Or you can put it in the "garden zone" box in your profile
and it will appear automatically

Unless, of course, you're in hiding
(Joke!)

No problem. Some people don't want useful advice and they don't mind typing out information that is of no use to anyone. If they don't want to disclose the growing conditions they are inquiring about, and don't expect to get any help, that's their choice and they are welcome to it.

I very often just don't answer then I don't know where the poster is located. Why waste my time on an answer that doesn't apply to their area and won't be any help to them, or anyone else for that matter?

lonmower, which zone do you want the Heat-Zone Map, the Freeze/Frost zone or the old USDA hardiness zone? Then here is the Sunset Western Garden Zone and [What else?].

And remember that some people that are asking questions are newbies!
Isn't this the reason for this board?????
It's NOT just for those of us who have been gardening for a long time!
Newbies, please help us out with your zone and state. Any other info will help! NT

Albert...just put anything down
There has to be a "smart ass" on every forum

You people seem to think everyone here is from the USA. Your state means nothing to someone who is not from the States and neither does Sunset or any other zone except the frost hardiness zone. If I put Zone 3 or 4 or 5 Ontario or northern Ontario would you be any the wiser.

I agree the hardiness zone should be on the post but that's all that's needed

You people seem to think everyone here is from the USA. If I put Zone 3 or 4 or 5 Ontario or northern Ontario would you be any the wiser.

Your fellow Canadians might be. There are other people here besides "us people", you know.

Well knowing whether you are from east or west of the old Mississippi river tells a lot about the soil. In my state the north- south, east- west is very pronounced in rain fall and soil type and If you don't know that, then it is hard to give out good info. So state is way more important than the hardiness' zones except for fruit/nuts/berries. Of course our generic information helps keep one thinking of new ideas and you have to love that!!

Curt

happy day
My point is that not everyone here knows what being from one State or another means to you people. To us it means nothing. I don't think my fellow Canadians would need to know my province or that it would mean more than the hardiness zone.

If you can tell rainfall and exactly what kind of soil a person has by State then the States must be much more predictable than the rest of the world. I have clay soil and on the other side of town they have sandy soil. Last year we had cooler wet weather and this year we had it hot and dry.

The number "3" does not tell your soil type or rainfall either. You could be in Russia for all "we people" know.

Your comments make it sound like you have a dislike of Americans and even of other Canadians.

On a more positive note, your profile says you know how to do cuttings. I have never had luck with cuttings. How do you do them?

happyday

I hate neither Americans or Canadians or any other nationality. I just don't see the relavence of posting your State or province.

I have great success with cuttings. This is from my folder on plants. It's how to take Geranium cuttings, but except for the callusing over that you do with geraniums, the rest is good for any cutting.

TAKING GERANIUM CUTTINGS
First you must make sure everything you use is very clean.
Take your cuttings: With a sharp knife or razor blade cut a 4 or 5 inch piece from the growing tip, cutting just below a leaf. All roots and branches come from a leaf joint(node). Remove all but the top 3 or 4 leaves.

( Let your cuttings callus over--Lay them out somewhere on newspaper. Mine sit on my spare room floor. Let them sit for about 5 days. The leaves will look wilted and dead but they're not. The cut end will shrivel and dry. Letting them callus over and watching the water cuts down on blackleg a deadly fungal disease especially to cuttings. )
The comments in brackets are for geranium cuttings only.

Now plant your cuttings. In a clean pail mix your soil with the water so you make sure the soil is damp right through. Use a soilless mix like pro mix or one that is formulated for seeds and cuttings. Just make sure it has no fertilizer in it. You want the soil wet but not too wet. Squeeze a handful and some moisture should come out but not a lot. Fill your pots and make a little hole in the center with your finger or something else that will make a small hole.
Dip about 1/2 inch of the cut end in rooting hormone. It comes in powder or gel, either is OK as long as it's for soft wood cuttings. I use Stim-root NO. 1.--This is for soft stems you need 2 or 3 for woody cuttings.-- After it's dipped put it in the hole and cover it in, and you're done.
Keep the soil moist but not overly wet. They will look wilted at first but that will change as it starts to grow roots. You will know it's rooted when it starts to show new growth. If you are going to plant it outside, wait until it is rooted well before you set it out.

