Author Topic: USDA Will Revise Zone Map  (Read 9122 times)

johnb51

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4782
    • USA Deerfield Beach, FL Zone 11a
    • View Profile
USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« on: February 14, 2017, 09:37:17 AM »
Yesterday I was listening to a gardening program on WLRN's "Topical Currents," and the gardening experts who were answering callers' questions said the USDA is going to once again revise their climate zone map.  Zone 11 will start at Hollywood Blvd. in Broward County.  We can probably say good-bye to winter weather in South Florida!  (I like 50's and 60's.  Boo-hoo!)
« Last Edit: February 14, 2017, 09:39:41 AM by johnb51 »
John

ftmyersfruit

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 158
    • Lee County Florida 33907
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2017, 09:59:27 AM »
I am not surprised. Most of Pine Island on the west coast is likely a 10B or 11. There are all kinds of ultra tropicals grown successfully from Pine Island south. I would imagine the zone 11 extends even further than Hollywood Blvd on the east coast.

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2017, 11:01:51 AM »
Interesting. I have noted a change in the past 10 years. Probably bad news for lychees in this area.
Jeff  :-)

phantomcrab

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 550
    • USA, St. Petersburg, FL Zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2017, 12:14:51 PM »

TBRFC had a field trip to ECHO at Ft. Myers and Fruitscapes on Pine Island late last year. This is a picture of Fruitscapes' 3-4 year old unprotected breadfruit tree.
If I recall correctly, it has already produced some fruit there. I would not be surprised if Pine Island is USDA zone 11.
Richard

bsbullie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9621
    • USA, Boynton Beach, FL 33472, Zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2017, 02:40:24 PM »
Yesterday I was listening to a gardening program on WLRN's "Topical Currents," and the gardening experts who were answering callers' questions said the USDA is going to once again revise their climate zone map.  Zone 11 will start at Hollywood Blvd. in Broward County.  We can probably say good-bye to winter weather in South Florida!  (I like 50's and 60's.  Boo-hoo!)

You mean mother nature reacts to the USDA zone map?
- Rob

ftmyersfruit

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 158
    • Lee County Florida 33907
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2017, 03:15:15 PM »

TBRFC had a field trip to ECHO at Ft. Myers and Fruitscapes on Pine Island late last year. This is a picture of Fruitscapes' 3-4 year old unprotected breadfruit tree.
If I recall correctly, it has already produced some fruit there. I would not be surprised if Pine Island is USDA zone 11.

That tree fruits. But it was also brought in as a large tree last summer, or the summer before. That being said, there are at least one or two other fruiting breadfruit in the area.

JF

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6652
  • North OC California Zone 10B/America Tropical 13A
    • 90631/97000
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2017, 03:26:57 PM »
we have several zone 11 areas in soucal. I doubt breadfruit would grow there but you never know.

Vernmented

  • Starry Nursery/Plant Hoarder/Zone Pusher/Biochar Enthusiast
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1331
    • USA, Florida, Sarasota, 9B/10A
    • View Profile
    • Starry Nursery Instagram
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2017, 03:41:02 PM »
My friend in Homestead has harvested about 200 breadfruit from one tree in a subdivision.
-Josh

Sleepdoc

  • Davie, Florida Zone 10b
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 818
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2017, 05:50:32 PM »
My breadfruit tree matured 10-20 last year - I forgot the final #.  If this winter stays as warm like the current pattern, my guess is about 40 fruit.  Time will tell but he tree definitely has enough size to hold 50 or more..

ftmyersfruit

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 158
    • Lee County Florida 33907
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2017, 10:16:01 PM »
My breadfruit tree matured 10-20 last year - I forgot the final #.  If this winter stays as warm like the current pattern, my guess is about 40 fruit.  Time will tell but he tree definitely has enough size to hold 50 or more..

What does your tree look like in the winter here?

