By Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
What is a hardiness zone? The hardiness zone is based on 30-year averages of the lowest winter temperatures at specific locations. It is then divided into 10-degree Fahrenheit zones and again into 5-degree half-zones. The map reads we are in zone 5a. It doesn’t take into consideration our temperature fluctuations in winter, high temps in summer, or drought. I recommend you choose plants that are in Zone 3 or 4, we do raise some Zone 5 plants, but they may succumb to winter.