Texas

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Austin, Texas lies 33 degrees off the equator.

Most, if not all seed catalogs include a zone for the United States so you know roughly what plants to have in your zone. Just because your plant dies doesn’t necessarily mean that it was made for your climate. Other things to take into consideration include whether or not your plant needs alkaline or acidic soil, if it prefers sun/shade/part sun & shade, drought tolerance, plant stress under high heat/cold conditions, proper moisture control(low to high watering needs), feeder intake(what nutrients do they need more of, etc.).

Some seed catalogs, the really great companies, tell you the zones each plant is good for. Some of them specifically have a notation/key that tells you whether or not they tolerate excessive heat weather conditions. For annual plants, there is a specific time/season of the year when they should be planted for proper harvesting times.

Planting by the moon, planting by specific families, and crop rotation increase production yields, promote healthier and more successful growing environments. For a quick reference check the farmers almanac but your local agriculture extension may have similar information as well.