Hope you have success if you try it this way. I do lose the occasional cutting but not many

As the original poster...my point was that many posters have neither the zone nor the state/province/country or planet of their gardening

A few of the follow ups seem to come from the "Planet Cont re"
(including the Canadian Oilpainter) Yes, most of us stupid Americans know where the Canadian Provinces are located. Many of us have actually visited many of them. Oilpainter, if you don't want to give me that information...I won't answer your question (I can't imagine your ego would allow you to ask one) - or I will only take any advice you give with a very tiny grain of salt...because at this point I think you might be "part of the problem"...Amen!

Um, yes, I agree, most americans know perfectly well where the provinces are. And americans who are experienced gardeners also know that the east-west patterns that exist in the northern lower 48 states are similar in canada.

The great plains are not only great in the states, and the maritime climate doesn't vary much between the maine coast and new brunswick, or cape cod and southern NS. Seattle and Vancouver.

One really good reason to know whether a question comes from Canada is that I often see a post that asks "where can I buy a *whatever*". There will be 5-6 people answer before the OP comes back and says,"but none of those places will ship to Canada".

It would have saved a lot of time if they had stated right off the bat, that they were in Canada (or the UK, or China, or the Philippines, or wherever).

It makes a great deal of difference which state of the USA that one is planting in. Perhaps planting on Vancouver Island is exactly the same as planting in Northern Quebec? I'm skeptical, but that's what you are saying, oilpainter.

But at least, if you state you are in zone 3, I know not to advise you to plant your fig trees in the ground, and probably not to recommend a 120 day variety of tomatoes.

Oh for pete's sake forget I ever posted here. I never called Americans stupid or any other name. For your information The ZONE in Northern Quebec or Northern Ontario is not the ZONE of anywhere in British Columbia including Vancouver.

I never once said the ZONES were not important and should not be listed I want to know the zones too. I only said I didn't think the States were necessary. Where is it written that everyone has to agree with what is put forth without being attacked and words that you never said put in their mouth.

Good luck and good bye

Oil, you know, IMO, 'you people' is kinda rude. Definitely sets a rude tone, which lonmower took a bit far. We are all gardeners, and overwhelmingly americans and canadians. In the UK and Australia they can't tell us apart, so that might say something.

And I think you are selling canadians a bit short by suggesting that they wouldn't know one state's climate from another.

I don't see how you people is rude. Just how would you refer to the ones who had posted here.

Again you put words in my mouth--I never said that Canadians didn't know about the climate in different States. Because of American movies and television and our school's teaching American history, most Canadians know much more about the States than Americans know about Canada.

The only point I made all through this post is that the Hardiness Zone is enough to know and having your State as part of your identification should be optional. That is my point and the only point I want to make.

Unfortunately, I think few in the target audience will ever see this post. I think most people who don't list their zone are newbies who probably won't read this thread before posting their question. As a recent newbie, I know it took me a couple posts to get that down.

Which takes me to my REAL peeve, and that is the people who post a question then never come back to a) answer follow-up questions, or b)--here's a concept--say thanks to the people who offered their time to help at total stranger.

In a way, it's not a bad litmus test to answer a question with "I need your garden zone." That way, you aren't wasting time on people who throw out a question then never bother coming back.

But that's just another spin...

Well loribee
We were all newbies at one time both to gardening and these forums. Anyone who really wants to know your zone or where you are from only has to click on your name to bring up your page and then go back and answer your question.

Not everyone is as polite as you, and a thank you is always welcome.

I think we just recently had a thread on this subject. Wherein it was determined that just the hardiness zone is not at all enough to give useful advice.

Just my two cents worth, I think giving as much information as possible up front gives others more of a idea what your growing conditions are. My zone 8 and say zone 8 in Georgia might have similar low temps in the winter but that's about all. It doesn't take into consideration amount of rain, summer temperatures, snow cover etc. etc. etc. There are so many plants I can't grow that thrive in Georgia and vice versa.

