So, I have scouted the internet since 2011 and last year a very nice updated climate map was made available by the CSIR and D. C. U. Conradie, I have posted it on my About page; but here it is again.
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International GreenBuilding Conference and Exhibition
Future Trends and Issues Impacting on the Built Environment D. C. U. Conradie2012 (CSIR data 2010) |
Recently I tried to get a hold of South Africa’s Hardiness Zones, and yet again without fail, I seem to turn up with nothing, nada, niks!
Some of my vegetable books from Australia have the hardiness zones of South Africa, since the two countries have very similar climatic patterns. To prevent plagiarism I remade my own based on several sources. Most of the zones coincide with South Africa's annual rainfall patterns.
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| South Africa Hardiness Zones Reconstructed visually from maps supplied by Grow Your Own Fruit & Vegetables the easy way (AUS book) and Food From Your Garden (SA book) Constructed with ArcGISOnline tools |
Just a note on the map above; it is based on the Australian Hardiness Zones and not the USDA. Therefore it requires some clarification:
Zone 1: Hot arid
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This region has a low rainfall (350mm per annum) and is very dry.
Rain falls during the summer in the north and during the winter in the south.
Extended periods of drought are a regular occurrence. Daytime temperatures
are 38oC-45oC, with little humidity. Night time
temperatures drop drastically and frost is a regular occurrence in winter. Frosts can be severe in the
southern regions and occur during late autumn to early spring.
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Zone 2: Mediterranean
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Zone 2 correlates with a winter rainfall pattern (350-1000mm per
annum), usually between late autumn and early spring. Summers are hot and dry
with periodic droughts with an average daytime temperature below 30oC. As
with most of SA, frost occurs more towards the inland than on the coast. This
region has similar climate to the northern Mediterranean and southern
California.
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Zone 5: Cool subtropical
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This zone contains a large chunk of the fynbos biome and the montane
forest of SA. It is a coastal region with warm, moist conditions with an
average temperature of 18oC to 24oC. Rainfall occurs
throughout the year, 750-1250mm per annum, with the heaviest during mid-summer
and mid-autumn. Frost doesn’t occur along the coast, but towards the inland
and around the mountains during mid-April to early October.
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Zone 6: Warm Subtropical
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This is an ideal zone for gardens with a hot, humid climate and
summer rainfall pattern. Average temperatures are 20oC to 23oC
and 750-1250mm of annual rainfall. July to September is warm and sunny with
little rain. Night temperatures don’t fall below 15oC – a good
thing for growing peppers!!! J Some inland areas
experience frost, but the zone is mainly frost free.
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Zone 7: Warm Semi-Arid>
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Average summer temperatures are mid-30oC or higher. Rain
is monsoonal and occurs mainly during summer, 250-850mm per annum, with more
rain towards the coast. Extended periods of severe drought can occur far from
the coast. In the northern parts frost
is restricted to July, but can occur throughout the winter in the south and
can be heavy around mountains.
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I hope this helps any other people looking for this info on SA! For any of those who want to create your own maps, check out www.arcgis.com; where you can create a free ArcGISOnline account to make basic maps!
Which zone is your garden located in? Do you any specific problems with your climate?
- Update: 13 Oct 2013 -
Warming of Southern Africa linked to the Antarctic Ozone hole
Nature Article - Ozone loss warmed southern Africa
Original Article - Link between Antarctic ozone depletion and summer warming over southern Africa
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