The 2025 planting season is right around the corner, so it is time to start planning our gardens! We need to choose what seeds to plant and figure out the best time to start planting–indoors and outdoors. One of the primary tools that gardeners have available to do this is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. If you have ever wondered what the zone designations on seed listings mean, they refer to this map.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was most recently updated in 2023, the previous update was in 2012. The map is based on the previous 30 years of average lowest winter temperatures. Winter temperatures in a given area are what determine whether a plant is a perennial or annual variety as well as the length of the growing season. Many areas of the U.S. saw a change in their zone designation because of rising global temperatures. There are 13 major planting zones in the US and those are each divided into “A” and “B” subzones.
The approximate length of the growing season in each zone is as follows:
|
Zone |
Growing Season |
Zone |
Growing Season |
|
1 |
100 Days |
6 |
210 Days |
|
2 |
115 Days |
7 |
230 Days |
|
3 |
135 Days |
8 |
260 Days |
|
4 |
160 Days |
9 |
310 Days |
|
5 |
195 Days |
10-13 |
Year Round |
Planning Your 2025 Garden
Using a combination of Hardiness Zone and frost dates, you can make informed decisions on what fruits and vegetables to grow, know when to start seeds indoors, and when to plant outdoors. We have made this job easy for you by creating our Seed Planting Calendar by Zip code. Simply enter your zip code and our online tool will tell you your USDA Hardiness Zone and provide you with first and last frost dates.
Our Seed Planting Calendar will also provide you with a list of our most popular vegetables, herbs, and flowers, along with your customized dates for starting seeds indoors or planting outside. It also includes plant spacing information and links to purchase seeds.
All of our seed packets have the planting depth, germination temperature, and germination time for our heirloom seeds. The Survival Garden Seeds online seed listings include additional helpful information like planting zones, plant size, and the days to bloom or harvest so that you can make informed decisions as to whether or not the plants will grow well in your garden.
We have added some exciting new seed varieties over the past year. All of our seeds are non-hybrid, non-GMO heirloom varieties which means that you can save seeds and plant them in the future to grow the same plant. We even provide seed saving instructions on each seed packet. Armed with all of this information, you can start planning your 2025 garden now!
