The Gardener’s Glossary: 13 KEY terms every beginner gardener should know
There's so much to learn when it comes to gardening, it can get overwhelming fast. So I wanted to create an easy-to-understand list of common terms to bring some clarity to maybe some confusing gardening lingo. Let this be a starting point to grasping how plants work and how to grow them where you live.
This glossary breaks down common key terms and gives you real examples from my garden, along with other outside resources for further reading. If you’re eager to get gardening right now and maybe not sure what you can do, I encourage you to start growing in your vocabulary. When you encounter these terms you will be more prepared for making the right decisions regarding your gardening space.
Glossary Terms
Annual
Perennial
Cold Season crops
Warm-season crops
Frost tender
Frost tolerant
Bolting
Companion planting
Days to germination
Day to harvest
Direct sow/seed
First and Last Frost Date
USDA Plant Hardiness zone
The Gardener’s Glossary
Annual
An annual is a plant that lives for one growing season. It grows from spring to summer, dies with the cold fall weather and the coming of the first frost. Depending on where you live and your growing zone, some plants may be perennials and not annuals if you live in a place that doesn't freeze. Most vegetables are annuals, you have to plant them year after year.
Examples of flowers that are annuals : calendula, sunflowers, zinnias
Extra Resources
Annual Plants vs. Perennials - This article goes more in depth on annuals and perennials and how to use them.
2. Perennial
Is a plant that comes back year after year. Woody trees, shrubs, and vines are all perennials. They will die after a season but grow back the following season.
Examples: are rosemary, rhubarb, asparagus, raspberries, blueberries,
blackberries and artichokes.
3. Cold Season Crop
Cold season crops are annual crops that thrive in cool temperatures.
Examples: lettuce, leeks, peas, carrots, radishes, broccoli, beets, and kale.
Tip: These vegetables taste sweeter and better in cooler weather. Often lettuce and radish etc. can taste bitter and have a tough texture in hot weather. Grow these things in early spring and fall to get the best tasting produce.
4. Warm Season Crop
Warm season crops are grown in the spring and summer. These need an average night temperature of 55 degrees to survive. Most tolerate temperatures above 80 degrees as well.
Examples: cucumbers, melons, squash, tomato, eggplant
5. Frost Tender
Some crops are frost tender meaning they aren't tolerant of freezing temperatures and will die as a result. Freezing temperatures include anything below 32 degrees.
Examples: melons, tomatoes, peppers and basil.
Extra Resources
Frost vs. Freeze - Learn the difference between a frost and freeze and how to protect your plants.
6. Frost Tolerant
Crops that can survive cool weather and even some frost depending on the variety.
Examples: kale, broccoli, spinach, onion, garlic, cabbage, radish to name a few.
7. Bolting
Bolting happens when a plant sends up a flower stalk and set seeds. Usually, this happens to cold-season vegetables as a result of hot temperatures. This signals to the plant it is time to stop putting energy into growing and instead spread seed to reproduce. Bolting causes flavor to become bitter and leaves to become almost inedible. There are ways to lessen the chance of this happening detailed in the articles below.
Examples: lettuce, spinach, arugula, bok choy, broccoli, basil, dill, cilantro
Extra Resources
What causes bolting and how to prevent it? - This article from Masterclass provides 6 ways to prevent you veggies from bolting.
How to stop Lettuce from Bolting - Steps to preventing lettuce from bolting, tips to try at home.
8. Companion Planting
Companion planting is planting multiple plants together that provide each other with benefits. An example of this would be planting a flower that attracts pollinators like marigolds next to melons, which require pollination from insects.
Extra Resources
Companion Planting Chart - Provides some more pairing ideas and great information on benefits.
Companion Planting Guide - Breaks down plant by plant companion preferences.
9. Days to Germination
The average number of days it will take a seedling to emerge or break through the soil under favorable conditions. Usually, this information can be found on the back of the seed packet.
Extra Resources
How to start and care for seedlings - Answers all you seed starting questions, a fantastic resource for beginners.
10. Days to Harvest
This is the average number of days from when the seed of a plant is planted to when it's ready for harvest. You can usually find this information on the back of the seed packet.
Tip: This does not apply for every seed, some varieties typically started indoors like tomatoes and peppers have the days listed are from an already started seedling to harvest.
11. Direct Sow
Planting or sowing seeds directly where they are going to grow, instead of planting them in pots inside and then transplanting them later. Some vegetables prefer to be direct sown and should not be bought as pre-started seedlings. These varieties also produce a harvest relatively quickly. The list includes carrots, radish, beets, lettuce, and peas.
Extra Resources
Direct seeding in the tunnel - Whispering Willow Farm is a great resource for beginner gardeners. This video is all about direct sowing your garden.
12. First and Last Frost Date
Is the average date that the first frost occurs in fall and the last frost in spring. Frost occurs when the air temperatures reach 32 degrees. These dates can be found on the USDA map of hardiness. This information is the average estimate based on historical data and is not a set date, just an estimate. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather and be prepared for things to change.
The Old Farmers Almanac is a great resource for finding your average frost dates.
Extra Resources
National Gardening Association - Another website to find your areas first and last frost dates.
13. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
This map divides the United States into 13 zones based on the average annual lowest temperature. This information can help gardeners decide which plants will survive cold temperatures in their area. The higher the number the warmer the coldest temperature in that area. Also means you can grow more plants year round without them being knocked out by a frost.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is an interactive tool to help you understand your area a bit better. Use this map in combination with your frost dates to help you determine when it is safe to plant for best success.
The USDA also includes a feature that breaks zones down by state so it’s easier to be more specific.
Above I’m using MN as an example of a colder climate. I am in zone 4b so the lowest temperature is -25 to -20, basically really, really, really cold.
An example of a warmer growing climate is California. CA has some areas in 10a coldest temp being 30-35 degrees. If the temps don’t go below freezing then you can garden pretty much year round.
Sources:
https://www.botanicalinterests.com/product/Garden-Glossary
https://www.planetnatural.com/vegetable-gardening-guru/garden-terms
To Wrap up
The list of key term every beginner need to get the year started right. Hope you learned something new and are excited to get gardening. Just take it step by step and before you know it your garden will be overflowing with produce. Another tip, consider getting a gardening journal. It can be super helpful once you find your zone, frost dates and other key information to write it down to refer to later.
Other news
Curious to see how I created my dream garden? A LOT of DIY’s, trips to the garden center and help from family, check out the creating a garden you love post to see the transformation.