Warmer weather plants may grow in WMass

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Plants previously thought to not be able to deal with our western Massachusetts winters might now be able to survive.

The 2012 Plant Hardiness Zone Map has just been released, and shows data that means typically warmer weather plants can survive in western Massachusetts.

The US Department of Agriculture has created the map, which separates the United States into 13 plant hardiness zones. The zone number indicates what category of plants can survive in these zones.

The zones were created by looking at the average annual extreme minimum temperatures for the years between 1976 to 2005. The colder the average annual extreme minimum temperature, the lower the zone number.

Previously, all of western Massachusetts was in the Category 5 zone, but new data collected has pushed some of western Massachusetts into the warmer Category 6 zone.

Sixteen Acres Garden Center Nursery manager Andy Grondalski explained that the change impacts the "Lower Pioneer Valley area, areas that have extra winter protection; the wind isn't blowing through them, or if you have a spot in your yard that's protected you can sometimes get away with zone six plant material,” he said.

Areas outside of the Lower Pioneer Valley that typically have colder extreme minimum temperatures are still in the Category 5 plant hardiness zone.

Despite the change, Grondalski still suggests that all of western Massachusetts gardeners buy Category 5 plants, just to be on the safe side.

If you would like to find out what zone you live in, you can visit the USDA's website at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov