Re: Re: New USDA Zone Map

I'm with you on this, Daryl....(and Tony, too).  I think the heat
zone map is about useless.  The hardiness zone map is marginally
useful as a starting point, but not much beyond that.  It does help
people know what might stand a chance of making it in their gardens,
but that's about it because there are so many factors at play in
whether a plant is going to survive or not.  

It is a pity that the new map is based on less data and has removed
the a/b designations.  Wonder just what the rationale is behind this?
 Or is there any?

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Daryl <pulis@mindspring.com>
> > More use needs to be made of the AHS heat zones too.
> 
> In my part of the world, the heat zone map isn't very useful. It
only takes
> into consideration the number of days when the temperature is over
86
> degrees. The problem with that is that many plants suffer as much
or more
> with high night temps and/or the lack of variation between day and
night
> temperatures. In my humid climate we can have weeks where the night
temps
> don't drop out of the 80's.
> 
> If you'd like to listen to a great rant about the Heat Zone map,
mention it
> to Tony Avent sometime. ;-)
> 
> Daryl

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