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I love this forum, there are so many interesting questions asked as well as wonderful pictures posted.
I was thinking this morning how helpful it would be if when you post a gardening,plant lawn etc question if we had a general idea of your location.
I know the lawn issues we have here in NE FL are different than the lawn issues they have in the NE.
Zone 9 here in NE FL is different than zone 9 in California.
Location: somewhere close to Tampa, but closer to the beach
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Excellent idea Karla, i also agree that this will help better answer questions..and yes, your region of zone 9 is different than the part of zone 9 i just moved away from back in CA. I would almost compare your part of this zone to some of the more inland spots around the S.F. bay area or warmer areas in the Central Valley..just with more humidity during the summer and overall precipitation through out the entire year..especially during the summers..We're lucky if we'd get .05 of an inch all summer..Glad to be here in along the FL. Gulf coast where the weather is more exciting lol..
Karla we are both in zone 9. But my nine is not like your nine even in the same state. Here is a link that may be of use to folks who need to look up their zone.
I agree, it would be helpful if the zone and maybe location was in the title. Here is another version of the zone map that was released in '06 which seems more accurate about FL at least.
Karla,
Outstanding idea, I'm in zone 7 in oregon..
The other thing I've noticed is what i can get away with out here meaning what plants will do ect..A lot of the country can't do and vice a versa..
What can be deceiving about our zone maps is that a lemon tree will flourish where I am but in the same zone for Karla would require a lot of cold protection in the winter. Somewhere I have a zone map broken down into parts A and B. A being the north end of the zone and B the warmer southern end.
Location: somewhere close to Tampa, but closer to the beach
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yes..excellent point..because, as you had mentioned, those "A and B" parts of a zone can directly effect the amount of success one might have with things like Citrus trees or sub/Tropicals...or even things like temperature sensitive spring bulbs..
Another thing which is important is how close to a coastal area..or other "miro-climate" type region someone lives in..because even the most detailed maps in my sunset book don't always get the info correct and,for example, my part of San Jose was warmer than areas a couple miles east or south..and the neighborhood my grandparent's home is located in is closer to a large cold drain which funnels cold air out of the nearby hills...
Same thing in the area of FL. im in now..Ive seen various articles put this side of the Tampa Bay Area in zone 10a..while it is a solid 9b further inland and have seen things like Royal Poinciana or Coconut palms growing in places like Lakeland which is a minimal 9b..especially being near the center of the state. Both of these Tropicals are regularly listed for zone 10 at the minimum...and yes, both of these are being reported successfully growing back in Southern CA. beit with alot of effort..
As for the 06' map from the USDA, i was glad to see it updated to reflect changes ive already noticed not only in my backyard, but in several other areas as well...Im sure the next map update will reflect even more changes..slight as they might be. Even a 2 or 3 degree change in winter minimums over a longer stretch of time can open the door of possible plants to someone in a given location.. and im sure there are many who'ed welcome that thought
What can be deceiving about our zone maps is that a lemon tree will flourish where I am but in the same zone for Karla would require a lot of cold protection in the winter.
No kidding Nomadicus
here are a couple shots from last year when a hard freeze came through and I didn't want to pick the 100+ grapefruit that were on the tree
though it did look really cool at night with the heat lamps on
The cold sensitive plants in the screenroom got their own special covering
As si33 mentioned how close to the coast you are makes a huge difference 7 miles to the east won't get a freeze and 18 miles to the west gets frost & freezes when we don't .
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