Look- write the Board Administrators and have them put text at sign-up if this is so important. A newbie isn't going to read this thread, so it will not help your request one whit.

Dan

Right on Dan!!

Here is a link to a rather recent discussion of zones: garden zones: which are you, REALLY?

Aftermidnight is proof that all Canadians are not as closed minded as a "certain Canadian gardener who loves oil paint"

Mister Painter...did you see that your fellow country person not only listed his/her Province...but also is aware that that information has meaning because Zone 8 in B.C. is quite different than in Zone 8 in Savannah Georgia.
Further, you wrote this: "Your state means nothing to someone who is not from the States"...and then after referring to Americans as "you people" (twice) state that Canadians know much more about the U.S. than we know about you(all). It is this attitude that might keep some of us from really caring about what is going on up there.

Further proof of your ridiculocity, it that even at this moment, you fail to include your province of residence.

I like Aftermidnight, she is a very nice lady, so out of consideration for her I have been struggling to not make any Canadian jokes.

Like how can oilpainter be rude when I always heard that Canadians were so polite?

Although Ontarians are kind of known for being all stuck-up and snooty and thinking they are better and more cultured than other Canadians. Why yes this is true of all Ontarians, why do you ask? You can't expect an American to notice any difference between north and south Ontarians.

But maybe oilpainter is just grouchy because being organic makes you cranky.

And besides, winter is coming on. Days are getting short up there and we all know that Canadians are afraid of the dark.

Happy I'm not afraid of the dark, just because I plug night lights in several rooms before I hit the hay doesn't mean I'm afraid of the dark, this is only so I can let the cat out in the middle of the night without stubbing my toe on every &%#$!#% thing, honest. As long as the power stays on I don't have a problem at all, at least that's what I keep telling myself :))).

Annette

Annette, stock up on flashlights and candles just in case! :)))

I never once called Americans "you people" when I said that I was talking collectively about everyone who posted. I have never been rude at all. I have never called anyone names or put down Americans. I only refuted claims made against me. It's others who have taken my words and twisted them to their own purpose.

It seems Canadians are nice people as long as they agree with what was said, but don't dare disagree or you are put down and called names. I've had it with the whole bunch of you. You wouldn't know what being polite was if you fell over it.

Those Canadian jokes of mine were in bad taste and I apologize to all of the readers and their animals and plants.

But hey, at least I did not link to any of those dreadful(1) Scott Thompson(2) videos(3).

Those are really rude. Do not look at them.

I loved Kids In The Hall. Anyone remember Bob & Doug McKenzie from Second City TV? Or am I dating myself? Those were the glory days of sketch TV.

Anybody remember Red Green? My favorite was when he duct-taped a ceiling fan to the transmission of a junk car to make a riding lawn mower.

Keep your stick on the ice!

Our local PBS station runs the Red Green show. I've never watched it, but I know it's on because it comes on right in between Victory Garden and Antiques Roadshow. Maybe I should check it out.

Darn funny show. Makes one think that there are no fasteners in parts of canada, only duct tape......

OK, I just did, put my state in that is. Having spent some time gardening in Louisiana, Florida, and Spain, I realize that all zone 9's are not equal. It might create confusion when I talk about harvesting my runner beans in the spring, as an example.

When I attempted to determine my hardiness zone I pretty much had to guess it. There just isn't really any information on it for where I live at all. I hope I got it right.

I find the zone to be almost entirely useless. As noted, it is just a plant hardiness guide. My zone in NW Oregon is the same as much of Texas. Go figure. That's why I put city,state at the top. Although I'm not actually in Portland, it's close enough and nobody knows where Canby is.

The hardiness zones mean a lot more within a certain scope: a large state or province, for example, or a region like the northeast. A zone 8 florida tells someone familiar with the state quite a lot. That it is very like z8 georgia, and not at all like z10 south florida.

Zone 7 Mass is similar to zone 7 MD - both northish east coast. Not similar to z7's in the west.