Cool New (to me) Website! Plant Maps

I searched but didn't find a reference to this website, so I decided to post it. Granted, I'm a tech geek, but I dig this site:

PlantMaps

You can go into it with your zipcode or browse by state.... It has a bunch of neat reference dates, info, and of course maps... Hardiness Zones, Heat Zone, Eco-Region, Native plants and trees, First Frost, Last Frost, Drought Monitor, etc....

Thanks Cautery,

This map really zooms in to show you your relationship to nearby towns and their zones. I like it.

Remember to check those frost dates, because here they list AVERAGE last and first frost dates.
That means you still have a 50% chance of frost after this date. Do you want to take a chance that this will be applicable to this year? I will.

A lot of charts give you the Average (50% chance of frost after this date) or the Safe (10% chance of frost after this date) last frost dates and sometimes both. That is why the information sometimes seems to be confusing.

Again, thanks for providing this link.

I like it. I saved it so future reference if needed.
I love the part that in my area, summer temps rarely exceed 85* and they're correct so its good for the humans, but means we have to look for crops that can grow without lots of heat in the summers.

That is the best.... and it made me just realize I was using the wrong last frost date.... I'm off by almost 2 weeks... I get to start planting NOW!!!!!!

Wait a second... I'm not ready .... hmmmm.... someones got to be open tomorrow ... oh yeah... I live in KY...


Grrrr.... now I have to redo that spreadsheet I was working so hard on.... I need a sighing smiley

I clicked in on one of the interactive maps and it popped up a "current moisture" rating and wording. Of course, we are melting snow now so it said "extremely moist," but I like that feature.

I also had no idea how close I was between 5b and 6a. I'm talking about 5 miles.

While we're at it, can any experts tell me the difference between the zone hardiness map and a plant hardiness map? One has me listed as 6a, the other has me listed as 6b.

Oh, and if you want to flirt with your frost date, build a hoop house. I saw a great blog on a $50 greenhouse, essentially a tall hoop house, that displayed a temperature of 50F inside with ice on the plastic and single digit temps outside. That setup, no matter what you think of it's accuracy, will buy you two weeks the other side of your frost date.

Selandra wrote:Wait a second... I'm not ready .... hmmmm.... someones got to be open tomorrow ... oh yeah... I live in KY...

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:

Oh, and if you want to flirt with your frost date, build a hoop house. I saw a great blog on a $50 greenhouse, essentially a tall hoop house, that displayed a temperature of 50F inside with ice on the plastic and single digit temps outside. That setup, no matter what you think of it's accuracy, will buy you two weeks the other side of your frost date.

Actually going to try something like that with my current trellis. I have the plastic, just need to figure out the best way to keep it on. It's not a lot of room but I can find some simple shelves and get plants started at least.

I start some things earlier with my A-frame made last year.
It sure makes a big difference.



Built on March 19th over a 4' square 12" deep bed very easily.


Seedlings like Mesclun mix, leaf lettuces, spinach, carrots, radishes, growing inside one half of the A-frame on April 12th.

Then again under snow on April 17th, but safe and warm enuf to continue to grow.

Very easy design I developed myself, a 68-yr old lady with leg and back problems, from four 6' long 1" x 2" poles, one 4' pole across the top, wire to hold to tops together like a teepee, yards of clear vinyl plastic cut to size and tacked along the top and upper sides, and extra large 2" wide binder clips to hold up the plastic when I'm working inside. It works like a charm.

quiltbea wrote:I start some things earlier with my A-frame made last year.
It sure makes a big difference.

Very nice and very good idea. Just may implement that this fall to keep the crops around longer.

I knew I was close to the border between zone 7b and 8a, but I didn't realize I could throw a rock from my, technically zone 7b right into zone 8a! I could also throw a rock from my heat zone 8 to heat zone 9. I'd just have to turn around and throw it the other direction!

That is amazing site. Very detailed!

I wonder if they will add Canada one day.