Planting zones for US - new map out

[Sibley]

Sharing this for the gardeners here. The USDA released a new plant zone map, and the article I saw (and have since lost, in the space of 5 minutes, sigh) said about half the US shifted to warmer zones. Check your location. I am among the many who are in a warmer zone now.

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

[tygertygertyger]

As am I. But we've always wavered between two zones, so now we're firmly in the warmer one.

[JupiterGreen]

Interesting. I'm not sure if we changed zones, I'm going to have to look at the old maps and compare.

This is from Oregon State https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/new-plant-hardiness-map-used-gardeners-nationwide-and-based-osu-climate-data-unveiled

“Overall, the 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees warmer than the 2012 map across the conterminous United States,” Daly said. “This translated into about half of the country shifting to a warmer 5-degree half zone, and half remaining in the same half zone. The central plains and Midwest generally warmed the most, with the southwestern U.S. warming very little.”

[RetiredAt63]

Canada got a new map several years ago and the zones were also warmer.

[Telecaster]

All the Youtube gardeners make sure to note their zone.    But as far as I can tell, hardiness zone is one of the least important things for most gardeners.  I have a friend who lives in central Texas, Zone 9A, same as here in Seattle.   But our growing seasons and what we can grow successfully are radically different. 

[Linea_Norway]

All the Youtube gardeners make sure to note their zone.    But as far as I can tell, hardiness zone is one of the least important things for most gardeners.  I have a friend who lives in central Texas, Zone 9A, same as here in Seattle.   But our growing seasons and what we can grow successfully are radically different.

Your hardiness zone is not so important for which annual vegetables you grow. But for perannials, it is very relevant. And indeed the growing season.

[jinga nation]

NPR article today: https://apps.npr.org/plant-hardiness-garden-map/
Definitely become warmer in the 26 years I've been down here, so not surprised that my zone changed.
But I live right on the boundary of 9b/10a, so have to select varietals that will do well in both zones.

[former player]

2.5 degrees warmer for the continental US is way over even current climate change predictions.

Yikes.

ETA: When I posted this I hadn't made the connection between the USA still using fahrenheit while the UN uses celsius.  So still a smidge under 2 degrees of warming in celsius.  But that is still very, very, bad.

[lhamo]

I cannot quite get my head around the Seattle area now being 9a.  I was looking at fruit trees on a site that was having a big sale the other day, and a bunch of the apple varieties that would have been go-tos when we were an 8b are now not the best choices.