Growing season

Factors Affecting Growing Season

• Latitude and altitude influence growing season duration
• Sunlight intensity decreases further from the equator
• Low sun angle delays soil warming in spring
• High elevations have cooler temperatures
• Cooler temperatures shorten growing season

Techniques for Extending Growing Season

• Row covers and hoophouses extend growing season
• Crops cease growth with less than 10 hours of daylight
• Hothouses create artificial growing environments
• Season extension methods applicable to various climates
• Rainy seasons can impact growing year in some regions

Growing Seasons in North America

• Continental US growing season ranges from 49°N to 25°N
• Growing season lasts 4-5 months north of 45th parallel
• South of 30th parallel, growing season is year-round
• Desert Southwest experiences a winter growing season
• Some crops require 8+ months of hot weather to grow

Growing Seasons in Europe

• Southern Europe has growing seasons of 6+ months
• Northern Europe experiences shorter growing seasons
• Atlantic coast regions have milder winters
• Scandinavia and Russia have brief growing seasons
• Extreme daylight length in summer aids plant growth

Growing Seasons in Tropics and Deserts

• Water availability limits growing season in warm climates
• Irrigation can extend growing season in hot areas
• Rainy seasons disrupt growing seasons in tropical regions
• Coffee growing affected by rainy seasons in different areas.

Growing season Data Sources