Gardening in California is best when understanding the terrain and plant hardiness zones. This map shows what to expect in which areas, on heat and freezing temperatures.
Scroll down the page for larger maps for Southern California and Northern California
California is often called the “bread basket of the world”, since we grow so many foods for export here. California produces almost all of the country’s almonds, apricots, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, and walnuts. It leads in production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries.
In the list below, we try to break down where certain foods grow well and in which regions.
Fruit Orchards – Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Foothills
Citrus Orchards – SoCal, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Foothills
Nut Orchards – San Joaquin Valley & North Sacramento Valley
Avocado – North San Diego Co, Central Coast Valleys
Garlic – Central Coast, Gilroy
Artichokes – Central Coast, Castroville
Olives – Sierra Nevada Foothills
Corn – Central Valley
Melons – Central Valley
Dates – Coachella Valley Desert
Grapes – San Joaquin Valley, North Sacramento Valley
Lettuce – Salinas Valley
Celery – Salinas Valley
Tomatoes – San Joaquin & Sacramento Valleys, Sierra Nevada
Peppers – Imperial Valley, Inland Empire
Rice – North Sacramento Valley
Carrots – Cuyama Valley, San Joaquin Valley
Strawberries – SoCal, Central Coast, Sierra Nevada Mountains
Cattle Ranches – Central Coast, North Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Sierra Nevada Mountains
California Wine Country – spans nearly the whole state – from Temecula to Mendocino, vineyards are located all over