zone map question...

Dave, is this the new USDA Zone Map they were talking about this winter that just was published? A new redrawn map? I didn't change zones but I see some other Iowans have! Almost makes one feel warmer!! :)

Yes, we have the new zone map! Terry, for one, apparantly changed a zone higher (time to get more tender perennials!) heheheh

thanks, I thought it looked different!

heheheh, yeah right - until we get a single-digit freeze as tends to happen about once a decade. I just loooove when "experts" cheerfully tell me I live in the "transition zone" - like I should be happy knowing kudzu and bermudagrass overwinter fine here, but figs and agapanthus are too tender. Somehow that doesn't seem to be cause for celebration!

I jumped on my new zone when I first saw the new map a few months back. As a serious gardener for little more than a year I am somewhat hesitant to "push the zone" (although I'm experimenting more this year). And I basically agee with my new Zone....at least seems to be warmer the last few years than when I was a kid.

I find it hard to believe that San Diego and L.A. are in the same zone as the San Francisco Bay area.

Must be fun changing zons without moving lol

Does anyone know the best map for other parts of the world please?

"Must be fun changing zons without moving lol".....

I think they call it global warming.


I have Botanica's Gardening Encyclopedia and it gives Zone Maps for the entire world using the USDA hardiness zones. I don't have a scanner though so cannot post it.

True langbr :)

If you have a minute some time, would you mind looking to see what my part of SW France is please?
Different maps I've looked at seem to disagree, so it would be interesting to know what your book says, but only if it's no bother...

I'm going to try and put up a map which shows where I am.
The whole pale green bit is France, the dark green is Midi-Pyrenees and I live in the west (left) of the Gers, which is the dark arrowed blob

Zone 8 is what my book shows, Philomel. A little farther north in part of the Mid-Pyrenees (dark green) looks to be maybe starting into Zone 7.

The USDA zones are only a reflection of average minimum temperature and as gardeners we all know that gardening successfully is impacted by many other variables and not just coldest temp.

Thanks for looking langbr
That leaves me in the same zone as I was in SE England.
However I know the winters aren't quite as cold and the summer is definitely warmer.

Just looking around at the plants people grow here shows the difference, though I did get away with a lot in sheltered parts of my old garden.

Here Magnolia grandiflora is grown as a street tree. In Kent it was a pampered darling against a warm wall

Living in a new locale sounds alot like getting your zone bumped up.....lots of new experimenting with what will grow and thrive. So much fun to try out new things.

You're absolutely right
I'm having a whale of a time. One thing though, I'm having a very steep learning curve on all things mechanical as there's so much grass to get down/keep down. Never had a motor mower before
My cousin took me out buying a brushcutter and a chain saw (gave me lessons too ;) The next purchase will probably be a little second hand tractor for hauling logs/ mowing/ ploughing the veggie patch LOL - we're on clay, spelt c o n c r e t e, though it seems fertile enough.

Sounds like Kansas! LOL!

Ah! You know the feeling......

Ahhh zones..

I have lived everywhere from New Mexico desert, Arizona desert, Texas DRY to Cannes, London and north of Shrewsbury UK in Wales.

It is all about trying, at the end of the day. You never know what will happen! I was sooo shocked when I got to the south of France (exotic for me!) and it looked like New Mexico and I realized that the same things would grow both places if you just asked the to do so.

Philomel- my daughter (10 years old) goes to the other side of Toulouse in St Antonin Noble Val every year to see her father. It is one part of France I have never been so if I go because she keeps asking, we should have a big ol' DG round up!!

That would be totally brilliant
We're about three hours from St Antonin :)
Do come.
Epazota was here very recently with her husband and son and daughter. They seemed to really enjoy it and had a trip into the Pyrenees etc....

my two grand daughters, who live here, are 10 and 8 so your daughter will have some friends!!
Check out:
http://www.ingascony.com/

Where do I find this zone map?

On the right, in the DG Network box, the last heading.

Ok! I also just found it in the PDB. It doesn't have the a's or b's in the zones anymore and shows me no longer 5b but 6. Guess I'll have to change my personal zone option now.

In our personal information section, where we change our zones, it still has the a's & b's. I am guessing that I would be 6a, since the new map changed me from 5b to 6. Are you going to be changing that part of our information, so we can be just 6, or 7, or whatever?

Good catch, Karrie! Looks like the Preferences area hasn't been changed to the new Zone scheme yet.

When I go to the USDA Hardiness Zone feature on the internet, it doesn't list the new one. Where did you find this Dave?

I don't remember... I got it quite a long time ago, probably from the USDA. I remember it was in PDF format, and I converted it to GIF to make it clickable.

dave

HOW long ago? Because according to what they are serving to us on their website, that isn't it. I can't read it in the very fine print, what time that was printed. I tried to send you an email regarding this, but haven't heard back from you. My DH is a GIS analyist and wants to geo-spatial data that lies underneath it, but can't get it if it is inaccurate or not up to date.

Quite some time ago, as in HOW long ago? It looks like the "new" map has reverted, not progressed.

Email me please. Because this isn't what the USDA serves currently and I'm not sure exactly what you have there. I just don't want people to get confused.

I do think this map is more "simple" but for people that want the "true" zoneage, it isn't enough.

Did some searching for you Karrie.

I put the new zone map up on DG on July 28, 2003.

It came from AHS: http://www.ahs.org/publications/usda_hardiness_zone_map.htm

dave

Since it does not normally freeze here in coastal Louisiana, I am beginning to rely more on the Heat Zone Map, which will let me know which plants I can fry here in the south.

http://www.ahs.org/publications/heat_zone_map.htm

Heat zone info would be nice, but no one uses it.

Maybe this is why:

Any reference to, reproduction of, or attempt to code plants using the map's information without written consent by AHS is a violation of the copyright.

*sigh*

Cheri'

Sundry,

Russ, as a GIS person runs into those issues all the time. But there are things that can not be copyrighted that way, as public funds (our tax dollars) were used to create those maps, and we can get them either free by downloading them off the internet or for a small fee if we request a CD or DVD from them with the info.

We ran into a problem here in Spokane, where the county was trying to charge $1500.00 for imagery that was supposed to be free. They've got themselves in a pickle over it and are aware now that they can't charge that money.

Basically: It's public information and we can have it or use it whenever we want. And how are they going to know we coded a plant based on their map anyways, lol!

Dave, I tried to bring that PDF file up off that website and it was blank. I do believe, however, that it is a draft, not a final, and that the old map you see on the USDA site still holds until they make the new one final. It says:

>The American Horticultural Society is pleased to be able to offer you an early peek at a draft version of the 2003 edition of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Please be advised that the image is large and loads very slowly. The draft map is currently under review by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service.

Yes, you are right, Karrie. Nevertheless, plants are not coded to the heat zones. =( Gardening would be much simpler if they were.

Cheri'

~* Robin

Edited for oops!

This message was edited Jul 19, 2005 7:08 PM