Zone 5'ers?

This may sound silly, but what are your growing seasons like? Our season starts about mid march and lasts usually until thanksgiving. Most everything i have stays in the ground year round.
We have our realtor looking hot and heavy for a home in upstate new york, cant figure out if its zone 5a or 5b, although i dont think theres much difference? Whichever it is, its way different than my current one.
I know that i'm going to be in serious zone denial, but do tropicals survive? I dont think i'll be fortunate to find a home complete with greenhouse, its difficult enough to find one fenced with a barn.
I hate to think that i have to leave behind, but cant see the sense in moving it if it wont survive.
Thanks for any thoughts,
jen

I'm not quite z5 but close. I get by with a few z5 on the south side of the house in a protected area. You would definitely be in serious zone denial with that type of move. lol Tropicals will only survive in a heated greenhouse or the house for the winter. We must dig glads, callas, cannas and dahlias, etc. if we want to see them again next year. Our frost date is May 15, I think; z5 would be a little warmer, maybe May 5th or 8th, something like that.

On the positive side, you'll get to enjoy snow!! I can't imagine a winter without snow. Doubt if I could live in a tropical climate for very long. And some plants do much better in the cooler zones. Peonies come to mind, although they can be grown in the south, I've been told, just with some modifications. The local greenhouse mgr told me the other day that they get requests for eustoma/lisianthus from southern flower shops because they grow much better up here. I've read of others but can't think of any right now. Rhubarb maybe? is that another cool weather one?........can't remember........ :)

Oh boy, you're in for a surprise! We regularly have snow in April and I never put anything tender in the ground before May 15. Tropicals won't have a chance before about May 30. Last year I planted bulbs in September. I got some late daylilies into the ground in October and I considered that really late. Why in the world do you want to move north! I'm not terribly familiar with New York, but you might check on average snow falls, I know some places get a lot more than others.

I don't live far north as New York state but we don't put any annuals out until the last week in May and our first frost is mid to late september. Tropicals won't live outside in the winter. But on a good note. Snow is a good insulator and you should look forward to it. Also just because a plant says it is okay to zone 5 doesn't mean that it will thrive in zone 5. Also each area is different. Here in Colorado, we can't grow blueberries or Hydrangeas (most) because the water in our PH is so different. Also you may want to get a snowblower depending on how much snow you will have to shovel.

Holy cow, you have to dig bulbs and rhizomes?? Egads, lol.
I'm hoping that the house we find will have a heated basement that i can use for plants that i do take.
We're looking for a change of scenery. We bought the 11 acres in the ozarks, and hope to move there one of these days, but new york sounded like such a great idea, lol. His family is there, and it'll be nice to spend time with them.
We have the letter of guarantee from the bank, just waiting to find the home now. We only have until mid oct to move, or we'll have to wait until next spring. Feel kinda like we're against the clock.
Went touring the yard this morning and it looks like i've got a lot of goodbyes to say, holy mackeral where did all this junk come from, lol.
Oh boy, just looked and it looks like the average snowfall for Rochester is 95 in. a year?? Hehe, whats that mean??
If you took Buffalo and Rochester and triangled it down, youll find Steuben County. Thats roundabout the area we'll be going to.
Thanks
JEn

You don't have to dig ALL bulbs and rhizomes just the ones not hardy in your area. I don't do many tropicals because of the extra trouble but then I need an easy garden. You won't see dahlias, cannas etc in my garden because of the trouble. Most basements are "heated" to an extent so the water pipes don't freeze. But usually not heated like in the house. You can overwinter some things in there but moving them can be an inconvience. I suggest you get a down coat when you get to New York this fall because they are the best in the cold. But I'm sure you will get all kinds of suggestions. 95 inches of snowfall. Here in Denver we get about 60 but the sun comes out and melts it. I don't think it's like that in NY. I think it stays on the ground all winter. It means boots and warming up cars and not doing any gardening in the winter. But then you get to experiment with plants you probably haven't even thought of putting in your MS garden.

Yes, May 15th for our last frost in Southern Ohio... too, I think our low is -20 about every 3 years. LOL
So I consider myself zone 5... Hate to lose those plants with a -10 degree rating, that they say will grow in our area. Good Luck... And like Mobi said... Think of all the new & untried plants....

Shoot, by may 15th here, we're tanned and ready for winter again, lol.
I think this year i pulled everything out of the greenhouse around mid feb and we had another cold snap come through....i said my prayers and left everything out to fend for itself, lol.
I cant fathom -20

Jen, I lived in Calgary for 2 years and there is snow on the ground pretty much all winter there. And -20 is pretty normal for winter time there. So I can honestly say "I feel for you" as far as gardening goes. But think of all the things you'll get to experience that you'd never do in MS! Like learning to cross country ski! Real snowmen at Christmas! Snowflakes on your eyelashes, frozen nose-hairs, etc. :-)

A good down coat for winter (that covers your rear-end!!!!!) is a must. None of that short, down to your waist funky stuff. Get a sensible coat, hat and gloves so you can go about the business of ENJOYING the winter there. Otherwise you'll spend the entire winter grumbling and cursing the weather.

-Julie

and get a good pair of waterproof boots with removeable felt liners.

