Changes in latitude? attitude?

No, not a Buffett tribute, more about changing weather:

6 Likes

I was thinking of posting that piece as well.

A number of years ago in an interview that I read, Lee Calhoun suggested Northern growers might start growing southern apples. I followed his advice and have in our orchard these varieties:
Dorsett Golden
Ingram
Blacktwig
Kinnaird’s Choice
Virginia Beauty
Kentucky Limbertwig
Brushy Mountain Limbertwig

Blacktwig apples have ripened well within the Finger Lakes growing season and have been quite good.
Our Kinnaird’s Choice tree has only produced apples twice, so I won’t judge yet their quality, but I haven’t been overwhelmed yet.
Virginia Beauty and Kentucky Limbertwig did surpass my expectations – two great apples! They’ve ripened just as our farmers market ends at the end of October, so we get them all for ourselves (a good and bad thing). Virginia Beauty was reported to be Doc Watson’s favorite apple, and that was good enough for me to give growing it a try.

6 Likes

@marknmt
In Montana you have transverse (east-west) mountain ranges as we do out here. Because of them, you also have the situation where driving north from a higher elevation for the better part of an hour can take you into a much lower elevation with a higher cold hardiness zone. People who live among longitudinal ranges are often unaware of this phenomenon.

2 Likes

@Richard Exactly the case when traveling north along the Bitterroot River from Conner, MT (5239 ft) to Missoula (3200 ft), 66 miles.

1 Like

I remember driving in New Mexico when it started snowing and roads became slippery. I drove to Rio Ranch an hour away and it was 70f.
West Hampton is about 25 miles from me. In the winter it’s often 10f colder. I believe it’s soil and vegetation there that make the difference.

3 Likes

@marknmt
That Bitterroot Range is something else. I really enjoyed driving from Idaho Falls to Helena on our way to the Stampede years ago.

1 Like