Are you struggling to get going with your survival garden, or feel stuck in your progress? A thriving survival garden needs more than high-quality survival seeds and soil; your success is also contingent on hardiness zones.
Hardiness zones are geographic-specific areas that can make or break your survival garden. These 13 individual zones designated by the USDA encompass the contiguous United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. The zones are divided into 10-degree temperature increments, and some are broken into A and B segments that dip further into 5-degree increments.
Ready to start gardening by zone to increase your odds of success? Learn more about hardiness zones and the best survival seeds for your garden.
What Are the 13 USDA Planting Zones?
Get to know the 13 different USDA planting zones that represent your geographic area. Here's a quick overview of the USDA's hardiness zones:
Zone 1:°0 Below -50°F
Unless you live in Alaska, you probably aren't trying to grow anything in Zone 1. Despite the harsh conditions, you can still garden way up north, but you need the right strategy in place. The USDA recommends planting these hardy varieties in early to mid-June:
- Barley
- Hay
- Oats
- Potatoes
- Chard
- Wild blueberries
- Cranberries
- Beets
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Broccoli
Heads up, Zone 1 gardeners–the growing season is short and intense. You need to be on top of your game with seeds and soil ready to go.
Remember, you can also grow some plants indoors, like herbs, microgreens, scallions, hot peppers, lettuce, and spinach. To combat the dark winter months, you'll need some grow lights or plan your indoor crops around months with more daylight.
Zone 2: -50°0 to -40°F
Parts of Alaska and the northernmost tip of Minnesota fall into Zone 2, which also comes with a short and mighty growing season. Here are some Zone 2-friendly plants and crops for your survival garden. Start planting in mid-June:
- Carrots
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Lima beans
- Snap beans
- Beets
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Broccoli
- Mustard greens
Zone 3: -40°0 to -30°F
Zone 3 is still frigid during winter and encompasses the upper midwest, including Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maine. Start planting in late spring to grow:
- Spinach
- Chard
- Orach
- Collards
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Swiss chard
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
Zone 4: -30°0 to -20°F
The recommended plants in this hardiness zone looks similar to Zone 3, which includes Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Eastern states such as Northern New York, New Hampshire, and Maine. Start your survival gardening crops in May:
- Asparagus
- Mustard
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Chard
- Leaf lettuce
- Peas
- Beets
- Carrots
- Turnips
- Yarrow
Zone 5: -20°0 to -10°F
If you live in the Midwest and Northeastern states, you probably live in Zone 5. These states include Colorado, Michigan, New York, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Start planning in Md-April to enjoy:
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Cress
- Carrots
- Cabbage
- Beets
- Radishes
- Onions
- Turnip
- Cauliflower
- Kohlrabi
Zone 6: -10°0 to 0°F
Washington, Oregon, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, and Missouri call this hardiness zone home. Start planting in Mid-April to see yields including:
- Fruit trees
- Raspberries
- Rhubarb
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Beets
- Carrots
- Chard
- Mustard
- Asparagus
- Kohlrabi
- Peas
- Spinach
- Leaf lettuce
- Onion sets
- Parsnips
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Turnips
Zone 7: 0°C to 10°F
The upper part of Washington and Oregon, as well as Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and North Carolina, reside in Zone 7. There’s tons to grow in Zone 7, so start planting in March or April:
- Basil
- Summer squash
- Arugula
- Carrots
- Beets
- Okra
- Peppers
- Brussels Sprouts
- Eggplant
- Collards
- Broccoli
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Eggplant
- Swiss Chard
- Tomatoes
Zone 8: 10°F to 20°F
You'll see longer growing seasons in Zone 8, which covers most of the West Coast and parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Here's what to plant during March:
- Beans
- Corn
- Onions
- Brussel sprouts
- Cucumbers
- Peppers
- Squash
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Apricot
- Apple
- Pear
- Peach
- Cherry
- Plum
Bananas, crabapples, and figs can also grow in warmer areas of Zone 8.
