Canadian Garden Zones Are Changing!?

[@GardeningInCanada]

Here is a list of US & Canadian locations in the same zone using the Canadian equivalent of the US Zone factor. gardeningincanada.net/canada-zone-change/

[@drawyrral]

I don't think there would be any affect. But I'm no expert on the subject.@Ni-dk7ni

[@danakuzik1370]

Zone 3a/b.. Edmonton.

[@francesrbernardo]

I’m in Winnipeg, Canada, zone 3, but I’m a container gardener, so I need plants that can withstand 2 zones lower in order to survive! Thank you for your channel and all the work you do for us gardeners specially here in the colder climates!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes great point about containers

[@brookehendricks7600]

I'm in Edmonton, which I think is zone 3b. Although, I have had pretty good luck with zone 4 perennials.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Definitely a 3b! Interesting though. Was the plant position in a warmer space like near a home?

[@Kaila999]

I’m in 5b…about 90 minutes north of Toronto

[@pjlacey3990]

Me too!

[@VaultDwellerGal]

Howdy from Texas. Great video! It’s interesting that Canada uses a wider dataset for zoning. I wish the USA did the same. USDA Zone 9a here, previously zone 8b. I’m in Central Texas on the edge of the Hill Country and the desert. Since Texas temperature swings on extremes, I haven’t really put much stock into the USDA zones. It’s a basic guideline, but that’s about it. My new zone is supposed to bottom out at 20 degrees Fahrenheit but it’s going to drop to the low teens in a few days, and a few years ago we got as low as 5-7F right after having high temps in the 80s. It’s hit or miss round these parts, especially with microclimates varying from neighborhood to neighborhood.

[@allihahashow]

Zone 3a - Regina and MAN, It is SO COLD this week - feels like zone 0! I'm starting my January seeds as you recommended the other day (I have lights and a south-facing window)! Thanks for your expertise!

[@GardeningInCanada]

It’s unreal cold

[@billinburlington5507]

Burlington Ontario Canada, wedged between Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment straddling zone 6a/. 6b.

[@Gardenfrog]

Another thing to take into consideration between the North and South especially here in Alberta for annuals is our daylight hours. There is a pretty big difference here in Alberta between growing something near Calgary,AB and growing in Edmonton,AB especially if you are comparing for example 100 frost free days. Those extra minutes each day add up over the growing season. It can make a difference between ripe winter squash and nearly ripe winter squash.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Yes great point!

[@j.spallin1502]

Thank you for this nerdy bonus info! Always appreciate learning about the methods involved in these multi-decade studies. According the info from the zone change site, I am zone 4. Cheers! Jay

[@conniemcdonald-reevie7050]

Zone 3, a or b depending on which part of garden! 1/2 hr east of Winnipeg. It's the extremes in winter, and sudden season switches that make it hard. Go from frost at night to +30 in the space of a week!

[@Gonzalo_M]

I’m in Quebec, zone 4a I think. The hardiness zone does matter for fruit trees too! 🙂

[@GarryRobertson]

I'm in zone 8a (SW corner of mainland BC). I mostly grow veg so I only pay attention to the last frost date so I know when I can start bringing in my cold frames which get used all winter long.

[@catherineking6819]

Great channel! So glad I found you :) I'm in Calgary in Zone 3 with a south west back yard. I am enjoying watching all your videos. i am armed with my West Coast seeds and a new veggie pod. Can't wait to start sowing indoors and later outside in spring...

[@rachellelee8031]

Zone 4B. Right now feeling more like a zone 1! Currently -45 C with the wind chill. Hoping and praying all the perennials come back in the spring ok.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That’s zone 3 temperatures good luck

[@anne-9374]

Hi Canadian zone 5a here!

[@languagelynnie]

Zone 5B. Thanks for this, I was looking for some information on this and couldn't find any.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad I could help

[@karistar7190]

Alberta, Canada Zone 4b Here! I'm worried about this year as our area is so dry! Love watching your videos and learning new things.

[@GardeningInCanada]

It is pretty darn concerning! Welcome aboard the G.I.C Crew!

[@benjaminl.dallaire9890]

Hi Ashley, I’m south east of Montreal at Brome Lake near the Vermont border in USDA zone 4. Having said that, I’m able to grow plants designated zone 5, except Roses, usually with no problem . I sow a lot of veg in April as soon as the top few inches of soil has thawed and have been mostly successful - unless there is a killing frost and I forget to cover the plants!

