I was on this web site a few years ago and the same problems existed then. It is almost impossible to edit anything and every time I visit I have to log in. Sometime I need to try 4 or 5 times to get logged in. Nothing has changed or improved.
Ron

Nancy, the recent disruption did cause the zones to disappear.
I tried to re-do my profile information to no avail, so I'll wait until the techs figure it out.

I, too, have to log in each time I open the browser. The "keep me logged in" option ain't working.

One could always write a comment to GardenWeb, but I imagine they're aware of the issue.


Josh

Weird.

So, this prompted my to query the National Gardening Association website to see what they had my area set for. It showed 6A for Sudbury, MA! 6A? I always thought we were more of a 5-5b...6A is also the zone for Philly? This can't be the correct zone for me.

Anyone know a more reliable resource for determining ones hardiness zone by zip code?

Thanks!

Tom

Thanks guys, Glad to know its not just me. I'll wait till the figure out the problem.

Tom, this one has the correct zone for me...you can try it?

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Zone Finder

Tom,
by zip-code I'm apparently in zone 9...
but if I plant a zone 8 tree in my yard, a cold winter will kill it...and then who replaces the tree? ;)

I select trees that can handle zone 7, and I don't end up replacing those plants in the Spring.

Elevation and microclimates (bodies of water, geographical features, shade, et cetera)
have a huge impact on what I can grow.


Josh

I had a hard time changing my personal page, too, recently. Today I was able to update it, but my birthday is still wrong when I look at "my page", even though it shows correctly on the page I edit.

This is strange, according to Puglvr's link my zone is 8a, but all the books I've checked call this zone 9a, and my microclimate can't be lower than 8b. We had a hard freeze just after Thanksgiving and it got down to 17 F but that was not normal. 8a gets down to 15-10 F, and I doubt that has ever happened here. Hmmmmm. Still, after this winter I may have to stop calling my zone 9a and buy for zone 8.

Oh, and strangely enough, I was still logged in when I clicked on the Gardenweb link today, so apparently the "remember my login name" link is working again, at least for me.

--Maureen

Log-in is working for me now, too. Still no zone, though.
Thank G-d for small favors... ;)

Josh

Those zone finders do vary greatly. As cold as our winter last year and appears to be another record low winter this year too...I probably need to change my zone to 8a,lol...

Yes, Thank goodness the log-in is working again, Yay!! Baby steps...

Pug -

Thanks for the link - that is the same one that gave me a 6A reading earlier. That is what surprised me - that it considered Sudbury, MA and Philadelphia in the same zone...when our climates are really dramatically different at this time of year.

I am going back to 5-5b for me.

Tom

Pug's link put me between 7b and 8a, which is more realistic.
The thing is, I literally live on the zip-code boundary. On my side of the road
it's 95602 - zone 8a. But if I cross the road, it's magically 7b...
So that explains that.

I'm with Tom. I go with the low estimate.


Josh

Tom:

Zones have little to do with climate, per se. They are only meant to tell you what the minimum winter temperatures are in an area. It has nothing to do with the duration of winter weather, when it will start to get cold, when the coldest weather will be, or when it will start to warm up in the spring.

The area around Boston in MA has more of a moderating influence of the ocean than Philadelphia, which is much further inland. That mitigates the absolute coldest temperatures.

Even if winters are overall all shorter and milder in Philadelphia, that doesn't mean the minimum temperature can't be as cold as those for MA (I was in Philadelphia in March 2002 for the flower show, and it was bitter cold. So cold I couldn't spend more than a few minutes outside. I live in the Chicago area, so I know cold.)

Nancy's link put me at 5A for zip code, but the map showed 6A. I used to always think all NH was 5 and most of MA was 6, but some maps show So. NH at 6. I guess with there being a lot of microclimates, there is no real definitive answer.

Christopher

"All gardening is local" - Farmer Fred

Josh

when I posted know it lets you fill in the zone joe

Entering my zipcode in the calculator at Nancy's link resulted in 8B, not the 9b that the map shows. I checked at the USDA map, and it also shows me as 9b, average annual minimum 25-30F. That temperature range seems to match my own records over the last eight years. The 2007 superfreeze brought lows at around 25F, but most years we do not go much below 30F. I would be amazed to see an average annual low in the 9A, 20-25F range. 8B is for places with average lows at 15-20F. That would never happen here!

I'm certain I live in 9B land. Based on what I read above, it seems that the calculator at Nancy's link is reporting a full zone colder than it should. :(

Brad

GW's been acting up a while. I think my zone shows, but everytime I click on a page a window pops up asking my zipcode. There's a lot more ads, too, but that might be intentional. I don't know if I should enter my zipcode. I'm afraid it might be a scam.
No problem reading/writing posts..don't have to keep signing in. Check-marked the box....Toni

Tom, you're SO right,lol...that isthe same zone finder you mentioned, sorry about that!

That one has the right zone listed for me as well...9a.
Although, I've lived in FL for almost 19 years, I've never seen winter as cold as we had last year...and it looks like this year is a carbon copy or worse...so far? Had 5 freezes already and yet winter isn't officially here till tomorrow! Our normal freezes are usually only 2-4 times a season!

Yeah, it's supposed to be a much worse winter than last year, here in Florida. I'm in Orlando and we keep expecting snow or at least flurries! I'm guessing we should consider ourselves a zone or two higher now just to keep our plants safe.

As for Gardenweb, because it wouldn't remember zones or country, it wouldn't let me post in the Exchange forum as it kept saying Only US residents could post... or something like that. Although it now allows me to preview a message, but I haven't tried posting again.

I think for the majority of some plant questions some of the GW folks relied to heavily on what zone do you live in as an answer or the asked question to a more formal GW member answer being, It's in the GW FAQ's.

The NGA ratings are totally wrong not even agreeing with the USDA map they post. Hayward Ca is on that map a 10a microclimate that rings the SF bay area and coast. NGA's zip code rating is a ridiculous 8b.
I have Howea palms and Mango plants,tree ferns and bromeliads. 8b-humbug!

I use plant maps. I like how it tells you much more about an area than just your zone. It says I'm zone 6B but most other zipcode look ups tell me I'm Zone 7. Maybe it is always on the colder side. I'm not sure.

TJ

Here is a link that might be useful: Plant Maps

I used to be zone 21, now I think I may be zone 20 especially after the last 3 years. I am also on a zone border, it depends on the year. It depends where I locate the plants, next to the garage on the north side I can get away with murder, but that location is protected by a plastic overhang. Comes the cold weather I put them under the bench. Norma

Keep in mind that the zone maps are just rough guides, and averages of minimum temps. They can't predict how cold it will be in any particular year.

Besides, hardiness is dependent on other factors, like:-

Freeze/thaw cycles. A plant that can survive temps below freezing/temps above freezing a couple of times over the winter may succumb if that happens ten or twenty times.

Wind: A plant that is subject to high winds is experiencing lower temps than one that's sheltered.

Cover: A layer of leaves or even snow can act as a layer of insulation and protect a plant, and will obviously make it less subject to wind effects.

I guess none of this is new news...I just wanted to point out that zone maps really are just general guides, useful but not the be all and end all.

-R