Hello from Wichita Falls, TX.

Hello from Wichita Falls, TX.
We have been using the square foot method since 1985, in Dallas/Fort Worth, Alabama and now back to Texas.
One big question, anybody else trying to grow anything in this area?
Not sure if we are in the upper Midwest, desert Southwest or who knows where.
Strangest climate and soil we have ever seen.
Yes, all our beds are based on the square foot method with a few changes learned through the years.
Once again Hello to all

Hi Cin......I know you are not in my area but since you posted in the Welcome Mat section I figured you are fair game. Welcome to the forum. It is an awesome place to hang out.......full of friendly, knowledgeable people who are willing to answer your questions or help you out in any way. Obviously, since you have been using the SFG method you will have plenty of advise for lots of us who have only been doing this for a year or two.

Old Hippie is my forum name but my real name is Gwynneth. I go by either Old Hippie or Gwynn. I am from British Columbia, Canada so in terms of garden zones and what you can grow in your area, I am no help to you at all, but there are several on here who will be able to help you.

We are glad to have you with us.

Gwynn

Well, I'm right outside of Oklahoma City and it's classified as Upper South. You kinda have your pick of 3 zones right where you are: Upper South, Middle South, and Southwestern Desert.

The National Gardening Assn lists zip codes 76301/76302 as being in the Upper South region if that helps any. Both zip codes are in Wichita Falls. Hope that helps you out!

Welcome the forum, Cin.

Hubby and I also bought Mel's first book in the early 80s but didn't really do much with it since we already had a large row-garden established and were too stubborn to change our ways at the time.

We "rediscovered" Mel last year and converted our entire garden to raised beds and SFG boxes, so you really can teach old dogs new tricks. Gardening had become a difficult chore for us until the conversion. Now we are loving it again.

There are several views about the garden zones. Some believe they are too broad in scope and prefer to rely on "Growing Degree Days" versus location. Boffer provided an explanation here: GDD

Chopper informed us of a different microclimate zone map provided by Sunset which is more specific:

Sunset growing zones

According to this map your area is in the High Desert region of Zone 10. Their numbers have no relation to the USDA zone map, but if you visit the site there is more information available. You can also go to the regional plant finder link and see which plants grow best in your zone.