[@willradford5544]

I am here in Brookside, a semi-rural part of Halifax so 6a/b but Nikki Jabbour says 5b. I am more toward the south shore so I think the 6a is most accurate.

[@JO-zu3mz]

I'm in Nova Scotia, zone 6a, but choose perennials that are hardy in lower zones so that I'm more confident they'll be okay if the weather gets weird. I'm in love with native plants 😄

[@richardland9668]

I’m in zone, Scotland, West Coast, an amazingly temperate…. but I love seeing you uploads on KZbin

[@piaMarisa]

According to the Natural Resource Canada Plant Hardiness by Municipality I'm currently zone 5b sitting just North-West of Ottawa. I do find, depending on the resource you consult, this varies. Especially when I chat with Farmers and the local garden centres versus online or government resources. As you said, there are so many variables that can affect your true potential for growing in your area.

[@deborahmantha1080]

Technically Zone 4, but in reality Zone 3 (Southwestern Montana high mtn desert 8" moisture/year and crazy wind). I have a small rose garden full of Canadian roses...all zone 3 perennials do well, zone 4 are iffy. We have frost free days from mid-June to mid-Sept (in other words, about 90 days). I like your channel!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Very nice! Always good to play it safe

[@sharongreen5655]

I think I’m zone 2 but maybe I’m not any more? I live an hour East of Banff in the foothills of the Rockies. The Chinook winds are a blessing and a curse! Love your content.

[@GardeningInCanada]

I think you made a 3 or 4

[@brianseybert192]

Still in 5a, north east of Madison WI, but there are pockets very close to me (mostly urban areas) that are now in 5b. Enjoy your videos! Stay Well!!!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad you enjoy! Let me know if you need anything specific

[@brianseybert192]

@@GardeningInCanada Actually, I am trying to be a self sustainable gardener, with no external inputs. I have a microscope, raise worms, make hot compost and leaf mold. I grow comfrey and borage that I ferment for fertilizer. I do some aerated teas, from worm castings and aged finished compost. Not sure what I am doing, to be honest. Guess I would rather use what I produce than buy some crap, or spend big $$ on something I can do myself. Every year I have a beautiful garden. This will be the 2nd year without any external inputs. Stay Well!!! Getting another foot of snow on top of 8" 3 days ago. Sat night dropping below zero. These old bones do not like this stuff.

[@edna7748]

I'm in Winnipeg, I think we are zone 3. Thank you so much for the great information.

[@GardeningInCanada]

You are so welcome!

[@justinp4996]

Canada Zone 3A which I do pay attention to for my perennials and bulbs

[@dalehowey6095]

I think I'm zone 5B in Toronto but last winter saw hellebores blooming in January so who knows anymore.

[@sylviebrosseau6681]

Hi from the Laurentians, Québec zone 4

[@wyoodrifter1811]

Zone 5 here in central Wyoming but I have little confidence in the zone system. The map dose not account for 4,000 ft or 1219.2 meters in elevation change in our zone. What has been strange also is that some of our areas fruit trees have been impacted [died or no production] by sudden temp change in the winter temperature [ this according to local newspaper]]. They said we had 2 days last winter with a change over 70 degrees F [21.111C] in a 24 hour period. I was lucky my two apple trees lived but did not bloom . Present temp -15 F = -26.1111 C

[@lizstokes9091]

Watching from zone 3b in ON❤ thanks for the nerdy info!😊

[@GardeningInCanada]

Thanks for watching!

[@AD-ks8fw]

Grande Prairie, Zone 3. And another U of S Soil Sci grad 😊 just found your channel today when looking for some soil blocking info!

[@gregoryashcroft9646]

Hi, I am in Kamloops BC, which is rated at zone 6a. Thank you for your very helpful videos and advice!

[@zarahsgarden2097]

Zone 4a Muskoka, Ontario 🇨🇦 so idk what that means now lol My garden is currently getting covered in a few ft of snow again ☃️ guess it's time to do some winter sowing 🌱💕

[@CyberGrape]

4a because we're inside the city and the last zone changes did account for warmer city climate. Surrounded by 3b land though.

[@CapitanFantasma1776]

Great info! Thanks!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Glad it was helpful!

