Unlike vegetables, most fruit plants come back year after year, which means you need to choose the right plant for where you live. (Forget about growing pomegranates in Vermont, for example.)

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) divided North America, Europe, and China into 11 zones based on each area’s expected average annual minimum temperature — its hardiness zone. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for North America (see Figure 5-1) enables you to find your hardiness zone, which you can find on plant tags.

Figure 5-1: The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Maps indicate each zone’s expected average annual minimum temperature.