Posted on Dec 11, 2023
What can you plant in Kansas? The state is getting warmer and it’s affecting what grows
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Zone 5b (pale blue) has all but disappeared from northern Kansas after the USDA updated its hardiness map. In the south, zone 7a (pale green) now extends as far north as Wichita and Fort Scott.
The USDA has access to thousands more weather stations now than in the past. That, combined with 30 years of new data, led to big changes in its hardiness map of cold winter temperatures.
Kansans may take a chance on some new plant varieties in gardens and nurseries and on farms next year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture changed its hardiness zone map.
Most of Kansas has been recategorized as one half-zone warmer on the map, which the agency updated last month for the first time in 11 years.
The hardiness map reflects the coldest winter temperatures recorded annually by weather stations across the U.S.
Growers use it to pick plant varieties that should survive the bitterest nights of their local winters. The federal government uses it to set crop insurance standards.
“It’s critical,” said Cheryl Boyer, a professor at Kansas State University’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources. “I would say everybody involved in plant production or growth of any kind is using this map.”
Boyer also directs Kansas State Research and Extension programs related to horticulture and natural resources.
The USDA has access to thousands more weather stations now than in the past. That, combined with 30 years of new data, led to big changes in its hardiness map of cold winter temperatures.
Kansans may take a chance on some new plant varieties in gardens and nurseries and on farms next year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture changed its hardiness zone map.
Most of Kansas has been recategorized as one half-zone warmer on the map, which the agency updated last month for the first time in 11 years.
The hardiness map reflects the coldest winter temperatures recorded annually by weather stations across the U.S.
Growers use it to pick plant varieties that should survive the bitterest nights of their local winters. The federal government uses it to set crop insurance standards.
“It’s critical,” said Cheryl Boyer, a professor at Kansas State University’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources. “I would say everybody involved in plant production or growth of any kind is using this map.”
Boyer also directs Kansas State Research and Extension programs related to horticulture and natural resources.
What can you plant in Kansas? The state is getting warmer and it’s affecting what grows
Posted from kcur.org
USDA
Farming
Agriculture
Gardening
Edited 1 y ago
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 5
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good day Brother William, always informational and of the most interesting. Thanks for sharing, have a blessed day!
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As a farmer this is good news...able to find new varieties of what can be planted is always a good th ing.
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Damnit, Climate changes many times over the centuries. In 1100, most all of Britian could plant and harvest 2 crops per season, winters were mild. Then the "Dark Ages: started up, bu 1300, they could only plant 1 crop per season, famine and plaques hit, and winters grew much harsher. This was called the "Little Ice Age!"
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