USDA: Maine's growing zones have changed

**jackalope** · 30th January 2012 09:08 AM

USDA: Maine's growing zones have changed

By Dennis Hoey dhoey@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

Terry Skillin, president and owner of Skillin's Greenhouses in Brunswick, Cumberland and Falmouth, has begun to notice that local gardeners are having greater success growing more southern varieties of produce such as tomatoes, peppers and melons.

It's a sign that Maine and the nation are getting hotter, according to a new analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA's new plant hardiness zone map, which was released last week, shows how growing zones have changed since the last growing guide was published 22 years ago.

The map is considered the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive in a specific geographical location.

The new plant hardiness zone map -- the old map was published in 1990 -- is based on temperature data gathered over a 30-year period between 1976 and 2005. It was jointly developed by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service and PRISM, a climate group based at Oregon State University.

In Maine, the biggest shifts occur in the midcoast and York County.

On the new map, the midcoast of Maine and the southern portion of York County have moved from zone 5b to zone 6a. The rest of the area along the Maine coast, including parts between the new 6a zones, remains at 5b.

The average annual extreme cold temperature in zone 5b is minus 10 to minus 15 degrees. The average annual extreme cold temperate in zone 6a is minus 5 to minus 10 degrees.

"We're definitely starting to grow things that our counterparts have been selling for years in Connecticut and Massachusetts," Skillin said. "But Mainers won't be growing oranges or bananas anytime soon."

For the first time, the map offers a Geographic Information System-based interactive format and is specifically designed to be Internet friendly. The online map also offers a find-your-zone-by-zip-code feature.

more: USDA: Maine's growing zones have changed | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

The effects on the climate of the planet warming up are piling up.
Don't think that will change the tune of the naysayers tho ...

Although, I have to say, me and hubs were just talking about climate change last week (hard not to notice the unusual weather we've been having). I was JUST saying, you know, this whole global warming / climate change thing seems like it's going to be just fine for Mainers

.

**Babba** · 30th January 2012 09:21 AM

That is interesting that they've had to alter the hardiness zones. That could be a bad sign. On the other hand, we've saved a lot of money this winter because it's been so warm.

**jackalope** · 30th January 2012 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by Babba

That is interesting that they've had to alter the hardiness zones. That could be a bad sign. On the other hand, we've saved a lot of money this winter because it's been so warm.

Yes! - altho it does mean we can grow more stuff. And ... us, too!

**Tarheeler** · 30th January 2012 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by Babba

That is interesting that they've had to alter the hardiness zones. That could be a bad sign. On the other hand, we've saved a lot of money this winter because it's been so warm.

Tell me about it. We hit 65 today, and should see 70 before the week is out. It's been like this since December.

But I'm worried about our crops; some of our trees are coming into bloom already.

**Babba** · 30th January 2012 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Tarheeler

Tell me about it. We hit 65 today, and should see 70 before the week is out. It's been like this since December.

But I'm worried about our crops; some of our trees are coming into bloom already.

Yeah, that's the problem. Wild weather swings can be devastating to some species. And then what's the cascading effect? Say you guys lost a species of trees. That effects the ecosystem that tree exists in. It's kinda scary when you think all the way through. I really wish people would think it all the way through.

**jackalope** · 30th January 2012 04:56 PM

Originally Posted by Tarheeler

Tell me about it. We hit 65 today, and should see 70 before the week is out. It's been like this since December.

But I'm worried about our crops; some of our trees are coming into bloom already.

ahhhh, yikes .... hopefully there won't be a freeze that will kill them. Kinda early to be hoping for no more freezes tho!

**Red Eft** · 30th January 2012 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Tarheeler

Tell me about it. We hit 65 today, and should see 70 before the week is out. It's been like this since December.

But I'm worried about our crops; some of our trees are coming into bloom already.

I'm in NY and we have fields that are starting to turn green. Tough times to be a farmer.

**Tarheeler** · 31st January 2012 03:21 AM

Yep. I mean I love the weather and all (I absolutely hate the cold), but it seems like it is too much too soon. The crops can't adjust to this in a such a short time.
And it's not just the spring crops sprouting early; we have a lot of winter crops that need the cold and a few hard frosts in order to develop properly.

I'm just hoping the rest of the winter is mild and we don't have any major issues from this.

**metheron** · 31st January 2012 03:29 AM

Originally Posted by jackalope

[/LEFT]

The effects on the climate of the planet warming up are piling up.
Don't think that will change the tune of the naysayers tho ...

Although, I have to say, me and hubs were just talking about climate change last week (hard not to notice the unusual weather we've been having). I was JUST saying, you know, this whole global warming / climate change thing seems like it's going to be just fine for Mainers

.

I haven't found many naysayers to climate change in general. The naysayers were when they called it 'global warming', you remember that don't you.

The argument, and you know this, is the extent of human interference in climate change or is it just natural climate change that is constantly occuring.

And to start using one state as an example will only bolster those that find a state/city/region, what have you that might have a colder than the previous year average. Its a slippery slope.

**Babba** · 31st January 2012 04:10 AM

Originally Posted by metheron

I haven't found many naysayers to climate change in general. The naysayers were when they called it 'global warming', you remember that don't you.

The argument, and you know this, is the extent of human interference in climate change or is it just natural climate change that is constantly occuring.

And to start using one state as an example will only bolster those that find a state/city/region, what have you that might have a colder than the previous year average. Its a slippery slope.

Meth, Maine wasn't the only change. The only reason Jack made a big deal about that one change is because she lives there. And this isn't based on one year.

The agency said the changes were the result of a number of factors including taking temperature data from over a 30 year period, rather than 13; taking changes in elevation and closeness to large bodies of water into account, and using data from many more weather stations.

USDA's new Plant Hardiness Zone Map reflects warmer winters