. However, the zone map doesn't include valuable growing information, such as microclimates, droughts, rainfall, soil conditions/fertility and unusual weather patterns. This information is available in The New Western Garden Book.
Taken from https://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Gardening_Zone_5
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
At the end of the writing, I have the difference between 5A and 5B zones. Here in north central Iowa we are 5B. I have been saying this for years… The last frost date is typically May 15.
I love begonias, my mom grew lots of them and they are so colorful and grow in the shade. Here is the care of them.
Brighten Shaded Areas With Begonias
They can be grown in hanging baskets, flower boxes and other shaded to partially shaded areas in your garden.
Add fertilizer or compost before planting in well-drained soil.
Keep the soil moist, but do not overwater your begonias.
In colder areas, start the bulbs indoors about six weeks before the last frost is expected.
Begonias take time to grow and flower. Once in bloom, they'll flower throughout the summer and into fall.
Now what is the difference between Zone 5A and 5B?
Zone 5 is one of 13 USDA Hardiness Zones (United States Department of Agriculture). Each zone is divided into two subsets. Zone 5 subsets are 5a and 5b. The zone designations can aid you in selecting plants that will survive each zone's cold temperatures.
Zone 5 Hardiness Temperatures
Each zone is determined by the average minimum winter temperatures of each. The temperatures for each zone are separated by a difference of 10°F.
Zone 5 is 10° colder than Zone 6.
Zone 4 is 10° colder than Zone 5 and so on.
Subset Zone Temperatures
Each zone subset is separated by 5°F. For Zone 5, the temperature range is:
Zone 5: The minimum average range of temperatures is -10° to -20°F.
Zone 5a: This subzone has a minimum average temperature of -15° to -20° F.
Zone 5b: This subzone has a minimum average temperature of -10° to -15°F.
The temperatures can drop below the average minimums due to unusual weather patterns.
2012 Hardiness Zone Changes
In 2012, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) updated the 1990 hardiness zone with a 5°F half-zone increase. This change is possibly due to better mapping technology along with greater participation in data sharing by weather stations.
Frost Dates
The majority of vegetables can be grown in Zone 5. This zone is considered a medium growing season, but is shorter than higher numbered zones. Many vegetables can reach maturation before the first frost.
The last frost date is typically May 15.
The first frost date is October 15.
It's important that Zone 5 growers keep up with temperature changes, especially frost warnings. A frost date app is an excellent gardening tool for short growing seasons, so you receive information for your zip code about frost warnings.
Growing Season Extenders
You can increase the growing timeframe with such things as raised beds that keep the soil warmer than field crops. You can also use hoop tunnels over raised beds/rows or plant inside cold frames.
Zone 5 Growing Tips
The hardiness zone map is a valuable tool for growing the plants best suited for your region. There's a wide variety of Zone 5 vegetables, fruits, nuts and other plant life you can grow.
Vegetables include beans, beets, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and most vegetables.
Nut trees ideal for Zone 5 include walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnut and hickory nuts.
Start seeds indoors at least six weeks before the last frost date or sooner.
Check the zone and days on vegetable, herb and flower seed packets and plant containers. The days represent the maturation time from seed sowing to harvesting or flower blooming. Use this information to plan your garden.
Considerations Beyond Zone Designations
The designated USDA Hardiness Zone Map uses the low temperatures to divide the country into various zones. The zones are meant to guide you in selecting suitable plant life for your climate. However, the zone map doesn't include valuable growing information, such as microclimates, droughts, rainfall, soil conditions/fertility and unusual weather patterns. This information is available in The New Western Garden Book.
Taken from https://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Gardening_Zone_5
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337 cell 641-903-9365