Oh yeah, speaking of boots. Don't buy the boots in MS. Buy them in NY! The boots I brought with me to Canada were really warm and cozy in Germany. But when they were introduced to those REALLY cold temps in Canada, the rubber soles actually froze and cracked....fine I suppose so long as the ground is frozen, but not so fine when the wedged in snow starts to melt once you get indoors! :-( And being a poor college student, I had no money to buy new boots again. So don't make my mistake. Buy your boots there from a place that sells stuff suitable for that climate!

-Julie

MsJen, I live in Yates County just east of Steuben and I consider us a 5b-6a if I know zones correctly. We are protected by Seneca Lake and it keeps us much warmer. You would surely be a zone 5 or if you are in the hills maybe even a 4b.

You would not get as much snow as Syracuse and Rochester because most of that is lake affect from Lake Ontario. But you would get lake affect from Lake Erie. It is beautiful country here the hills in Steuben Co. are almost mountains and are beautiful.

I have lived here all my life except for 3 years in FL 32 years ago and have always watched the weather and have always gardened even as a little girl. Any questions just shoot.

Joy

My boots are Sorrel, with felt liners. Easy to take the liners out to dry by the woodstove. I wouldn't have any other kind. Nor would I be without a down coat with a hood. I'm now in 6a but have lived colder.

I can remember when we went up for the fall foliage festival about 5 or so years ago, i *thought* i was packing winter socks, heck they were the heaviest ones walmart had (in the ladies dept), lol....boy did i ever get a wake up call on those, lol.
Thanks about the idea of boots, i have a pair of thinsulate muck boots that i wear but i doubt if those will be warm enough.
Joyous, i'm sending the family out later this week to look at a house in prattsburg, it looks so ideal.
We would like to stay in the steuben/livingston/allegany counties, but didnt think to look in yates county. his family is from bath, are you familiar with it? maybe youll be able to show me a thing or two about northern gardening and i can show you a thing or two about zone denial, lol.

MSJen, Prattsburg is a small town and have had friends from there and they most always were much colder. I am sure that it is because of elevation. Bath is a nice town with easy access to interstate 86 or rt. 17 that goes across the souther part of the state. Not sure about showing you things about northern gardening, I think the great part of that is you never know what will make it that you never thought would. I have micro climates in my yard that surprise me on how early I will have things in blossom compared to other parts of the yard.
I have to laugh about the boots and down coats, we must be so used to the cold that we don't think twice about using jackets and shoes except during the worst storms, I have learned to wear a hood and scarf when snowblowing or else the snow comes back so I am covered inside and out. I love snowblowing trails through the yard.........after I get the driveway finished. My guys laugh at me but those trails come in handy for feeding the birds and a place for the cats to wander and an easy way for the deer to get to my plants!! I must be crazy. That is something you will have to deal with if you are out in the country or even in town DEER, we have them everywhere. Steuben county has a very large population and I think that more deer are taken there than any other county in the state.
I hope to get to meet you, let me know when you come up here. Here is a pic of one of our pretty storms.
Joy

Oh joyous, Are you getting her into the mood? LOL I have one... Ice storm of 2003.

Oh my SO,... we have thankfully been blessed and never in 29 years experienced a storm like that. North of us yes, Rochester area without power for over 2 weeks. There are benefits to winter. Time to rest!, plan your gardens for next year, dream of how absolutely stunning they will be (at least in your dreams) and to just enjoy the difference. As much as I like the tropics I came home from FL after 3 years because I missed the seasons and I missed Seneca Lake. Go figure, had the whole Atlantic 3 miles from me and I missed a lake, but a beautiful lake. Honestly, would you move south and miss all that the seasons have to offer? I really wasn't trying to scare her off, there really is beauty in the winter and especially in the hills of Steuben county.

Joy

I dont think i can get scared off, lol. Provided we find the home and the financing doesnt fall through, we'll be there. Just hate feeling like i'm against a time line here.
Growing up his family spent alot of time on Keuka Lake. We visit the bully hill winery every time we go up and buy a supply to bring home. Its so incredible to stand on the bluff and just see forever.
Slow down? Hmm, now thats a new one to me too, lol. I imagine the first winter, i'll develop such a case of cabin fever. I ask dh constantly about the winters and weather and he looks at me like i'm nuts, i really dont know. i have no concept of below freezing temps, 6 ft of snow on the ground, ice storms. winter boots, snow plows and ice, lol. How do you say clueless?
I spent 3 years in germany and only remember one time that we were snowed in. Not in the house, but we lived in a valley and our car couldnt get the traction to get up the hills to get out. That only lasted a day tho. I grew up in nebraska, but as a child i didnt understand the adults concept of snow, only that it was there to play in.

Jen, it will be great to have another DGer here. We are kinda spread out but wellswillow is from Branchport, not far at all from Prattsburg. Imelling is from Ithaca and there used to be a member from Naples--Canandaigua area. My brother has a home on the Bluff overlooking the east branch of Keuka, the only other place I would want to live, it is beautiful. We are surrounded by wineries here, there is a new one going up at the top of our hill and probably a dozen within 10 miles of us. We live on a dead end road 1/4 of a mile off the lake with a very, very steep gully right out our back door. Less that 10 feet out the back door it must drop off straight down about 40-50 feet. Good thing we are not heavy drinkers!!