[@applet8330]

Zone 5a or b here. Honestly, I’d like to hear what you have to say about the Canadian review on zones, when it comes out. Thanks a bunch

[@GardeningInCanada]

Will do!

[@GardeningPrimal]

Depending where I look we are either a 2b or 3b. I always buy zones 2-3 perennials, I have gotten away with zone 4 plants for a couple of years. But then we get no snow and a -50 week and that’s the end of them. It’s a gamble every year 😊

[@karencorcoran4628]

Zone 3b in Southern Saskatchewan. Cold and drought. I have hoping for a great gardening year. My daughter in law says we changed to zone 4. I don't trust it. Hah. We usually get a good frost in June then August. It's a struggle.

[@TracyLydiatt]

I'm in South Okanagan - Zone 7

[@kristiobrien1418]

USDA zone 5a, we were 4b before the change but this morning was a cold snap of -43F which is -41.6C We had the same cold snap last year in late December, so while I know the zones are based on averages it's worth considering what will happen to your woody plants in those harsh years. I work at a greenhouse/nursery and I always advise to go hardier when you can because those plants are less likely to be affected in a harsh winter. This is especially true of fruit trees, which are a bit prone to dieback in my area already.

[@McAwesome363]

Zone 9b Arizona. I always take zones with a grain of salt because there are areas in Oregon that fall into the same zone 9b, yet the climates and plants that can be grown are way different. Our climate in AZ has a good 8-9 month growing season with nighttime temps above 10 degrees Celsius, while the same zone in Oregon may only have 3 months with temps above 10 degrees. Citrus trees are a good example as they can be grown in both locations, yet sweet citrus fruits struggle to properly ripen in the cool Oregon summers.

[@Drea_316]

West of Saskatoon, zone 3B. I do greenhouse gardening too so I can extend my season. I don't stress about zone, except for when I start indoor seedlings

[@user-oo8ws7nv5i]

Zone 8A (Sunshine Coast BC)

[@jennyhaugland1284]

Hi, love your videos. I am in Strathmore,Alberta, 30 min east of Calgary. I thought I was Zone 3b. I checked out the Canadian/ US zone list and it show Calgary as Zone 4. Looking forward to getting a greenhouse this year so I can extend my growing season.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is awesome!

[@markcarruthers3313]

Here, in our area just West of London in SW Ontario we are (currently, supposedly) in Zone 6b, but our last frost date is one of the latest in all of Southern Ontario and, depending on where you look our last frost date can be anywhere from April 30th to May 18th?! Crazy!! When thinking about the 7 Canadian criteria determining Hardiness Zones, the winds here in April and the variation of the amount of moisture we get (snow or rain sometimes), it seems to make sense to me that our last frost date (range) is later than much of the rest of Southern Ontario.🤷‍♂️ Regardless of the projected last frost date, I cannot help but remember maybe 10 years ago when our 6” tall sweet corn got totalled by a heavy frost on June 4th. We have some crazy weather here!

[@adammackinnon4850]

Vesey tells me zone 3b in Ontario, find your content very helpful

[@hedgerow.homestead]

Northern BC - 4a

[@MrDxm253]

I'm in zone 5a, an hour south of Ottawa along the St. Lawrence river.

[@vesc1389]

Zone: Frigid (showed "feels like: -46C" last night)... A note on the single factor zone stuff (USDA changes and the Canadian single factor is likely to have same issue)... The USDA shifted the historical window in which they look for extreme minimum temp. This shouldn't be done, might be ok if you looking at average temp, etc. Since you are looking for the extreme outlier events you want the most data available to help inform your decision. As pointed out by other YT peeps regarding the USDA zone changes, they lopped off the years having the cold extremes, hence the bump up in zones for many areas. This doesn't mean these cold extremes can't happen again! Frankly, after this week they may have redo the zones again.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Haha same as me

[@fitzluna7264]

It’s just so… cold… after such a mild winter so far this is a bit whiplash-y. Thank goodness for grow lights, we can plant onions and imagine warmer days!

[@GardeningInCanada]

@fitzluna7264 hahah it’s so true 🫠

[@dlcarbonneau3750]

so maybe someone wanted it to look like more global warming? Here in zone 4a I am hoping for more warming.

[@vesc1389]

Funny, YT shows 4 replies, but only displays 3. The most recent one mentioned “climatic variation.” Guess they don’t show that??

