The first step

The first step to gardening is developing a good plan of action. Now before we start drawing up a nice looking garden design or making a list of plants we like to grow we must ask ourselves some questions. Where am I located on the planet? Am I in the southern hemisphere, or the northern one? What is the weather like in my area? Will it be warm or cold most of the year where my garden is? For example, the central Ohio area, which is located close to the center of the United States, allows for the growing of several different types of crops, due to our more temperate climate. So from early spring to early fall we can get a variety of crops in. Now the scenario is different in the deep South. Take Florida for example; it gets very hot during the summer, and during the rest of the year it only sort of reaches mild temperatures, in an area like Florida it may be more prudent to grow different types of crops. For instance, during the time of the early years of the United States most southern states major cash crop was cotton, due to the fact that it grew well in this type of environment.

The USDA offers an amazing plant Hardiness zone Map on the National Arboretum website that will help identify your climate, and the last frost date. You can find your zone by simply clicking the image of the map posted below. Once the National Arboretum website is loaded, select your state and read the key listed on that page.

Remember some vegetables can be started earlier in the year than others. The zone in your area reflects different climatic changes. To give you a better ideal on what crops are suitable for what climate, here a few different types of crops and the growing season they are most suitable for:

Some Frost-tolerant crops are: Kale, lettuce, carrots, onions, potatoes, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower
Some Warmer-season crops are: Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, melons, corn, summer squash
Some Cool-Season crops: Spinach, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, lettuce                                            

I also suggest these resources in helping determine your growing climate:

 Old Farmers Almanac Loaded with great gardening tips 

Arbor Day Foundation Another good zone map

*Note*
 If you are out side the United States here are some links to Hardiness zone Map's that may be closer to your home:
Africa Hardiness Zone Map
Australia Hardiness Zone Map
Canada Hardiness Zone Map
China Hardiness Zone Map
Europe Hardiness Zone Map
Japan Hardiness Zone Map
Russia Hardiness Zone Map
South America Hardiness Zone Map