Region Description: Upper South
USDA Hardiness
Zones: 5 to 6
more
AHS Heat Zones: 5 to 8
more
Major Cities: Charleston WV, Charlottesville VA, Cincinnati OH,
Evansville IL, Fayetteville AR, Huntington WV, Lexington KY, Louisville KY,
Oklahoma City OK, Paducah KY, Tulsa OK
The Region.
The Upper South stretches from the western half of Maryland to Oklahoma. It
includes West Virginia, the Appalachian region of western Virginia, then
westward down the Ohio River, including all of Kentucky, Cincinnati, Ohio, the
lower quarter of Indiana, a strip along the northern edge of Arkansas, and the
southern edge of Missouri, and across the northern half of Oklahoma.
The Climate.
This regional typically has four distinct seasons, with most of the area in
zone 6, (minimum of -10F), with occasionally lower temperatures. Rain and
snowfall tends to be evenly distributed throughout the seasons, with an average
of 40 to 45 inches in most of the region. Oklahoma is slightly drier, and the
mountain areas in West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky receive slightly more
moisture. Spring can start in March, with hot weather coming by June. Autumn
stretches into November, with vivid colors on the deciduous trees. Much of
winter moisture comes as rain rather than snow, with only the occasional severe
snowstorm.
The Growing Season.
Most of the area has a last spring frost date sometime during April, except for
the cooler mountain areas, which can get frost up to one month later. For all
but the higher elevations in West Virginia, which can get frost sometime during
September, the average first autumn frost is sometime during October. This
gives most gardeners a growing season between 180 and 210 days. Summers
throughout the region are hot and humid. The average number of days per year
above 86F range from 90 to 120 in Oklahoma to 60 to 90 in southern Indiana and
central to western Kentucky. Mountainous areas progressively get cooler with
higher altitudes, ranging from 60 days down to only 7 days a year above 86F.
Temperate trees, shrubs and perennials thrive in this warm, yet moderate
climate.
Veiw this week's Regional Report for Upper South
Published by the National Gardening Association
www.garden.org,
www.kidsgardening.com
