Seattle is a popular city for gardening enthusiasts, thanks to its mild climate and abundant rainfall. But what gardening zone is Seattle, and what does it mean for your plant choices? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and give you some tips on how to garden successfully in Seattle. Whether you are interested in growing vegetables, flowers, herbs, or houseplants, you will find useful information and inspiration here.
What is a Gardening Zone and Why is it Important?
A gardening zone, also known as a hardiness zone, is a geographic area defined by the average annual minimum winter temperature. It helps gardeners to choose plants that are adapted to their local climate and can survive the coldest months of the year. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has divided the country into 13 gardening zones, ranging from 1a (the coldest) to 13b (the warmest). Each zone is further subdivided into a and b sections, with a 5-degree Fahrenheit difference between them. You can find your gardening zone by entering your zip code on the USDA website
Knowing your gardening zone is important because it helps you to select plants that will thrive in your area. Plants are often labeled with their hardiness zone range, indicating the coldest zone they can tolerate. For example, a plant labeled as hardy to zone 5 can survive temperatures as low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit, but may not do well in warmer zones. Conversely, a plant labeled as hardy to zone 9 can tolerate temperatures as high as 30 degrees Fahrenheit, but may not survive in colder zones. By choosing plants that match your gardening zone, you can avoid wasting time and money on plants that are not suited to your climate.
What Gardening Zone is Seattle?
Seattle is located in gardening zone 8b, according to the USDA. This means that the average annual minimum winter temperature in Seattle ranges from 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a relatively mild zone, compared to other parts of the country, and allows a wide variety of plants to grow and flourish. However, Seattle also has some unique climatic features that affect its gardening potential, such as:
- A long and wet winter, with frequent rain and overcast skies, but little snow and frost.
- A short and dry summer, with warm and sunny days, but cool and breezy nights.
- A maritime influence, with moderating effects from the Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, but also exposure to strong winds and salt spray.
- A diverse topography, with hills, valleys, lakes, and rivers, creating microclimates and drainage issues.
- These factors make Seattle a challenging but rewarding place to garden, as long as you choose plants that can cope with the varying conditions and provide them with the appropriate care.
What Plants Can You Grow in Seattle’s Gardening Zone?
Seattle’s gardening zone 8b offers a wide range of plant options, from edible to ornamental, and from native to exotic. Here are some examples of plants that you can grow in Seattle’s gardening zone, grouped by category:
Vegetables: Many vegetables can be grown in Seattle, especially cool-season crops that can tolerate the wet and cloudy winter. Some examples are lettuce, spinach, kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, carrots, beets, radishes, onions, garlic, and potatoes. You can also grow some warm-season crops that have a short growing season, such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, beans, and corn. However, you may need to start them indoors or use a greenhouse, cloche, or row cover to protect them from the cool and damp weather.
Fruits: Seattle is a great place to grow fruits, especially berries and tree fruits that require a period of winter chill to produce well. Some examples are strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, currants, gooseberries, cherries, plums, apples, pears, and quinces. You can also grow some fruits that prefer a warmer climate, such as figs, grapes, kiwis, and citrus, but you may need to choose a sunny and sheltered location, or grow them in containers that can be moved indoors during the winter.
Herbs: Many herbs can be grown in Seattle, both for culinary and medicinal purposes. Some examples are parsley, cilantro, basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, mint, lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, and echinacea. You can grow them in pots, window boxes, or raised beds, and harvest them fresh or dry them for later use. Some herbs are perennial and can survive the winter, while others are annual or biennial and need to be replanted each year.
Flowers: Seattle is a paradise for flower lovers, as you can grow a dazzling array of blooms throughout the year. Some examples are tulips, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, irises, lilies, dahlias, gladioli, peonies, roses, hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, fuchsias, geraniums, begonias, impatiens, petunias, marigolds, zinnias, and sunflowers. You can grow them in beds, borders, containers, or hanging baskets, and enjoy their colors and fragrances. Some flowers are perennial and can come back year after year, while others are annual or biennial and need to be replaced each season.
