Did Your Growing Zone Change? | New USDA Plant Hardiness Map Explained

The USDA's New Plant Hardiness Zone Map - Explained
What has changed, and what remains the same?
What is the New USDA Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Plant Hardiness Map Zones Explained
Imagine the United States as a big garden. But this garden isn't all the same - some parts are scorching, some parts are abnormally fridged, and some areas have weather that changes a lot. Now, different plants like different types of weather. Some plants love the cold, and some plants need lots of sun and warmth.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) created a map that splits the country into 13 zones. Each zone represents a different kind of climate or weather pattern. The map is based on the average lowest winter temperature over 30 years. The zones are numbered from 1 to 13. Zone 1 is the coldest, where temperatures can go down to minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit (-45.6°C), and Zone 13 is the warmest, where the temperature rarely goes below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15.6°C).
In addition to the main zones numbered from 1 to 13, the USDA Hardiness Zone Map also includes 'A' and 'B' subdivisions within each zone. These divisions represent a slightly more detailed breakdown of climates.
Each zone represents a range of average annual minimum winter temperatures of 10 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, Zone 7 ranges between 0 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. But that's still a pretty big range! So, the USDA decided to split each zone into two parts: 'A' and 'B,' each representing a 5-degree Fahrenheit difference to make it more precise.
For instance, if you're in Zone 7:
Zone 7a would have winter low temperatures between 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Zone 7b would have winter low temperatures between 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
These subzones 'A' and 'B' allow gardeners to choose plants more likely to thrive in their specific climate.
So, if you live in Zone 3, you'll want to find plants that can handle cold winters. But if you live in Zone 10, you'll look for plants that can handle hot weather.
planthardiness.ars.usda.gov
This video covers what’s New with the Plant Hardiness Map​​:
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Explained
03:50 New Updates to 2023 Zone Map
07:56 How to Use the USDA Website for Zone Maps
09:23 Crop Planning Best Practices
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[@OnlyJoels]

Exactly what we needed!

[@farmyourbackyard2023]

I’m cracking up at this new map. There are a bunch of people in my area planting new perennials that they believe are going to survive because of these map changes. The closest weather station to me is about 30 miles, and close to the Arkansas river. The weather data consistently runs 5 to 7° warmer than the “weather station” in my backyard, a.k.a. a traditional thermometer. sometimes there’s as much as a 10° difference. They are going to be a lot of dead plants next year that were newly planted this fall and winter.😅

[@BootstrapFarmer]

Yep, no reason to think the sky is falling! 😂

[@lenoreholdaway7477]

*closes umbrella * well blast it all. 😂 I'm hailing from S.E.N.M. and I am also prophet...eering about future losses and....😂 people...just not researching this change and spending crazy money (hypothetical estimation of my own)$will be over 1000 dollars loss if I'm right. The paying friend swears on micro- climates and lots of mulch!??! Challenge Accepted !! I'm willing to lose 5 dollars if I'm wrong. 😂

[@silverbullet196]

Thanks for the clarification!

[@fozzieprepper6923]

Boom knowledge thanks

[@BootstrapFarmer]

You bet!

[@sharonbrunotte3972]

Thank U for sharing!!😊

[@BootstrapFarmer]

Thanks for watching!

[@Juliansa537]

Great information!

[@BootstrapFarmer]

Thanks for watching!

[@jcking6785]

Excellent explanation!

[@BootstrapFarmer]

Appreciate that, thank you 💚

[@JequirityBlue]

... Where's Massachusetts in the map at 0:18?

[@lenoreholdaway7477]

Way up north and to the right 😂

[@gumdropgardens]

Mine hasn't changed, except maybe from 8a to 8b, I'll have to check it on the desktop

[@subninja8069]

Neither has mine I'm so goddamn closest to 6B but it pisses me off that I'm not there

[@larryhurley9377]

😊

[@Unkn0wn1133]

I didn’t know Puerto Rico is part of USA before today.