- Annual
- A plant that normally completes its life cycle in one growing season.
- Biennial
- A plant that normally completes its life cycle across two growing seasons.
- Companion planting
- Planning plants near one another for a proposed benefit or to avoid an unfavorable relationship.
- Crop rotation
- Changing crop families or crop groups in a growing location across seasons.
- Cultivar
- A cultivated plant selection maintained for identifiable traits.
- Days to harvest
- An estimated interval to a usable harvest, counted from the basis stated by the source.
- Days to maturity
- An estimated interval to a defined mature stage; the starting point can vary.
- Direct sow
- Plant seed in its final growing location.
- F1 hybrid
- The first filial generation from a controlled cross of parent lines.
- Frost date
- A statistical estimate of a seasonal frost marker, not a guaranteed date.
- Germination
- The process by which a viable seed begins active growth.
- Hardiness Zone
- A USDA temperature band based primarily on average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.
- Heirloom
- A named, open-pollinated cultivar preserved and passed down over time, often valued for its history, flavor, local adaptation, or distinctive traits.
- Hybrid
- A plant produced by crossing genetically distinct parents or lines.
- Microclimate
- Conditions in a small area that differ from the surrounding climate.
- Open pollinated
- A population that can reproduce through natural pollination while retaining its general type when properly maintained.
- Perennial
- A plant that can live for more than two years under suitable conditions.
- Planting window
- A recommended range for a planting action rather than one required date.
- Planting draft
- A planned My Garden planting record created from an explicit Food Planner action and intended for review before planting.
- Regional suitability
- A rating of expected crop or variety performance within a stated geographic scope.
- Resistance code
- An abbreviation for stated resistance or tolerance to a particular pest or disease.
