PalmsNorth.com – Cold Hardy Palm Forum
Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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Hello folks... This is something that really doesn't matter in the long run, but still intrigues me... The older US zone map that has been in effect for the last 20 years or so shows my location as right on the zone 5b/6a border, yet the newest zone map released by the arborday.org in the early 2000's shows me in the southern part of zone 6, much closer to zone 7 than zone 5... So what I'm trying to figure out is: what zone should I consider myself in? I've always considered myself in zone 6a, since I was right on the 5b/6a borderline on the old map and in the southern half of zone 6 on the new map (which does not differentiate an A/B, even though I would most certainly be in the B section, if it did so), so I just split the difference and considered myself in a zone 6a climate:) As I said earlier, it doesn't really matter, but I'd like to know what everyone here thinks, and how yall go about what zone label you place yourself in. All info/replies are appreciated as always:) BTW, my zipcode is 47840 if anyone wants to do their own research on this one:) Thanks!
Eric
Posted : 10/06/2010 2:49 am
It is confusing...I never know who is right....In the end, I guess what we say doesn';t really matter at all, it's how the plants fare that makes the difference.
Mike Trautner
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/US/NJ/Audubon.gif" alt="Click for Audubon, New Jersey Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Posted : 10/06/2010 6:49 am
JOVA- Just take the last 30 years (use more data if it exists, the USDA uses too short a period of time IMO) of extreme cold data (the coldest temperature experienced each winter) from the nearest weather station. Average the lows. Whatever the number is (say -2f, zone 6a!).
Cheers.
Posted : 10/06/2010 7:07 am
Eric,
I empathize. The older USDA map puts me in zone 6, but the arborday map puts me in zone 7. What to do?
Paul's method works.
What I do is go with the newer arborday map. Locally-owned nurseries are doing that, too.
I just have to know that some winter I will have to protect as if it is zone 6. I have lived here 13 years (moving from Portland, Oregon) and have yet to see <0oF temps, but eventually it will happen. --Erik
Posted : 10/06/2010 9:02 am
I think a lot depends on what your trying to grow.
If it's palms there should be a scale set to amount of time below/above freezing.
Moisture also plays a huge roll in hardiness of palms and cactus.
Those later zone maps are based on warming in recent years,what good
are they now if we are headed back into a prolonged cooling trend?
It's all relative.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_cond/language/www/US/IA/Fairfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 10/06/2010 10:13 am
