Heat domes, atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones, and polar vortex\u2014you\u2019re not crazy, the weather is. And last week, the USDA confirmed it by releasing an updated climate zone map for 2023. And for many gardeners, that means a change in growing zones.<\/p>\n
The map of the US is divided into zones, separated by ten degrees. It starts with 1a (Alaska) and goes all the way up to 13b (Puerto Rico), and the mainland U.S. tends to live between zones 5 and 10.\u00a0 In between, every single part of the U.S. uses this zone classification system, which tells you roughly how long your growing season is: when it\u2019s likely to start and finish, what kinds of conditions to expect, what your last frost date is, and more. When you shop for plants, you\u2019ll see zones labeled on the plant tag. Knowing your zone helps you shop for seeds. To change your zone means everything you know has shifted a little bit (by ten degrees).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zones don\u2019t change often\u2014the map was last updated in 201\u2014but when it does change, as it just did, it can upend what you know about your garden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It used to be easier to find your hardiness zone: You\u2019d just drop your zip code into Google, and it would spit out the information. But Google hasn\u2019t caught up with the new data yet, so for now, you’ll need to visit the USDA map<\/a> and input your zip code there.\u00a0<\/p>\n Of course, if you\u2019ve been paying attention, you already knew the weather was changing, and your plants have been responding the way plants do: They become more resilient, or they die. So you move in new plants that are better acclimated to the current climate.\u00a0<\/p>\n But knowing the new hardiness zone will help you when shopping for new plants by telling you if a labeled plant will thrive in your area. It should also remind you that artificial measures to keep plants alive and thriving when they\u2019re really not meant for one particular zone aren\u2019t sustainable. The citrus you were trying to baby through the winters in 8b are even less likely to survive in 9a. As you shop for seeds this winter and begin growing your starts, consider seeds cultivated for your new zone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat domes, atmospheric rivers, bomb cyclones, and polar vortex\u2014you\u2019re not crazy, the weather is. And last week, the USDA confirmed it by releasing an updated climate zone map for 2023. And for many gardeners, that means a change in growing … Continue reading
\n
\nSource: LifeHacker – The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Just Changed<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"