Zone 9: 20°F to 30°F
Zone 9 is all about California's warm landscape, along with some parts of sun-soaked Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. Here’s what to plant during Mid-February:
- Kiwi
- Chives
- Okra
- Kale
- Pumpkin
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Peas
- Swiss Chard
- Spinach
- Brussel sprouts
- Beets
- Broccoli
- Avocado
- Apple
Zone 10: 30°F to 40°F
Things are starting to sizzle in Zone 10, with even winter temperatures hovering around the freezing mark and above during winter. You'll find this hardiness zone in parts of California, southern Florida, and Hawaii. Here's what to start planting during January:
- Dill
- Fennel
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Beans
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Peppers
- Radishes
- Broccoli
- Collards
- Green onions
- Zucchini
- Tomatoes
Zone 11: 40°F to 50°F
The geographic area of Zone 11 is smaller than other regions on the list and includes Hawaii, the Florida Keys, and Puerto Rico. Warm weather crops flourish in this hardiness zone where you can plant these any time of year:
- Limes
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Bell peppers
- Cantaloupe
- Cucumbers
- Figs
- Papayas
- Watermelons
- Papayas
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Mangoes
- Green beans
- Pineapples
Zone 12: 50°F to 60°F
Zone 12 includes tropical Hawaii and Puerto Rico, making it ideal for warm-weather survival gardening. Here's what you can grow any time of year in this paradise hardiness zone:
- Summer squash
- Hot peppers
- Black peppers
- Bell peppers
- Mint
- Tropical plants
- Strawberries
- Dill
Zone 13: 60°F to 70°F
Hawaii and Puerto Rico also fall into Zone 13, but it’s not too hot to garden. Start planting some of your favorite warm-weather crop any time of year:
- Banana
- Basil
- Eggplant
- Rosemary
- Hot pepper
- Summer squash
- Tomatoes
- Bush beans
- Cilantro
- Sage
Keep in mind this isn’t an exhausting list of everything you can grow in hardiness zones. But it gives you a great place to start survival gardening with your geographic area in mind.
Can Plants Grow in More Than One Zone?
Yes! Most plants and crops will grow in multiple hardiness zones. Cold-weather vegetables, like carrots, are exceptionally durable and will grow in the coldest to some of the warmest climates.
You'll also discover many states fall in numerous hardiness zones, depending on where you're located. Don't spend your time worrying about whether or not squash will grow in your backyard if you're just a zone away with similar weather patterns. Once you have the basics of the zones down, it's more important to focus on using high-quality survival seeds, improving your soil quality, and learning the ins and outs of gardening.
What About Medicinal Plants and Herbs?
You can, and should, include medicinal plants as part of your survival gardening strategy. Medicinal crops and herbs can still grow in even the coldest zones. For example, both cosmos and lavender will grow in the frigid Zone 2.
Cosmos contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and are often used to treat eczema, fibromyalgia, and some viruses. Lavender is also a game changer for relaxation and helps repel mosquitos, fleas, moths, and ticks. It can also be used to treat minor wounds for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
If you have difficulty growing medicinal herbs and plants, you can also grow many of them indoors and situate in your window sills. It’s a simple way to expand your survival gardening efforts and overcome weather or temperature obstacles.
Are Hardiness Zones Accurate?
No matter how perfect your plant is for your zone, it may not take off if you have an especially hot or dry season. The amount of sunlight and rain you receive will also impact the success of your survival garden.
Hardiness zones are a practical guideline that can positively impact your survival garden. But they're only partially accurate. The hardiness zone map doesn't account for the hottest summer temperatures, average precipitation amounts, or fluctuating frost dates.
When in doubt, look towards native plants and crops in your area. Researching what area farmers are growing is also a valuable clue to what will probably grow in your backyard. Another option is to explore what you can grow indoors, or at least grow into seedlings, instead of relying exclusively on your backyard.
Beyond doing your own research and experimenting with your plants, you can also improve your survival gardening by mastering the basics. Here's where to get started: Survival Gardening Tips for Beginners.
How Can I Find Zone-Specific Seeds?
Zone-specific seeds simplify your survival gardening and increase your odds of success. Check which zone you live in with the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map on our website. Next, click on your geographic region under the "Choose Your Zone" option to see our selection of survival seeds that will grow well in your area.
Next Steps
Ready to start survival gardening by your zone? Start browsing our selection of survival-grade seed vaults, bat houses, tools, and soil amendments for a thriving survival garden.
