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Gardening Friendly States 2024
California
When looking for a great place to start your garden, those who are extremely serious about this activity would like to choose countries where gardening is possible year-round, which increases the harvest of your vegetables and fruits. The coastal towns of California have ample opportunities year-round for growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers that cannot be found elsewhere within the United States. Although this is true, just about every gardener that is looking to seriously increase its harvest must amend the soil and provide summer irrigation. Many towns near the coast support the production of more exotic growth, such as coffee, avocados, grapefruit, olives, and every common garden vegetable.
There are a few exceptions, such as rhubarb and almonds, which cause a lot of controversy around the community, as they require extra resources and additional temperatures to prosper. The southern and central part of the coast of California is one of the only places in the country where you can find success in growing a specific type of plant. For those who are looking to grow more sensitive plants, there are rainier locations in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Florida
Florida may not seem like the greatest of choices to start a garden, but it is always high on the list for those who are looking to tend to their gardens year-round. If there is one thing for sure, both California and Florida always have access to a lot of sun, and the rainy season helps to irrigate some of the plants and vegetables further. Vegetable gardeners often find themselves in the northern part of Florida. The Florida panhandle as well as the rest of Florida State that is located north of Kissimmee and Orlando have mild winters, warm summers, and abundant rain. Of course, there is some winter weather - just enough to kill insects, rodents, and bugs that are trying to eat the flowers year-round.
Looking to grow more exotic fruit? Then you should take to the southern half of Florida, especially just south of Fort Myers and Miami. Here you will find the best coastal Atlantic climate that is both warm and humid, which is conducive to starting a coconut and banana farm.
Hawaii
Although winter in Hawaii is technically impossible, this does not mean that the entire state is great for gardening year-round, mostly due to elevation. For example, the town of Kula o Mount Haleakala on Maui would not make for a great environment due to the arid conditions. If you are situated above elevations of 7000 feet, these places are the only locations in Hawaii that receive winter frosts.
Of course, most other locations in Hawaii support gardening year-round. Sweet potatoes, Lima beans, eggplants, and squash are common vegetables that are grown in any season throughout the year. Of course, more coastal cities support the biggest profusion of tropical fruits and flowers found within the United States, such as mangos, pineapples, and delicious papayas.
State | Gardening Friendly Rank | Coldest Planting Zone | Warmest Planting Zone | Popular Crops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 14 | 7a | 9a | Tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers, peaches, blueberries, muscadines, figs, and many other fruits and veggies |
| Alaska | 1a | 8b | Harsh conditions for specific crops: Cabbage, broccoli and other hardy vegetables | |
| Arizona | 4 | 4b | 10b | Leafy greens, cabbage, dates, melons, lemons, oranges, apples, potatoes and tomatoes; and many more. |
| Arkansas | 6b | 8a | Harsher conditions for specific crops: Collards, irish potatoes, southern peas, summer and winter squash, apples, plums, peaches and pears | |
| California | 1 | 5a | 10b | Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, carrots, beans, figs, apples, jujube, persimmon, lemons, oranges and many more |
| Colorado | 5b | 6a | Beets, carrots, celery, chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsnips, radishes, spinach, and turnips | |
| Connecticut | 5b | 7a | Lettuce, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers | |
| Delaware | 7 | 7 | Arugula, basil, cilantro, chili peppers, lettuce, parsley, peppers, tomatoes, watercress | |
| Florida | 3 | 8a | 11a | Tomatoes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, tobacco, turnip, oranges and citrus fruit, strawberries, watermelon and other |
| Georgia | 5 | 6a | 9a | Cucumbers, collards, lima beans, and turnip greens |
| Hawaii | 9 | 9a | 13a | Lettuce, cabbage, kale and collard greens, macadamia, papaya, banana, guava, avocado, and specialty tropical fruits. |
| Idaho | 3b | 7b | Beets, onions, chard, carrots, lettuce, spinach, the cabbage family, radishes, peas, turnips | |
| Illinois | 5a | 7a | Snap beans (green beans), cauliflower, asparagus, green peas, lima beans, and others | |
| Indiana | 5b | 6b | Radishes, leafy greens, carrots, chard, beets, turnips and others | |
| Iowa | 4b | 6a | Asparagus, beans, lettuces, endives, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn, peas, okra, eggplant, kale, peppers, pumpkins, melons, squash, leeks, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, beets, and several others | |
| Kansas | 5b | 7a | Carrots, grapes, corn, pears broccoli, onions, garlicm radishes, and others | |
| Kentucky | 6a | 7a | Bush beans, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, garlic, peas, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, and others | |
| Louisiana | 8a | 10a | Tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries and satsumas | |
| Maine | 3b | 5b | Tomatoes, bush peas, bush beans, summer squash, potatoes, onions, radishes, and greens like lettuce | |
| Maryland | 11 | 5b | 8a | Beets, carrots, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas and radishes |
| Massachusetts | 5a | 7b | Kale, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, onions, peas, potatoes, and spinach | |
| Michigan | 15 | 4a | 5b | Lettuce, peas, spinach, tomatoes, peppers and melons |
| Minnesota | 3a | 5a | Tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, radishes | |
| Mississippi | 7a | 9a | Corn, bell peppers, roccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, and rutabagas | |
| Missouri | 5b | 7a | Swiss chard, spinach, parsley, lettuce, collards, and endive | |
| Montana | 3a | 5b | Tomatoes, squash, peppers, beans, peas, cole crops like cauliflower and broccoli, and roots | |
| Nebraska | 4a | 5b | Beans, cucumber, eggplant, okra, pepper, corn, cauliflower, onion, peas, and greens like cabbage | |
| Nevada | 4a | 10a | Summer squash and zucchini, tomatoes, squash, peppers | |
| New Hampshire | 3b | 6a | Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, beans, okra, eggplant, pepper, apples | |
| New Jersey | 6a | 7b | Tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, apples, spinach, squash, and asparagus, blueberries, cranberries, peaches | |
| New Mexico | 4b | 9a | Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, eggs, asparagus, beans, peas, squash, cabbage, and kale | |
| New York | 3b | 7b | Lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, beets, asparagus, apples, apricots, blueberries. | |
| North Carolina | 7 | 5b | 8b | Lettuce, spinach, radishes, cucumbers, kale,beets, potatoes, apples |
| North Dakota | 2b | 6a | Potatoes, peas, spinach, dill, and carrots | |
| Ohio | 5a | 6a | Swiss chard, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and okra | |
| Oklahoma | 6a | 7b | Squash, cucumbers, melons, sweet potatoes, green beans, kale | |
| Oregon | 6 | 4b | 9b | Snap beans, sweet corn, onions, squash, beets, carrots, cauliflower broccoli and others |
| Pennsylvania | 5b | 7a | Carrots, beets, turnips, peas, cucumbers,blueberries and others | |
| Rhode Island | 5b | 7a | Pumpkins, peaches, apples, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries | |
| South Carolina | 10 | 7a | 9a | Apples, peaches, nectarines, persimmons, figs, and plums, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, blueberries and strawberries |
| South Dakota | 3b | 4b | Soybeans, field corn, wheat, sunflowers, alfalfa, vegetables and other crops | |
| Tennessee | 12 | 5b | 8a | Lettuce, radishes, kale, collards, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and turnips |
| Texas | 8 | 6b | 10a | Cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, okra, squash, corn, green cabbage, carrots, herbs, mushrooms, apples, pears, plums, persimmons, figs, pomegranates, peaches, pears, and others |
| Utah | 4a | 9a | Asparagus, bean, beet, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers and others | |
| Vermont | 3b | 5b | Squas, sweet corn, potatoes, apples and leafy greens | |
| Virginia | 13 | 5a | 8a | Cabbage, cucumbers, string beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, watermelon, apples and peaches |
| Washington | 2 | 4a | 9a | Carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, capsicums, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, apples pears and many others |
| West Virginia | 5a | 7a | Asparagus, peas, carrot, cabbage, kale, cucumber, eggplant, okra, pepper, and tomato | |
| Wisconsin | 3b | 5b | Tomatoes, kale, bunching onions, cucumbers, beets, rutabagas and turnips, cabbage | |
| Wyoming | 3a | 6a | Radish, lettuce, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, spinach, and turnip |