Newbie from Georgia

I am a first time SFG gardener. I plan on starting out with a fall garden. I keep reading about regions with numbers...How do I determine which region I am in....obviously south, but what is the number that correlates with eastern Georgia? Thanks.

Augusta, which is near you is on the edge of 8a and 7b. Hope that helps.

BTW, I'm from Dublin, GA, but now transplanted permanently in Michigan.

jcarr wrote:I am a first time SFG gardener. I plan on starting out with a fall garden. I keep reading about regions with numbers...How do I determine which region I am in....obviously south, but what is the number that correlates with eastern Georgia? Thanks.

Forum Regions, w/ link to USDA Hardiness Zones <~~~Click
NOAA Frost/Freeze zones <~~~Click

to the SFG Forum. Have you managed to get a hold of the All New Square Foot Gardening book yet?

I have read the new SFG book, cover to cover. My husband has built one 4x4 box for a small fall garden. We have all of the ingredients for Mel's Mix. I'm glad to have access to this forum. I have started some seeds in vermiculite, according to the time frame in the book....16 weeks out from our first expected fall frost. They sprouted in 4 days so I will be moving them to 4 packs soon. Thanks for educating me on the zone that I'm in...where did you find that information? Did I miss it in the book?

Hi, welcome to the forum. It's a neat thing that you're starting off your gardening career in the fall. Many folks don't understand the variable planting opportunities that are available.

As far as the USDA zones go, you could go your entire life growing vegetables and not even have heard of zones. They are the average minimum winter temperatures you are likely to encounter where you live. They are most applicable to ornamental plants that may cost hundreds of dollars. Before spending that kind of money, it would be nice to know that they will survive year to year.

Most vegetables are annuals, and winter time temps are irrelevant. There are a few exceptions that are perennials such as asparagus, horseradish, and artichokes. They are sometimes advertised with a zone rating, but most folks think that for a couple of dollars, they'll just try them and see what happens because one never knows, they just might survive.

We have forum members in zones 4b/5a who consistently have more summertime heat to grow tomatoes and peppers than forum members in zones 8b/9a who must struggle and get creative with heat saving methods in order to grow them. From what I've read on the forum, you should be able to easily grow one vegetable or another nearly year round.

Welcome fellow Georgian!

I live in the south eastern portion of Atlanta, and consider myself to be in southern side of 7b, I would think you're the same? Isn't Augusta considered one of the hottest areas of GA? My in-laws live in Evans as well! I am starting my first SFG this fall too. I am about halfway through the book, and currently have my first 'regular' garden as it was already in the yard when we moved in December.

Good luck! I look forward to following your progress and welcome to the forum!

newbies in the Lower South, I'm the absent regional host for the Lower South, I've been outside in the garden, and coming in to recover from the NE TX heat only to head back out again in the evening. I'm exhausted, I would love a getaway weekend, but then who would pick the squash bugs and feed the critters (24 chickens, 4 goats, 5 bee hives, 2 dogs, and too many guppies to count).

As for your region, many of us hang out in the region we physically live in, plus the one above and below, because the humidity, weather, and plants don't recoginze imaginary lines. We also visit with those in Canada, Europe, and other areas, and I beleive we all dream of going to Hawaii for December-February.

A good idea for fall planting, if you need a place to start is here.
http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2009/06/free-garden-plan-fall-garden.html
There is also a little book you can print out to help, if you want it, if it causes information overload, ignore it.

I hope to get started on a post for July and Fall gardening this week, I wanted to yesterday, but ended up clearing a spot to make a yard for my chickens and then coming in and collapsing on the couch from 2 until 7pm. I usually come in by 10, I try to be in by 9, but with critters and kids it often takes longer than I planed on.

Don't let all the big gardens on here overwhelm you if you are starting small, which is the best way to start, just jot down a few notes and file them for later. I have 4 kids, 2 still at home, and share with my parents and in-laws, and neighbors (we like to trade) so we garden large here at our house. If you need help, ask, share pictures, we love them, and again to all the newbies down here!!!