2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

Just curious if anybody's zone changed with the new map? I had read that half the country stayed the same and the other half moved up half a zone.

https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

My area near Sacramento stayed the same at 9b

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

yeah, thanks. i was near the border of 8b, but now i am in the middle of 9a. i have bananas that was 9a on the gulf, which is now 10b.

but winter time for my bananas there is no change.

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

Central Illinois. 30 years ago, I was 5a. 10 years ago, I was 5b. This year, I changed to 6a. Since it is getting warmer and these maps lag a little, I will try some 6b plants this year. Figs, pomegranates and leave the bananas out longer.

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

Be sure to protect those young figs and pomegranates to help them get established. I lost all above ground growth on my relatively established plants (pomegranate still too young to produce fruit) last year. The plants regrew from the ground but with figs, you get your crop in the north on last year's wood, so needless to say no fruit for me this last summer.....not sure about poms. Granted, the main fig wasn't in the most protected spot, so it may have fared better elsewhere. But the pomegranate was in a good position, backed by a good sized black composter and exposed to the south.

This year should be easier with El Nino and in fact, if it continues for a couple of years, it may be a good opportunity to get some of those guys established.

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

I was right on the line of 8b/9a .. now I'm solidly in 9a.

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

I was hoping El Nino would make our CA winter mild this year. We've planted a lot of new tropical plants and I'd like them to have an easy go. Especially the Ingens. So far its holding up well. We've only had a few days in the upper 30's so far. The one pup i brought inside for the winter is doing well too. Not sure where i'll put it come spring time if the others survive outside.

Re: 2023 USDA hardiness zones
 

I was 8b now 9a according to the new maps even though the most recent few years have proven to be 8b not 9a. My area got down to 16 degrees in January this year and in the teens the previous year as well. I don't know what prompted the change but none of the new areas they moved into 9a are 9a. The lowest temperatures were 3 to 5 degrees warmer on average 10 to 20 years ago than they are now.