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Re: [SG] AHS heat zones

I rushed out to buy my copy last March when it first came out.
Living in North Florida, I had high hopes for another reference that
might hint of the chances for success as I experiment with many
plants.  I realize it will take some time, but I have been very
disappointed by the inaccuracies I found in Dr. Cathey's list.  For
example, he shows Liriope as not growing well south of Atlanta,
but it absolutely thrives in the Deep South.  There were many
others, but not quite so blatantly wrong.

A much better reference, at least for the southeast, is the Southern
Living Garden Book.  I expected very little from it, but have been
pleasantly surprised.  Most of their listings of plants for their five
southeastern zones have closely matched my own experiences, so
I consider it a very credible reference.  Not sure how much it might
help gardeners in the midwest or elsewhere.

On 28 Aug 98,, GeneBush wrote regarding 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


Dave Skinner  --  Le Jardin Ombragé
                  Tallahassee, Florida (ZONE 8B)

http://www.nettally.com/skinnerd/ombrage.html
e-mail is skinnerd@nettally.com   or
          skinnerd@freenet.tlh.fl.us
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