The Nuances of Zone 10

In searching the web for information on gardening in Southern California, several time I have come across mention of "Sunset Zones." Not knowing exactly what they were, I did a little reading up on the alternative zone map today.

Sunset Magazine developed the concept in response to the somewhat generalized USDA zone map. While the USDA map only looks at lowest temperatures in a given region, the Sunset map takes into account the yearly range of temperatures, precipitation, wind, elevation, and the details of the growing season. According to their map and depending on where we finally settle down in Los Angeles, I will either be in a Sunset Zone 20 or 22.

I will pull the descriptions directly from here on Sunset Magazine's website.

Zone 20 is inland:
"ZONE 20. Hilltops and Valley Floors of Ocean-influenced Inland Southern CaliforniaGrowing season: late Mar. to late Nov.--but fairly mild winters (lows of 28 degrees to 23 degrees F/-2 degrees to -5 degrees C) allow gardening through much of the year. Cool and moist maritime influence alternates with hot, dry interior air."

Zone 22 is a little south and coastal:
"ZONE 22. Colder-winter Parts of Southern California's Coastal RegionGrowing season: Mar. to early Dec. Winter lows seldom fall below 28 degrees F/-2 degrees C (records are around 21 degrees F/-6 degrees C), though colder air sinks to this zone from Zone 23. Summers are warm; rain comes in winter. Climate here is largely oceanic."

As it seems like gardening in any new location is always accompanied by a period of adjustment, I'll use this as a guide only. Who knows if I'll be able to do pots of leafy greens all winter. It will take a few years to figure it out. After all, that's the point of this blog!