Climate Conscience: Could planting season be changing? | News | wthitv.com - WTHITV.com

Climate Conscience: Could planting season be changing? | News | wthitv.com
Slowly but surely, the Earth's average temperature is rising. It's not by much, but enough to prompt the United States Department of Agriculture to update its plant hardiness zone map.

(WTHI) - Slowly but surely, the Earth's average temperature is rising. It's not by much, but enough to prompt the United States Department of Agriculture to update its plant hardiness zone map.

When planting flowers or a garden, the plant hardiness map can help determine when and what to plant - based on temperature extremes in various regions.

Since the last hardiness map was published ten years ago, average temperatures in the lower United States have risen slightly.

That means you might be able to plant a little earlier or try plants that previously might not survive due to lower temperatures.

Here in the Wabash Valley, we haven't warmed enough to change our planting schedules - but the latest USDA map reflects a slow warming trend - at least for now.