New USDA map reflects climate change

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 4:47 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/map-plant-reflect ... 39113.html

Interesting stuff. Mentions boston and iowa and a few other places.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Jan 27, 2012 8:09 pm

Figs in Boston? He must have a nice micro climate! I'd be loading up on palms if figs are hardy!! It's still rare not to go below 0F here..... More likely his warmth is due to the heat island effect.

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 3:37 am

Figs can be grown reliably in zone 5, with some protection. And in zone 4 with a ood microclimate and protection. THeyll die down every year, and grow back in may or june, top out at about 4 - 6 feet. There is some italians here who apparently grow them outdoors. OF course, youll want to make sure you try to get a hardy variety, like brown turkey, or chicago hardy, but my neighbor says there are old school italians here that brought some cuttings here decades ago from italy, that make it here. You can get pommegranates there too, espalier against a hot south wall as well!

THe article makes a great point: The changing climate is more prevalent to gardeners, then non gardeners. Jim is a great example. I never thought that I would make hibiscus make it outside here, but it came back great last year (rates zone 5), same with my wegelia, it is rates zone 5, no die back in 4 years here (it is blocked from north wind). Yucca Filamentosa has also made it here one year with no protection other then snow.

You can totally tell people here have no idea about the zone differences, and concidering the older plantings, the differences are stiking. People planted a ton of old style apples - small sour types, and macintosh in the warmer areas. Im trying a few different types of things now, like pear, different apples, cherries, and if I can get ahold of one, or cuttings of a reliance peach. Im going to try my pommegranate as well.

I think its fair to say, its going to be intersting trying out the "new" zones, as well as seeing what will happen to them in the comming 10, or 20 years

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:00 am

Growers of figs around here (Boston area) need to cut half the root area and bend the fig to the ground and cover with a board or carpet and then cover with leaves. Figs are 'hardy' down south of the DC area......as far as I know. Perhaps Mike T. Can shed some light where figs start to become reliabe. I'm taking about being hardy with no protection and no unusual micro conditions

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:07 am

Good point. I would have to say zone 6 for some, more then likely zone 7 or 8 for the "regular" types. I would include microclimate personally, that isnt real "protection", as much as good planning

Also, with protection in some areas, it wont do much good, when the ground freezes 3 or 4 feet down (not that bad here, but in some areas for sure). The changing zones would also reflect what you can get away with, using some protection as well.

In the article, it does seem he is speaking in terms of no protection, maybe microclimate but still. Again, you wont know till you try it yourself right?

Paul Ont · Post by **Paul Ont** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:50 am

From what I've seen you'll get wood damage on figs below -14C (8f), or even in milder weather if the cold is long lasting. They are reliable coming back from the roots into zone 4 if mulched well (and not great in that form, IMO).

canadianplant · Post by **canadianplant** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:21 am

True paul. The thing is, they wills till fruit once, and you will still get a crop (if thats the reason you planted it, if you planted it for looks, then I totally agree with ya ). From what Ive read they do better as a die back perennial in a warm zone 5.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:26 am

back in 2002 or so I tried the fig 'Long Island' which was claimed to be the only survivor on Long Island (New York) after the winter of 1994 which was brutal. It died the first winter in my zone 6b. I have another fig in my garden but it's in my greenhouse.
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... t264-1.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:40 am

A shame you lost that, Tim.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 4:47 pm

Hi Barb,

the photo is the fig I currently have......I lost the 'long island' fig in year 1........didn't protect since it was suppose to be hardy.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:17 pm

Oh, good Tim!

didn't protect since it was suppose to be hardy

Haven't we all done that!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:18 pm

I seen more dead or close too death figs in SE Arizona last summer than I did palms.

Am I the only one that can't past pics/ links on replys?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:23 pm

Am I the only one that can't past pics/ links on replys

TESTING: pic posting

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/5202144226/" title="DSC04103 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4092/5202 ... d731_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC04103"></a>

Seems OK here Aaron.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:39 am

I might try in another forum, wont let me right click in reply boxs?

I will try the add image to post, works, but not the image I want to add.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:53 am

Ok, sorry for so many none topic posts, but I can posts pics again.

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New USDA map reflects climate change

New USDA map reflects climate change

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