Houseplants: Seattle is also a good place to grow houseplants, as they can brighten up your indoor space and purify the air. Some examples are ferns, palms, dracaenas, ficus, philodendrons, pothos, snake plants, spider plants, peace lilies, orchids, bromeliads, anthuriums, and succulents. You can grow them in pots, terrariums, or hanging planters, and place them in different rooms according to their light and humidity needs. Some houseplants are easy to care for and can tolerate low light and dry air, while others are more demanding and need bright light and high humidity.
How to Garden in Seattle’s Gardening Zone
Gardening in Seattle’s gardening zone 8b can be a rewarding hobby, but it also requires some planning and preparation. Here are some tips on how to garden successfully in Seattle’s gardening zone:
Choose the right plants for your location and conditions. As mentioned above, Seattle’s gardening zone offers a wide range of plant options, but not all of them will do well in every spot. You need to consider factors such as sun exposure, wind exposure, soil type, drainage, and microclimate, and select plants that are suited to them. You can also use tools such as Epic Gardening or Indoor Gardening to find out more about the best plants for your area and how to grow them.
Use containers, raised beds, or vertical gardening to maximize your space and productivity. If you have a small or challenging space, such as a balcony, patio, rooftop, or slope, you can still garden by using containers, raised beds, or vertical gardening. These methods can help you to create more growing space, improve your soil quality, control pests and diseases, and increase your yield. You can use tools such as Square Foot Gardening or Container Gardening to learn more about how to design and maintain these types of gardens.
Provide adequate water, fertilizer, and mulch to your plants. Seattle’s climate can be variable and unpredictable, so you need to monitor your plants’ water and nutrient needs and adjust accordingly. Generally, you need to water your plants more frequently and deeply during the dry and hot summer, and less often and shallowly during the wet and cool winter. You also need to fertilize your plants regularly, especially if you are growing them in containers or raised beds, as they can deplete the soil nutrients faster. You can use organic or synthetic fertilizers, but make sure to follow the instructions and avoid overfeeding. You can also use mulch, such as compost, straw, wood chips, or leaves, to cover the soil surface and help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and add organic matter.
Protect your plants from pests, diseases, and weather extremes. Seattle’s gardening zone can also pose some challenges for your plants, such as pests, diseases, and weather extremes. You need to protect your plants from these threats by using various methods, such as:
- Choosing resistant varieties and healthy plants, and avoiding stressed or damaged plants.
- Practicing good hygiene and sanitation, and removing any diseased or infested plant parts.
- Rotating your crops and diversifying your plantings, and avoiding planting the same or related plants in the same spot year after year.
- Encouraging beneficial insects and wildlife, and using natural or organic pest control methods, such as traps, barriers, or repellents.
- Applying preventive or curative treatments, such as fungicides, bactericides, or insecticides, but only as a last resort and following the label directions.
- Covering your plants with cloches, row covers, or frost blankets, and moving your containers indoors or to a sheltered spot, during periods of frost, hail, or strong wind
Covering your plants with cloches, row covers, or frost blankets, and moving your containers indoors or to a sheltered spot, during periods of frost, hail, or strong wind. These are some methods to protect your plants from extreme weather conditions that can damage or kill them. Cloches are bell-shaped covers that can be placed over individual plants or small groups of plants. Row covers are fabric or plastic sheets that can be draped over rows of plants or supported by hoops. Frost blankets are thicker and heavier fabrics that can provide more insulation and frost protection. You can use these covers to extend your growing season, prevent frost damage, and shield your plants from wind, hail, or pests. However, you need to monitor the temperature and ventilation under the covers, and remove them when the weather improves or the plants need more light or air.
Conclusion
Seattle’s gardening zone 8b is a mild and diverse zone that allows a wide range of plants to grow and flourish. However, it also has some unique challenges, such as a long and wet winter, a short and dry summer, a maritime influence, and a varied topography. By choosing the right plants for your location and conditions, using containers, raised beds, or vertical gardening to maximize your space and productivity, providing adequate water, fertilizer, and mulch to your plants, and protecting your plants from pests, diseases, and weather extremes, you can enjoy gardening in Seattle’s gardening zone and harvest the fruits of your labor.
FAQS
Here are some frequently asked questions related to gardening in Seattle’s gardening zone, along with their answers: