What are 'zones'; what is this zone thing???

So I was outside doing this and that and it occured to me that some of you perhaps, have no clue what a climate/growing zone is, and thus zone 7b means nothing to you. Well that is just as easy as reading up a bit at the following links to fix.

The USDA Hardiness Zone Map divides North America into 11 separate zones; each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) in an average winter than the adjacent zone. If you see a hardiness zone in a catalog or plant description, chances are it refers to the USDA map. To find your USDA Hardiness Zone, enter your zip code or use the map below. Click here for more information about hardiness maps.
Source: National Gardening Association
Address : http://www.garden.org/zipzone/

Then once you know your zone you can look up planting guides ....

When to Plant Vegetable Seeds

Each USDA zone has its own schedule for sowing seeds. If you're new to vegetable gardening, you'll want to know that there is a right time to plant each variety of vegetable seed. By following our zone chart for both cool and warm season vegetables, you'll be sure to plant your seeds at the correct time, enabling optimum sprouting and yield. And don't forget, the seeds you pick are also of the greatest importance. Even if you are an old hand in the vegetable garden, we hope that our USDA zone planting chart will be a useful tool for organizing your spring and summer vegetable planting.

Source: The Vegetable Garden: Planting Schedules
Address : http://www.thevegetablegarden.info/planting-schedules

And from there a good farmers alamac and some common sense will go a long ways. Because knowing is half the battle; the other is applying.