Region Description: Northern & Central Midwest
USDA Hardiness
Zones: 3 to 6
more
AHS Heat Zones: 3 to 8
more
Major Cities: Chicago IL, Cleveland OH, Columbus OH, Des Moines IA,
Detroit MI, Fargo ND, Indianapolis IN, Kansas City MO, Lincoln NE, Milwaukee
WI, Minneapolis MN, Omaha NE, Sioux Falls SD, Springfield IL, St.Louis MO,
Winnipeg MAN
The Region.
The Northern and Central Midwest region covers a lot of ground, from the
northern forests of Minnesota and Wisconsin, to the wheat and cornfields of
Iowa, eastern Nebraska and eastern Kansas, to the sandy dunes of Indiana and
Michigan, and to the temperate and humid Great Lakes regions of southern
Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio.
The Climate.
Accordingly this region covers a fairly wide range of temperatures, with one of
the coldest cities on the continent located in northern Minnesota
(International Falls) in zone 3a to the hot zone 6a areas of southern Missouri.
To varying degrees, all areas have cold winters with snow, short springs, cool
falls, and hot, humid summers. Precipitation averages between 20 inches a year
in western areas to 40 in the southern and eastern areas. Major river systems
such as the Missouri and Mississippi can influence areas during flood periods.
It generally gets wetter going west to east across the region. Strong winds of
the Rockies and localized winds and storms around the Great Lakes can influence
the types and amounts of precipitation and temperatures swings. The infamous
"tornado alley" is located in this region, spawning numerous and deadly
twisters in the plains states down to Texas.
The Growing Season.
Last frost range from early April to Memorial Day. In general, spring gardens
can be planted mid-March through mid-May. First fall frosts occur from mid
September to end of October. In warmer areas fall gardens planted in June and
July still can mature in fall. Young trees and shrubs may need windbreaks and
protection from drying winter winds. Perennials do best in areas with
consistent snow cover such as near the Great Lakes.
View this week's Regional Report for Northern & Central Midwest
Published by the National Gardening Association
www.garden.org,
www.kidsgardening.com