[@jacquiehess6618]

I am 7b! Vancouver island, BC

[@marthaduncan7694]

Zone 2b yikes its super chilly here (-40)

[@aronmcinnes8313]

Zone 2B. I have several zone 3 plants that are surviving well.

[@suechannen293]

Looks like 5b, in the Annapolis Valley, NS, past way up the North Mountain.

[@sallydansereau1270]

4a in Calgary, although I live on the edge and seem to get frost before my neighbours just a few blocks further in. Hideously cold here today though 🥶. I hope my garlic is snug in its bed.

[@manVSgoldNorthToAlaska]

I would very much like to hear your thoughts on what happens to soil microbes in the winter when the ground freezes solid for months on end.I am in Willow Alaska,about an hour and a half, North of Anchorage. This is what happens to my soil. So,what happens to microbes during a prolonged hard freeze,what happens to the microbes when it thaws?What is the microbial state once the ground has thawed but is still cold for a month ?What can we do, if we need to do anything, to quickly restore the microbes? Thank you and thanks for the videos.

[@osmia]

+

[@johnjude2685]

Plans were set as much as I've done in my better seasons. You say tomatoes paperwork says 70 days. This starts counting when placing outside into the garden... Might be the biggest disagreement we will have if I repeat the earliest tomatoes and peppers such as I had 2 seasons ago had June 20 salad tomato and Black Krim from June 30 and full size bell peppers June 20 this was done 3to 4 weeks early for mid Ohio 6a this season I'm trying to repeat. If I do, I'll give you my method to test. Might teach you something about gardening, and yes, you have been a great teacher. I'm testing and let you know in June thanks

[@michaelrowe1136]

West Kootenays B.C. zone 7 to 7b.

[@Qlassyone]

I’m in Tucson, AZ zone 9A. We only get the lower temps a few weeks of the year. I only see an accumulation of snow every few years that lasts until the sun comes out. Today (June’24) temps will be about 105*F, which will last until September. It’s been a couple of months since the last rain. The “soil” is caliche with very little soil and lots of rocks. Needless to say it’s container gardening and daily watering. Hopefully the heat tolerant plants will survive until the fall growing season.

[@h.esther9400]

Zone 5a or 5b, between Ottawa and Orléans in Ontario.

[@sherrypatterson8930]

I’m in Zone 5b, southern NB

[@kevinandjessl.3820]

Zone 7a in St. Catharines, Ontario. A little warm pocket in the Niagara region.

[@nattyw495]

Wow thats crazy is it due to being further in from lake Ontario or lake erie?

[@MySwellGarden]

Zone 4b Northern Ontario Canada! Can't wait until SPRING! Brrr!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Are you getting the polar vortex?

[@tracytracyWM]

Lucky enough to have Sunset zones which are a much better scale when I'm deciding which perennials to plant.

[@Lochness19]

So the USDA map changed because they switched from 1980-2010 to 1990-2020 climate normals. Canada's map is still on the 1980-2010 data. Speaking for my Ontario location, the average minimum temperature would put us in Zone 5b according to the Envt Canada map (1980-2010 data). This is still accurate based on 2003-2023 data. However, I would even say that we're more of a zone 5a in some senses. We've had a lot of winters when the annual mean was in the 5a range, and significantly fewer that were in the 5b range. It's just that we've also had some very mild winters in the 6a-6b range that throw off the average, and much fewer winters that were in the 4b range and none in the 4a range. So 5b in the mean, but 5a is the median and mode. One question I have, is when a plant is rated as Hardy To Zone 5 (ex most pawpaw varieties, flowering dogwood, azaleas), does that mean that they should survive in places where the average winter is in the Zone 5 range, but that it can still handle a "colder than average zone 5 winter" that can reliably happen once or twice per decade (with zone 4 temperatures)? Or does it mean that if temperatures drop to -29C it'll die?

[@DragonflyenAmber]

Currently I'm 6a/b depending who you ask. Several seed sellers have slightly differing lists for zones. With the warm winter we have had up until today I wouldn't be surprised if it changes at least a little.

[@bobliptak6309]

SW BC in zone 8a

[@user-os2qq4hu9h]

Zone 2b/ 3a, 2 hors north of Winnipeg MB

[@juliecolbourn8232]

I believe 3b - Thunder Bay Ontario

[@aubreyblair-pattison3643]

Zone 4a here checking in

[@GardeningInCanada]

Do you have the cold snap!

