USDA Delaware Hardiness Zones: 7a, 7b
Delaware is a humid, temperate state. It’s a transitional zone between the northeast seasons and the southern heat. In the winter, average temperatures may drop as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit, while they generally top out at 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the hottest days in July.
The northern parts of the state are dotted with hardwoods, so you’ll get to see some of the fall foliage, but as you head south, you’ll find more and more pine trees as you move towards the coast. Finally, of course, you’ll find all four seasons in the state of Delaware, but you’ll have plenty of growing season to work with, as long as you understand Delaware’s gardening zones.
Delaware Planting Zone – A Quick Overview:
- Almost all of the state of Delaware is in planting zone 7a.
- If you live near the coast, you’ll probably be in zone 7b.
- The coastal areas are home to more marshy areas, which may change what you can grow, but they are also in zone 7b.
Using the Delaware Growing Zones Map
The USDA created a guide for plant hardiness zones to help gardeners and farmers know when to plant and harvest to have the most successful gardens. Using the 2012 USDA map data, the hardiness map for Delaware will give you an idea of what growing zones you’ll find in your state. Knowing your specific growing zone will help you plan out your garden so that it will thrive.
Delaware consists of USDA zones 7a and 7b, making it pretty simple to figure out which zone you are in. Just look on the map and find where you live. The color of your location corresponds to a color in the map key on the right-hand side. Each color represents a different Delaware climate zone.
If you aren’t sure which is your zone, you can use the zip code finder for a more detailed look at your Delaware gardening zone.
It is essential to know that this is just a guide, and the USDA information may be slightly different than what is actually happening in the climate where you live. For example, you may need to account for differences in terrain and elevation to get a complete picture of your growing zone.
If you need help, don’t hesitate to talk to local gardeners and farmers to get specific details for your Delaware gardening zone.
Don’t forget that you can create small micro-climates around your garden. By planting next to buildings or large boulders, you can provide a little shelter from severe winds or even provide shade from the harsh summer sun.
You can plant hedgerows or dig swales to direct water towards or away from your garden to help irrigate it. These measures can help to extend the growing season and protect your plants from severe weather.
Delaware: A State with Plenty of Agricultural Resources
The state of Delaware is known for its agriculture, which means you can be pretty successful as a home gardener, too. Gateway Gardens suggests planting lots of native plants in your gardens, such as Echinacea and Solidago. They also report that in zone 7, you can also consider planting anything that would survive winters in zones 1 through 6! So there are plenty of options for growing in the state of Delaware.
You can grow a wide variety of vegetables, flowers, and trees in Delaware. Just make sure you are past the last frost date before starting your outdoor gardens. If you want to extend your growing season, you can start some of your seeds indoors as early as February.