Climate Atlas

The 5 real Köppen-Geiger climate groups, their scientifically-shaped annual temperature curve, real solar day length, paired USDA-NRCS soil orders, and a derived planting calendar cross-referenced against real crop-germination data - data from OnlyCSharp.Data.Catalogs.EarthScience.Climatology (KoppenGroupCatalog), OnlyCSharp.Data.Catalogs.EarthScience.SoilTaxonomy (SoilTaxonomy), and OnlyCSharp.Data.Catalogs.Agriculture.SeedCatalog (SeedCatalog).

Köppen-Geiger groups

Code	Name	Description	Wikipedia
A	Tropical	Hot, humid; all months >18°C	Tropical_climate
B	Arid	Dry; deserts and semi-arid steppes	Arid_climate
C	Temperate	Mild mid-latitude; warm/hot summers	Temperate_climate
D	Continental	Cold winters, warm summers; large landmasses	Continental_climate
E	Polar	Cold; tundra and ice cap	Polar_climate

A Tropical

24.5°Cannual min (simulated)

27.5°Cannual max (simulated)

±1.5°Cseasonal amplitude

Zone 13USDA hardiness zone (from ZoneFromAnnualMinTempC)

lat ≈5°Nrepresentative latitude

12.3h / 11.7hday length: Jun solstice / Dec solstice

Precipitation: wet season up to ~310 mm/mo, dry season down to ~30 mm/mo.

Paired soil order(s)

Order	Formative element	Key characteristic	Typical setting
Oxisols	ox - English "oxide"	Highly weathered; dominated by iron and aluminum oxides/hydroxides	Humid tropical and subtropical regions; typically low natural fertility
Vertisols	vert - Latin verto, to turn	High content of shrink-swell (expansive) clay, chiefly smectite/montmorillonite; forms deep cracks when dry	Climates with pronounced wet/dry seasonal cycles

Pairing rationale (verbatim TypicalSetting match): "Humid tropical and subtropical regions" / "pronounced wet/dry seasonal cycles"

Crops that clear the planting gates for this zone

A crop is listed if the zone's USDA hardiness zone falls within its HardinessZoneMin/Max AND its GermTempMinC/MaxC window overlaps the zone's simulated annual temperature range [25°C, 28°C] - the same two of the three real gates the 1.9 app's live daily sim applies (germination window + USDA hardiness match).

Crop	Germ °C (min/opt/max)	Days to harvest	Frost class	USDA zones

No catalogued crop clears both gates for this zone's extreme seasonal swing.

B Arid

5.0°Cannual min (simulated)

33.0°Cannual max (simulated)

±14.0°Cseasonal amplitude

Zone 11USDA hardiness zone (from ZoneFromAnnualMinTempC)

lat ≈25°Nrepresentative latitude

13.6h / 10.4hday length: Jun solstice / Dec solstice

Precipitation: low precipitation all year, under 30 mm/mo.

Paired soil order(s)

Order	Formative element	Key characteristic	Typical setting
Aridisols	arid - Latin aridus, dry	Dry soils with low organic matter; often show subsurface accumulation of carbonate (caliche) or salts	Deserts and other arid climates

Pairing rationale (verbatim TypicalSetting match): "Deserts and other arid climates" - exact match

Crops that clear the planting gates for this zone

A crop is listed if the zone's USDA hardiness zone falls within its HardinessZoneMin/Max AND its GermTempMinC/MaxC window overlaps the zone's simulated annual temperature range [5°C, 33°C] - the same two of the three real gates the 1.9 app's live daily sim applies (germination window + USDA hardiness match).

Crop	Germ °C (min/opt/max)	Days to harvest	Frost class	USDA zones
Tomato	10/24/35	60-85	WarmTender	3-11
Pepper	16/27/35	70-90	WarmTender	3-11
Eggplant	15/26/35	65-80	WarmTender	5-11
Cucumber	16/29/35	50-70	WarmTender	4-11
Zucchini	16/29/35	45-65	WarmTender	3-11
Winter Squash	16/29/35	90-120	WarmTender	3-11
Melon	18/32/38	75-90	WarmTender	4-11
Watermelon	21/32/38	75-90	WarmTender	5-11
Bean (bush)	16/24/30	50-60	WarmTender	3-11
Bean (pole)	16/24/30	60-70	WarmTender	3-11
Sweetcorn	10/29/35	60-100	WarmTender	3-11
Basil	16/24/32	60-90	WarmTender	9-11
Marigold	15/24/30	45-50	WarmTender	2-11
Zinnia	18/27/35	60-75	WarmTender	2-11
Cosmos	16/24/30	60-90	WarmTender	2-11
Cherry Tomato	10/24/35	55-75	WarmTender	3-11
Giant Pumpkin	16/29/35	110-130	WarmTender	3-11

C Temperate

3.0°Cannual min (simulated)

23.0°Cannual max (simulated)

±10.0°Cseasonal amplitude

Zone 10USDA hardiness zone (from ZoneFromAnnualMinTempC)

lat ≈35°Nrepresentative latitude

14.4h / 9.6hday length: Jun solstice / Dec solstice

Precipitation: winter-max precipitation (Mediterranean-subtype pattern).

Paired soil order(s)

Order	Formative element	Key characteristic	Typical setting
Alfisols	alf - coined, no classical root	Clay-enriched argillic (or kandic) B horizon; moderately leached, base-rich	Moderately leached temperate and tropical forests; fertile agricultural soils
Ultisols	ult - Latin ultimus, last	Highly weathered, acidic soils with a clay-enriched (argillic) subsurface horizon and low base saturation	Humid subtropical and temperate forests

Pairing rationale (verbatim TypicalSetting match): "...temperate...forests..." / "Humid subtropical and temperate forests"

Crops that clear the planting gates for this zone

A crop is listed if the zone's USDA hardiness zone falls within its HardinessZoneMin/Max AND its GermTempMinC/MaxC window overlaps the zone's simulated annual temperature range [3°C, 23°C] - the same two of the three real gates the 1.9 app's live daily sim applies (germination window + USDA hardiness match).

Crop	Germ °C (min/opt/max)	Days to harvest	Frost class	USDA zones
Tomato	10/24/35	60-85	WarmTender	3-11
Pepper	16/27/35	70-90	WarmTender	3-11
Eggplant	15/26/35	65-80	WarmTender	5-11
Cucumber	16/29/35	50-70	WarmTender	4-11
Zucchini	16/29/35	45-65	WarmTender	3-11
Winter Squash	16/29/35	90-120	WarmTender	3-11
Melon	18/32/38	75-90	WarmTender	4-11
Watermelon	21/32/38	75-90	WarmTender	5-11
Bean (bush)	16/24/30	50-60	WarmTender	3-11
Bean (pole)	16/24/30	60-70	WarmTender	3-11
Sweetcorn	10/29/35	60-100	WarmTender	3-11
Swiss Chard	10/18/30	50-60	CoolSemiHardy	3-10
Carrot	7/24/30	70-80	CoolHardy	3-10
Beetroot	10/24/30	50-70	CoolHardy	3-10
Radish	7/24/30	22-30	CoolHardy	2-10
Basil	16/24/32	60-90	WarmTender	9-11
Marigold	15/24/30	45-50	WarmTender	2-11
Zinnia	18/27/35	60-75	WarmTender	2-11
Cosmos	16/24/30	60-90	WarmTender	2-11
Cherry Tomato	10/24/35	55-75	WarmTender	3-11
Giant Pumpkin	16/29/35	110-130	WarmTender	3-11

D Continental

-18.0°Cannual min (simulated)

26.0°Cannual max (simulated)

±22.0°Cseasonal amplitude

Zone 6USDA hardiness zone (from ZoneFromAnnualMinTempC)

lat ≈50°Nrepresentative latitude

16.1h / 7.9hday length: Jun solstice / Dec solstice

Precipitation: continental precipitation, snow-season winters.

Paired soil order(s)

Order	Formative element	Key characteristic	Typical setting
Mollisols	moll - Latin mollis, soft	Thick, dark, soft, organic-rich mollic surface (A) horizon, base-saturated	Grasslands and prairies; among the most fertile soils
Spodosols	spod - Greek spodos, wood ash	Acidic, sandy soils with a subsurface spodic horizon of accumulated aluminum, iron, and organic matter	Coniferous forests on sandy parent material

Pairing rationale (verbatim TypicalSetting match): "Grasslands and prairies" (steppe belt) / "Coniferous forests" (boreal taiga)

Crops that clear the planting gates for this zone

A crop is listed if the zone's USDA hardiness zone falls within its HardinessZoneMin/Max AND its GermTempMinC/MaxC window overlaps the zone's simulated annual temperature range [-18°C, 26°C] - the same two of the three real gates the 1.9 app's live daily sim applies (germination window + USDA hardiness match).

Crop	Germ °C (min/opt/max)	Days to harvest	Frost class	USDA zones
Tomato	10/24/35	60-85	WarmTender	3-11
Pepper	16/27/35	70-90	WarmTender	3-11
Eggplant	15/26/35	65-80	WarmTender	5-11
Cucumber	16/29/35	50-70	WarmTender	4-11
Zucchini	16/29/35	45-65	WarmTender	3-11
Winter Squash	16/29/35	90-120	WarmTender	3-11
Melon	18/32/38	75-90	WarmTender	4-11
Watermelon	21/32/38	75-90	WarmTender	5-11
Bean (bush)	16/24/30	50-60	WarmTender	3-11
Bean (pole)	16/24/30	60-70	WarmTender	3-11
Sweetcorn	10/29/35	60-100	WarmTender	3-11
Lettuce	2/18/27	45-60	CoolHardy	2-9
Spinach	2/16/24	40-50	CoolHardy	2-9
Kale	5/18/30	55-80	CoolHardy	2-9
Swiss Chard	10/18/30	50-60	CoolSemiHardy	3-10
Cabbage	5/18/30	60-105	CoolHardy	1-9
Broccoli	5/18/30	60-80	CoolHardy	1-9
Cauliflower	5/18/30	65-80	CoolSemiHardy	2-9
Carrot	7/24/30	70-80	CoolHardy	3-10
Beetroot	10/24/30	50-70	CoolHardy	3-10
Parsnip	2/18/25	100-130	CoolHardy	2-9
Radish	7/24/30	22-30	CoolHardy	2-10
Turnip	7/21/29	35-60	CoolHardy	2-9
Pea	4/18/24	60-70	CoolHardy	2-9
Onion	10/24/30	100-175	CoolHardy	2-9
Leek	7/18/25	150-175	CoolHardy	2-9
Parsley	5/21/30	70-90	CoolHardy	3-9
Cilantro	7/18/26	45-70	CoolSemiHardy	2-9
Dill	7/21/29	40-70	CoolSemiHardy	3-9
Marigold	15/24/30	45-50	WarmTender	2-11
Sunflower	8/24/30	70-100	WarmSemiHardy	3-9
Zinnia	18/27/35	60-75	WarmTender	2-11
Cosmos	16/24/30	60-90	WarmTender	2-11
Wheat (winter)	4/21/30	100-130	CoolHardy	3-9
Oat	2/18/29	90-120	CoolHardy	3-9
Strawberry	2/18/27	90-120	CoolHardy	3-9
Cherry Tomato	10/24/35	55-75	WarmTender	3-11
Apple (from seed)	4/21/28	1825-2190	CoolHardy	3-9
Giant Pumpkin	16/29/35	110-130	WarmTender	3-11

E Polar

-35.0°Cannual min (simulated)

3.0°Cannual max (simulated)

±19.0°Cseasonal amplitude

Zone 3USDA hardiness zone (from ZoneFromAnnualMinTempC)

lat ≈75°Nrepresentative latitude

24.0h / 0.0hday length: Jun solstice / Dec solstice

Precipitation: low precipitation, tundra/ice-cap.