[@zanneBC]

8B. Lower mainland BC

[@philee2020]

I'm Zone 6b / Southern Ontario, and the last frost date this year is approx. May 4th. I can't wait to start hardening off my seedlings and transplanting them out once it's warm enough😍!

[@Salmiyaguy1]

Wow may 4th

[@MikeH-sg2ue]

Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, I hear zone 8b. Nice palm trees, bamboo, lemons, all seem to do well. Lemons put out some fruit, but not many. Olive trees grow, but I’ve yet to see an olive on one. Wet Winters, & dry Summers. Dandelions do well here!

[@CarbonKnights]

Zone 3, Alberta here.

[@suebar5177]

Zone 8a BC Lower Mainland 😊

[@GimmeADream]

Central PEI, zone 5b

[@AuroraDuLac]

Southern Ontario, zone 5a/5b

[@greenorchard9735]

Zone 5a southern NB.

[@krisyallowega5487]

The last time someone had me verify my zone, they argued that Winnipeg was zone 2b. But I have always felt more of a 3a or 3b-ish. I think this coming Spring will be devastating for my perennials. We did not receive anyty significant snowfall until this past week. Those bulbs and corms really get accustomed to snow cover.

[@nellie9352]

5B - IL Master Gardener here - northwest suburban Chicago area

[@MommyMac74]

Grand manan NB, zone 5b

[@MrsBob-fn5gs]

Zone 5 near Owen Sound, ON. I would love more info on microclimates. With Lake Huron (the Georgian Bay) and the escarpment it seems like you can just go a few kms in one direction and end up with totally different weather!

[@GardeningInCanada]

Sounds great!

[@christineelsey3104]

Very true.. Just got to luv that Lake Huron effects on the weather.. Even affects me & I live closer to Guelph.. 😊

[@marlenehill9386]

I am in zone 3b, Carseland Alberta

[@Choux317]

3b over here!

[@patmartin-kp8so]

Zone 4B -5 Georgian Bay

[@emptynestgardens9057]

As per Canadian map right smack on the border of 5a/5b Central Ontario or 5a based on the usda equivalent map. All I know is I buy fruit trees and perennials if they are hardy to zone 3 or 4 only.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Beauty lol love an indecisive area

[@sharonbrunotte3972]

I live in Newport Minnesota and I’m a zone 4B now a zone 5!!😊

[@tonireed9050]

Between zone 3 & 4 in Central BC. Having a large lake close by moderates the temp a bit.

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh yes large water bodies are helpful

[@susanbechard8886]

Zone 7a Essex county Ontario

[@scowger]

I’m in zone 8B in Maple Ridge (just outside of Vancouver)

[@jennablorezone8Band9A]

Washington Zone 8b (lots of moisture + ice storms and I don’t agree with zone change) it’s currently 14* which is abnormal but I do plan my plants to be as if it was a zone 6 (it safely works) Northern California Zone 9a (it did warm up no disagreement with this one)

[@GardeningInCanada]

Oh interesting!

[@andydroid9782]

They say 5b but I always considered it a 4b zone in the past. This year however seems to have been a 6b. Going by the temperatures alone. I never figured in any other factors except the temperatures. In Southeast Idaho it was common to get -30F. This year so far I've seldom seen it even in the negatives for over night lows. Winter isn't over and it's been getting colder.

[@Fabdanc]

I wish heat zones were as widely available as hardiness zones. I grow in US zone 9b in SE/Gulf Coast Texas. A lot of flowers I was used to growing when I lived up North, they fry down here. Nasturtium is a good example. I grow them from October through early April. Once the heat comes, toast.

[@seanamoody-mills8685]

So, according to the BC Hardiness Zone map I should be a 6B. But at the local garden centre yesterday they were absolutely adamant we’re actually a zone 5. Vernon, BC

[@aliciacantin7993]

Southern ontario, supposed to be zone 5 but i have figs in ground outside that say zone 7 🤷

[@littlebluecloud3433]

2b in northern manitoba

[@fireofhope]

I think I'm Zone 3b. Central Alberta

[@melissabouffard6246]

Hello I’m in zone B Quebec

[@pywicet77]

Central BC as zone 4A but I'm at a higher elevation so I follow zone 3 as my zone 4 perennials tend to not do as well and need more winter prep.

[@GardeningInCanada]

That is fair.

[@bbrine3294]

Zone 5b northern nova scotia