Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a new hardiness zone map revealing shifts in what plants are considered hardy in Minnesota, including the metro, which is now Zone 5a.

The map is based on 30-year averages of the coldest winter temperatures at specific locations, and divides the continental U.S. and Canada into 10 zones, which are further divided into half-zones ...

"Zone 4 is a big geographic area and so when we look at something, if it says zone 4, investigate a little more. Many of those things might be winter hardy," Kinzler said.

As spring nears, many are wondering what we should or shouldn't grow now that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has updated its plant zone hardiness map and moved parts of Minnesota from ...

Yes, you can successfully grow some zone 4 plants, but others may struggle. If you want to increase your plants’ chances of survival, you may want to still favor zone 3 plants.

The 2023 map is about 2.5 degrees warmer than the 2012 map, translating into about half of the country shifting to a warmer zone. The new Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

2012 and 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map zoomed in on northern Minnesota. (Courtesy USDA) The 2023 PHZM also contains a new “Tips for Growers” section which offers helpful information for ...

Zones for Gardening In November of 2023, for the first time in a decade, the U.S. Department of Agriculture made a change to the “Plant Hardiness Zone” map.

According to the USDA, the map is also based on 30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures at the specific locations, and split into 10-degree and 5-degree zones and integrates data ...