What is the difference between planting zone 8a and 8b

You can grow nearly any vegetable you desire, such as tomatoes, okra, beans, peppers, and more. Mediterranean herbs thrive in Zone 8, such as rosemary, parsley, rosemary, oregano, and others.

You can grow most fruit trees that include, figs, apples, peaches, pears, bananas, and citrus. Berries are ideal garden choices for Zone 8.

Local nurseries and big box stores are a great resource for the varieties of plants suitable for your zone. You can protect winter plants in Zone 8 with a row cover, just be sure to raise the cover on sunny winter days to avoid overheating plants. You can also extend your growing season by using hoop tunnels over crop rows and raised beds. First frost date: The first frost occurs between October 11 and October Last frost date: The last frost occurs between March 21 and March Things Not Included in Zone Hardiness There are many things not included in the zone hardiness designations.

Gardening in Zone 8 Zone 8 can provide you with an extended growing season that is longer than many other zones. What Is a Hardiness Zone. Planting Flowers by Zone.

An avid perennial gardener and old house owner, Laura Reynolds has had careers in teaching and juvenile justice. A retired municipal judgem Reynolds holds a degree in communications from Northern Illinois University. Her six children and stepchildren served as subjects of editorials during her tenure as a local newspaper editor. By Laura Reynolds.

No wonder these are some of the world's most popular flowers! Sun-loving perennials include roses, peonies, irises, daylilies, hibiscus, coneflowers and asters. These varieties perform best when receiving about hours of direct sunlight per day. Without it, the plants grow poorly, and their blooms, if any emerge, are drab and lifeless.

Some gardeners don't even try to grow anything in the shaded areas of their gardens or yards. That's a shame, because some incredible plant varieties--including those that yield many delicate, colourful blooms--fare well when grown within dark shadows. We recommend such shade seekers as hellebores, hostas, astilbe, bleeding hearts, toad lilies and ferns. Poor soil can hinder a shade perennial garden more than a lack of sunlight, so be sure to add plenty of organic matter when preparing a new one.

Avoid damaging roots when planting Shade Perennials near trees. Largely because they signal the welcome return of warmer weather, spring blooms not only possess considerable natural beauty, but they also tend to occupy a special place in our hearts.

Fall-planted bulbs include tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, alliums and crocus, a small plant that can flower even before the end of winter.

Grow them in rich, well-drained soil that will receive plenty of sunlight. Remove weeds, loosen soil and add compost before planting. The U. What i grew in tx, didnt work in pnw for sure. A companion planting guide is almost a necessity for gardeners when there are so many types of fruits and vegetables to choose from. Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

See the Hardiness Zone Chart below. Check Price Here! Have your frost protection ready — Even in Texas 8b, plants are susceptible to frost damage, just not as frequently or for such extended periods of time.

You still need to have frost protection ready. Learn about using a simple cloche from recycled materials and adding a grow tunnel to raised beds. Even a sheet will keep frost off your prized starts in a pinch. Use a cover crop in the offseason to protect and build your soil. Soil building is the key, no matter what zone you live in. Texas cover crops are used in the hot season and are planted at the end of June, with plans for tilling in September.

It wastes your effort, time and money. Make p lans for heat protection by using strategic planting methods. Utilize afternoon shade by placing tall plants on the west side of the garden. While planning my new Texas garden, I chose to make use of a fence on the west side.

Use water saving measures in the garden.