Local Farmers Navigate Shift in Weather Patterns, Hardiness Zones
Norfolk reclassified as zone 6
By Jude Mead
Gardening and farming have always been important in the Northwest Corner, and those involved
depend on the Plant Hardiness Zone Map released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help
them determine the best practices in these activities. Growing zones help identify the types of plants
and crops that can thrive in a region. As weather shifts and winter temperatures rise, the USDA may
change a zone number by averaging the lowest winter temperature recorded for a location over a
specified time. Because of recent shifts toward milder winters, the Northwest Corner is now classified as
zone 6—a bump up from its previous zone 5 designation.
Theresa Freund of Freund’s Farm Market in East Canaan, who has run the market since 1980, and her
daughter Amanda, who manages the farm’s Cowpots operation and marketing efforts, noticed the
gradual climate changes over the years and have adjusted their own growing practices yearly. “We have
seen many changes on this farm over time,” said Theresa Freund. Amanda Freund agreed that “so much
of what we do is dependent on the weather and climate. Shifting our expectations for what types of
plants can and will tolerate our environmental conditions affects our choices in the crops and varieties
that we plant. The shift in the hardiness zone will guide us in deciding what we want to add into our
production for longer-term planning and planting.” Frost dates are watched closely, allowing the
opportunity to explore a wider range of plant options and length of growing times. According to Theresa
Freund, “The length of our season has increased, and we now plant corn in April and continue to plant
later so we can harvest sweet corn in October. In 1980, we would have had a frost right after Labor
Day.” Her daughter added that “we might start considering varietals that didn’t previously fit this zone,
and we anticipate this to be a topic of discussion with our garden center customers as they think about
what perennials to plant around their homes.” Theresa Freund has served on the state Farm Service
Agency Board where she reviewed frost dates and considered the potential effect on when growers
could plant their crops. “The zone change will have a bigger impact on large farms who use crop
insurance for protection,” she noted. “The FSA keeps close tabs on temperature and crops grown, and
we adjust our plantings each year based on that.” When asked if this change will influence the weeds
and insects that impact crops, Amanda Freund answered, “Unequivocally yes. Warmer, wetter seasons
will allow more life cycles for pests (both beneficial and detrimental), and blight and foliar disease will
be more prolific. Being proactive in our greenhouse and gardens will be critical, scouting for pests and
disease and making sure we respond to potential threats before they destroy our crops.”
The Freunds appreciate having state agencies like UConn Extension and the Connecticut Agricultural
Experiment Station that are at the forefront of understanding these pest pressures. One issue is that
winters aren’t getting cold enough to knock out certain insect populations. “The warmer winters are
creating a bigger problem in the fact that the insects carry over from the previous season,” explained
Theresa Freund. “People are seeing this especially with ticks, but we will see it with aphids and other
insects that affect plants in and out of the greenhouse.”
Weeds are another concern, she added, noting that they are dealing with more invasive weed species
and weed pressures than in the past. “We are currently doing a five-year trial through American
Farmland Trust practicing using cover crops such as triticale, which is a winter wheat. We then plant
through the winter wheat after we have crimped it. We have also attempted to harvest the winter
wheat and then plant. We are trying out multiple methods to see which is the best for controlling the
weeds.” The Freunds have adapted to these changing conditions and understand that flexibility is the
key to cultivating a resilient and thriving farming environment for the future. Amanda Freund remained
positive, however, pointing out that “warmer winters and summers will offer new options and additions
to what we can grow.”