| I live about four miles off the California coast and its hard for me to tell what zone I am in by the maps I have seen.. It seems like my plants bloom late here and I am wondering if I am planting too late. Can you tell me where I am? |
| Sunset Western Garden Book places you in Zone 24, a frost-free coastal area with morning fog in the summertime. If your plants are not maturing as quickly as you expect, it may be because they're growing in a mild maritime climate where they sense it's springtime. You can grow plants all year around, but your climate may not provide the summer heat that warm-season plants like tomatoes and corn require. You can grow short- or cool-season veggies in your garden without problem. If you want to grow tomatoes, choose a variety like 'Northern Exposure' (from Burpee), or 'Oregon Spring' (from Territorial Seed Company, P. O. Box 157, Cottage Grove, OR 97424-0061). Short-season corn varieties include 'Reward' or 'Seneca Horizon'. Hope this helps you grow an extremely productive garden! |
