Growing Zone for West Central Florida

USDA Zones

• The USDA zones rely on average annual extreme minimum temperatures -- not just average low temperatures. The zones are numbered 1 through 13, each zone with an "a" and "b" zone. These zones have become the standard among growers and the nursery industry and nearly every plant tag will list USDA zones. Most of west-central Florida falls in USDA zone 9b, where minimum extreme temperatures reach 25 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit. Along the Gulf Coast, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties lie in USDA zone 10a. Parts of Hernando, Sumter, Citrus and Lake counties lie in USDA zone 9a.

Plant Tags

• The USDA zones on a plant tag may be listed one of two ways: Either with a range such as "USDA Zones 4-9" or with a cold-hardy listing such as "Hardy to USDA zone 4." A range is better, particularly for areas with warm climates such as west-central Florida because some plants need a colder winter than others. However, USDA zones are based solely on cold temperatures which is why some tags will list just the coldest range. Many tropical plants thrive as perennials in USDA zone 9, but a few will succumb to the possible, yet infrequent, hard frosts of west-central Florida.

Sunset Climate Zone

• Another growing zone map is the Sunset Climate Zone map. Sunset climate zones differ from USDA zones in that they take into account many more factors than average extreme minimum temperatures. Sunset zones factor in mountains and valleys, elevation, air influence, microclimates, ocean influence and latitude. The USDA zones tell you where a plant will survive the winter, a major factor in a plant's allover hardiness. Sunset zones, however, are designed to let you know where a plant will survive year-round. West-central Florida falls in Sunset climate zone 26.

Soil

• When choosing plants for your west-central Florida garden, take into consideration your soil type as well as the growing zones. Much of west-central Florida has fine soil capable of producing healthy plants, vegetables and crops. Some areas have sandy soil, which can prove detrimental to many ornamental plants. The University of Florida IFAS Extension offers soil testing, which can tell you your soil's pH and nutrient levels.