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Re: [SG] AHS heat zones

Hi Margaret,
        Purchased the book about 3 months ago. Hope to do more than scan through
it this coming winter when things slow down a bit. Looks promising and hope
it makes it to the point where enough accept the rating system that it
becomes the norm on plant descriptions. Only other book that does the heat
rating system I am aware of is the Perennials for American Gardens that I
have had for years.
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----------
> From: Margaret Lauterbach <mlaute@MICRON.NET>
> To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: [SG] AHS heat zones
> Date: Thursday, August 27, 1998 4:48 PM
>
> Okay, guys, are you ready for the new American Hort. Society's heat
zones?
> Some or many wholesalers will be putting four numbers on tags: USDA zones
> that that plant will live through, and AHS heat zones that that plant
will
> thrive in.  They've taken average temps from 1976 to l995, and figured
out
> how many days of 86 degrees F. (30 degrees C.) an area usually gets
during
> a growing season.  There are 12 zones, zone 1 having less than one day of
> 86 or higher on average, and zone 12 has more than 210.  The idea behind
> this is that some hot weather is far too stressful for certain plants,
and
> they should not be grown in that kind of climate.  86 degrees was chosen
> because some cellular protein is damaged at that temperature.  I think
it's
> a superb idea.  Just got my copy of "Heat-Zone Gardening" by Dr. H. Marc
> Cathey, President Emeritus of the American Hort Society.  Pub. date is
> 1998, and it's a Time-Life book (discount if you're a member of AHS).
>
> Nurseries in Boise are enthusiastic, having seen some plants expire of
> alleged winterkill, when the winter temps were not that severe, but the
> summer had been.  Gene, Marilyn and others who have nurseries will like
the
> new system, I think.  Margaret
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