Growing season - how long?

Tsadiyq · #1 03/05/08, 01:31 AM

Hi all!! :0)

How do I find out which parts of Canada has a long growing season or a short growing season?

I'm sure that BC has a long growing season simply because, pretty much, all snow is gone by mid March and no snow til late Nov. to early Dec....

But NB - it seems that maybe they have a short season for growing food?? April - Sept. or Oct?

I've heard of this "Zone 3" or "Zone 6" - what is that again, may I ask?

Thank you all, in advance! :0)

blufford · #2 03/05/08, 05:50 AM

I hope this link will help you out. Make sure you use the close up feature to get a really good look at each region.

http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/englis...and/planthardi

Tsadiyq · #3 03/05/08, 10:46 AM

Thanks! Taking a look now....:0)

AnnieinBC · #4 03/05/08, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsadiyq

Hi all!! :0)

How do I find out which parts of Canada has a long growing season or a short growing season?

I'm sure that BC has a long growing season simply because, pretty much, all snow is gone by mid March and no snow til late Nov. to early Dec....

But NB - it seems that maybe they have a short season for growing food?? April - Sept. or Oct?

I've heard of this "Zone 3" or "Zone 6" - what is that again, may I ask?

Thank you all, in advance! :0)

Well, we are in BC, Zone 3...Cariboo Region. Here we don't have what I would call a long growing season. Vancouver Island sure does, as does Sunshine Coast, Fraser Valley, etc.

We are futher stymied by really hot days, then extreme cool off in the evenings....a 30 degree C swing is not unheard of here. If I had known that Before we bought our acreage, I would have pushed for something in a higher Zone....my frustration is not being able to easily grow corn here for livestock feed, but that is another rant, lol!

Tsadiyq · #5 03/05/08, 02:44 PM

Hmm - that is interesting. Thanks for letting me know!! So it is better go to higher than Zone 3? Or even past Zone 4 or 5??

Tsadiyq · #6 03/05/08, 03:12 PM

Hmm - so it is Zone 4a, 4b - 5a, 5b in the area I am looking at...

Is those zones good for long growing season?? Or even good weather to have overrall living on the land growing own food with garden and farm animals?

What is the zones for most people, particularly ones who love to garden and live off the land...

AnnieinBC · #7 03/05/08, 07:15 PM

The Zones u are looking at should be warmer than mine...but if you are looking for land there, ask the realtor. Or better yet, ask at the local garden center, those people will know the growing conditions.

I know of other Zone 3 places across Canada which do not have the cool nights that we do, so elevation plays a role. That would be another thing I would find out.

If you want to be able to grow things year round, then you should look on the west Coast...pricey real estate there though. If you don't mind a condensed and intense garden season, there are lots of places you could look!

Tsadiyq · #8 03/05/08, 08:42 PM

Hmm, good idea, I will ask the realtor and the garden centre.

I'm not needing to grow year around - just enough time to grow a large garden as in regular way. Nothing special...as in green house or year round. Just large garden enough to feed a large famly plus extra for the winter.

Fluidp, I appreicate your post! :0)

AnnieinBC · #9 03/05/08, 09:20 PM

Good luck, and please let us know where u end up!

Tsadiyq · #10 03/06/08, 10:24 AM

I will! :0)