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What zone am I in???
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Posted by maridy (My Page) on Thu, Dec 14, 06 at 19:10
| Hi, my husband and I just bought a home in the Reno area (Sun Valley). We are looking forward to doing some gardening, but are extremely inexperienced. I don't even know what zone I am in. The "zone finder" says that most of Reno is in Zone 7, but it put Sun Valley in Zone 5. What's the deal?
What zone am I in? I'm getting a complex, someone please help!
Maridy |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: What zone am I in???
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| The zone finder is right on the money. Welcome to the STRANGEST climate on the planet! There can be variations of 2 climate zones within ONE zip code. Honest. Sun Valley is pretty much Zone 5 due to exposure and elevation, but there is also a very short warm growing season in this area regardless of zone designation. Wind is a huge problem: start working on windbreaks (trees/shrubs/fences) as soon as you can. Alkaline soil makes things difficult: You may want to consider mostly using raised beds. Rocks are everywhere. One way to stay safe is to purchase your tender annuals and vegetables (e.g. tomatoes) at the Master Gardener plant sale, usually held the Saturday prior to Memorial Day Weekend. By then, it's safe to plant tomatoes, and the MG plant sale sells their plants for as little as $1.00 a plant. As far as the other stuff (perennials, shrubs), I recommend Dry Creek Garden Company, but do point out that you live in the Zone 5 part of the area, because some of their plants are Zone 6 or Zone 7 hardy because of the local climate variation. Now that I've given you all the minuses, don't be scared away! I've been gardening here (admittedly in the Zone 7 part) for about 30 years, in spite of what the climate and the soil throw at us, and with a little care and imagination you can grow almost anything here. Honest. Lisa |
RE: What zone am I in???
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| Thanks, Lisa That gives me some things to think about. We are excited about the potential for this coming year. Maridy |
RE: What zone am I in???
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| Okay, sorry to butt in, but I live out in Stead. Exactly what zone would that be in, because most everything says 7, but I'm not sure? Also, how do we find out about the Master Gardener plant sale? |
RE: What zone am I in???
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| Stead is also in Zone 5, or at least most of it is. The reason is the exposure to the wind and cold, plus the higher altitude. Pretty much the cutoff for Zone 6 is around the North end of UNR as far as altitude goes. This is where I usually check for the dates of the MG plant sale--it's usually the weekend BEFORE Labor Day weekend, on Saturday: http://www.unce.unr.edu/western/news.htm#Newsletters also check here--it's not listed yet, but it will be: http://www.unce.unr.edu/cgi-bin/calendar.pl?calendar=default&month=5 Also, the Rancho San Rafael Arboretum has a plant sale, usually the weekend AFTER Labor Day weekend, also on Saturday. Info at: http://www.maycenter.com Click on the Arboretum link, then the Special Events link. |
RE: What zone am I in???
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| Thank you so much for the information. Most of the web pages I went to said I was zone 7, and I just had a really hard time believing that since we do get more snow and wind than south of us. Also, thanks for the plant sale info. I have tried to find any plant sales in Northern Nevada and came up empty so this is very exciting to me. I have never been to one, and am looking forward to going. |
RE: What zone am I in???
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| I live in Washoe Valley on the east side of washoe lake at about 5100 ft. When I put in my zip code, zone finder said that I am in zone 5b. Is this correct and what is the "b" part? I don't think I have ever seen plants or seeds that specify a zone 5b. Thanks lots |
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