The USDA recently came out with their new plant hardiness zone map and we’ve been updated from zone 5b to 6a! Woo-hoo!
What does this mean?
Well, essentially it means that we have a slightly warmer and longer growing season as compared to the last time the USDA announced changes to the map way back in 1990, when Michael Bolton, Rod Stewart and Paula Abdul were at the top of the pop charts.
This announcement does come at a time when we can’t help but notice that our garden looks surprisingly different than at this time in previous years. For starters, the ground is not frozen. Due to daily highs remaining in the 40′s, the frost has not had a chance to stick around, which has left many of our plants intact. Trying to grow plants outdoors in Western Mass is typically unheard of, but we still have Brussel sprouts and kale that have not yet been ravaged by old man winter.
Brussel sprouts still sprouting
kale still kaling
Had we known ahead of time, we would have planted out a bunch more winter greens for the taking.
Are you experiencing any unusual mid-winter plant growth that you’d like to share?