Paired soil order(s)

Order	Formative element	Key characteristic	Typical setting
Gelisols	gel - Latin gelare, to freeze	Permafrost within 2 meters of the surface; often show cryoturbation (frost churning)	Arctic and high-altitude periglacial regions

Pairing rationale (verbatim TypicalSetting match): "Arctic and high-altitude periglacial regions" - exact match

Crops that clear the planting gates for this zone

A crop is listed if the zone's USDA hardiness zone falls within its HardinessZoneMin/Max AND its GermTempMinC/MaxC window overlaps the zone's simulated annual temperature range [-35°C, 3°C] - the same two of the three real gates the 1.9 app's live daily sim applies (germination window + USDA hardiness match).

Crop	Germ °C (min/opt/max)	Days to harvest	Frost class	USDA zones
Lettuce	2/18/27	45-60	CoolHardy	2-9
Spinach	2/16/24	40-50	CoolHardy	2-9
Parsnip	2/18/25	100-130	CoolHardy	2-9
Oat	2/18/29	90-120	CoolHardy	3-9
Strawberry	2/18/27	90-120	CoolHardy	3-9

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ladder

Real ladder from SeedCatalog.ZoneFromAnnualMinTempC (USDA PHZM 2023), used above to convert each zone's simulated annual minimum temperature into a hardiness-zone number:

Annual min temp ≤	USDA Zone
-45.6°C	1
-40.0°C	2
-34.4°C	3
-28.9°C	4
-23.3°C	5
-17.8°C	6
-12.2°C	7
-6.7°C	8
-1.1°C	9
4.4°C	10
10.0°C	11
15.6°C	12
> 15.6°C	13

All 12 USDA-NRCS soil orders

Order	Formative element	Key characteristic	Typical setting
Alfisols	alf - coined, no classical root	Clay-enriched argillic (or kandic) B horizon; moderately leached, base-rich	Moderately leached temperate and tropical forests; fertile agricultural soils
Andisols	and - from Japanese "Ando" (dark soil), via andesitic volcanic material	Formed in volcanic ash/tephra parent material; dominated by allophane and other short-range-order minerals	Volcanic regions
Aridisols	arid - Latin aridus, dry	Dry soils with low organic matter; often show subsurface accumulation of carbonate (caliche) or salts	Deserts and other arid climates
Entisols	ent - coined from "recent"	Little to no horizon development	Recently formed soils on active floodplains, dunes, or eroded surfaces
Gelisols	gel - Latin gelare, to freeze	Permafrost within 2 meters of the surface; often show cryoturbation (frost churning)	Arctic and high-altitude periglacial regions
Histosols	hist - Greek histos, tissue	Dominantly organic soils (peat or muck)	Wetlands, bogs, and marshes
Inceptisols	incept - Latin inceptum, beginning	Weakly to moderately developed horizons; early stage of soil formation	Young soils across a wide range of climates
Mollisols	moll - Latin mollis, soft	Thick, dark, soft, organic-rich mollic surface (A) horizon, base-saturated	Grasslands and prairies; among the most fertile soils
Oxisols	ox - English "oxide"	Highly weathered; dominated by iron and aluminum oxides/hydroxides	Humid tropical and subtropical regions; typically low natural fertility
Spodosols	spod - Greek spodos, wood ash	Acidic, sandy soils with a subsurface spodic horizon of accumulated aluminum, iron, and organic matter	Coniferous forests on sandy parent material
Ultisols	ult - Latin ultimus, last	Highly weathered, acidic soils with a clay-enriched (argillic) subsurface horizon and low base saturation	Humid subtropical and temperate forests
Vertisols	vert - Latin verto, to turn	High content of shrink-swell (expansive) clay, chiefly smectite/montmorillonite; forms deep cracks when dry	Climates with pronounced wet/dry seasonal cycles