JF

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6652
  • North OC California Zone 10B/America Tropical 13A
    • 90631/97000
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #10 on: February 14, 2017, 11:54:42 PM »
Grown since I was there the same day I told Jesse to stop posting my pix in their webpage illegally


andrewq

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 135
    • USA, Texas, Houston, 9A
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2017, 12:18:08 AM »
Interesting. I have noted a change in the past 10 years. Probably bad news for lychees in this area.

have people noticed changes in lychee production?

ftmyersfruit

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 158
    • Lee County Florida 33907
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #12 on: February 15, 2017, 07:31:20 AM »
Someone in Naples said they have had one lychee bloom in a decade or something crazy like that due to no cold. But he's in an area where he grows ultra tropicals with zero protection.

bsbullie

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9621
    • USA, Boynton Beach, FL 33472, Zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #13 on: February 15, 2017, 07:56:02 AM »
It has been discussed in other threads in the past that its not necessarily the cold that triggers lychee blooms.  Keep in mind that lychees are grown and fruit in other areas that also grow and fruit ultra tropicals such as Hawaii and Thailand (just to name a couple).   Growing the right variety for the location is critical  if you want more consistent production.   For instance, planting an Emperor is great for its fruit size and flavor however it does not do well in our location from year to year and most growers attribute to improper climate.
- Rob

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2017, 11:24:36 AM »
Rob, you might be thinking of the thread where we were discussing mango reaction to cold. I thought that lychee had a pretty strict chill requirement.

I think lychees can be encouraged towards bloom if given proper nutrition, but I think there is still a need for chill.

My mauritius has had 2 crops in 10 years. My sweetheart had a small crop last year and is going for a near full bloom this year, and it's only about 5 or 6 years old. I do control the nutrition on the sweetheart, where the mauritius gets the home owner association's fertilization routine.

Don of Going Bananas said that lychee production in the redlands area declined significantly from past decades do the warmup.
Jeff  :-)

skhan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2274
    • United States, Florida, Coral Springs, 10b
    • View Profile
    • Videos of Garden
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #15 on: February 15, 2017, 01:20:39 PM »
Well this may suck. I planted a Lychee last year.  :'(
It seems like more and more people are getting rid of theirs.

Cookie Monster

  • Broward, FL Zone 10b
  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4745
  • Eye like mangoes
    • Tamarac, FL, 33321, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #16 on: February 15, 2017, 02:05:06 PM »
I wouldn't give up that easily. Sweet Heart has surprised me. It started bearing last year, and this year has nearly a full bloom. The quality / flavor of sweet heart is absolutely ridiculous.

I think the lychee tends to produce better in a highly organic soil with plenty of potassium, a strong micronutrient package, and zero added nitrogen. Harry, who grows his lychees on muck in Davie, has had very high success -- nearly annual fruiting, despite the fact that he's in a small heat island (there is some sort of air pattern over that area that keeps temps a couple of degrees warmer).

But it is a long haul. You shouldn't expect regular cropping for 6 - 8 or more years.

Well this may suck. I planted a Lychee last year.  :'(
It seems like more and more people are getting rid of theirs.
Jeff  :-)

skhan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2274
    • United States, Florida, Coral Springs, 10b
    • View Profile
    • Videos of Garden
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #17 on: February 15, 2017, 02:39:50 PM »
Thanks Jeff
I'll hold on to hope.

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9012
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2017, 02:56:15 PM »
Lychees are being planted here less also and in my town they rarely fruit. Even those with the most modest chill requirements like kwai mai pink and Mauritius have declining frequency of cropping on the equator side of 20 latitude.

FruitFreak

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 869
    • USA, FL, Naples, 10a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2017, 03:04:16 PM »
Almost all of the mature lychees around Naples last year seemed to be loaded.
- Marley

JF

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6652
  • North OC California Zone 10B/America Tropical 13A
    • 90631/97000
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2017, 03:28:19 PM »
Lichi have had great production here in the last three years. This year might be better given that we've had over 190 chill hours and a very wet winter.




Donkeys4hire

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 115
  • B & B's Tropical Paradise
    • Western PSL, Florida, zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #21 on: February 15, 2017, 08:02:20 PM »
Why is this?

Interesting. I have noted a change in the past 10 years. Probably bad news for lychees in this area.

Donkeys4hire

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 115
  • B & B's Tropical Paradise
    • Western PSL, Florida, zone 10a
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2017, 08:05:22 PM »
I've also recently just planed one.

Well this may suck. I planted a Lychee last year.  :'(
It seems like more and more people are getting rid of theirs.

achetadomestica

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2243
    • FLORIDA 9b
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2017, 08:16:33 PM »
If lychee won't work what about rambutan?

Sleepdoc

  • Davie, Florida Zone 10b
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 818
    • View Profile
Re: USDA Will Revise Zone Map
« Reply #24 on: February 16, 2017, 12:28:14 PM »
My breadfruit tree matured 10-20 last year - I forgot the final #.  If this winter stays as warm like the current pattern, my guess is about 40 fruit.  Time will tell but he tree definitely has enough size to hold 50 or more..

What does your tree look like in the winter here?

Taken today