These Are the Best States for Gardeners, Ranked - Salt in my Coffee (2024)

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When it comes to gardening, some states are better than others. Year-round gardening, climate attributes, and soil types are all components to consider when choosing whether your region is a good choice for backyard gardening. And just in case you happen to be in the right place, we’ve got a list of some of the best places to build the perfect backyard garden.

1. Vermont

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Known as the Green Mountain State, this New England state boasts a continental climate, with June and July being the hottest months. Their warm, humid days allow for great gardening options once the winter thaw starts in March.

2. Arizona

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Arizona sports a desert climate that produces hot summers and mild winters. Arizona can be a fantastic place to grow a garden, with temperatures ranging from the high 80s in the height of summer to the low 50s in the dead of winter. Arizona can produce beautiful results for your favorite plants depending on your chosen crops.

3. Florida

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Florida is hot, like melt your bones hot in the summertime. The only relief comes from afternoon thunderstorms that bring much-needed rain to the subtropical region and provide a cooling effect. With warm, sunny summers from May through September and mild winters, Florida is one of the most hospitable states for creating a productive garden.

4. California

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The Mediterranean-style climate offers dry, warm-to-hot summer days and moderately wet winter days that can be great for crop cultivation. Choosing crops to fit this fantastic weather is one of the fun points of learning to grow your own food and flowering plants.

5. Alaska

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In the land of the midnight sun, long hours of direct sunlight can provide an exciting place to grow crops. With summer temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, this state offers a unique growing experience for novice and experienced gardeners alike.

6. North Carolina

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Much like Florida, North Carolina’s climate ranges from hot, humid summers in the low 80s to the mid-40s during the winter. This subtropical climate offers almost pristine weather for gardening as long as there is plenty of rain to help your crops soak in the nutrients from the soil.

7. New Jersey

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Called the Garden State for its beautiful landscapes and nature centers, New Jersey can give you a great garden if you have the right plan. Researching climate, atmosphere, soil type, and other plant-centered criteria will help you structure and organize the perfect garden in this beautiful place.

8. Montana

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With approximately 95 days to grow your garden, Montana offers a variable climate that will quickly turn frigid as you head toward winter. Knowing what you want to plant and getting starters ready before spring planting is vital to producing the sort of gardening results you’d like to see in this region of the United States.

9. Maine

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With a diverse climate, Maine has an exceptional array of plants that can be grown during its mild summer. When it comes to any region, learning which plants grow best where you are is one of the most enjoyable parts of choosing to plant a garden, and Main is undoubtedly no different. From flowers to foliage, there is plenty to delight in when it comes to growing a garden in the Pine Tree State.

10. Idaho

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Known chiefly for potatoes, the Gem State can also offer up an abundance of romaine and iceberg lettuce, radishes, a variety of peppers, bush beans, and other edible plants. And just like other regions, knowing what to grow and when is half the fun of planning a summer or winter garden.

11. Wyoming

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Thanks to its much cooler climate, Wyoming is a great place to grow various fruits and vegetables. Like Montana, the growing period is shorter, and you should start your seedlings indoors before transplanting for the summer sun.

12. New Mexico

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New Mexico has an almost perfect growing season, offering plenty of sun, light rain, and moderate humidity. Radishes, onions, collard greens, and buttercrunch lettuce all do well in New Mexico’s excellent climate.

Preparation is Key

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Knowing where and when to plant your garden is essential to having a successful gardening experience. Whether you produce hardy vegetables that winter over well or leafy greens for immediate use, creating a productive garden is a fun, worthwhile endeavor for anyone interested in growing their food.

Source: Lawn Starter.

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These Are the Best States for Gardeners, Ranked - Salt in my Coffee (2024)

FAQs

Which state has the most gardeners? ›

Which US States Most Dig Community Gardening?
RankStatePopulation
1North Dakota723,393
2Nebraska1,868,516
3Iowa3,090,416
4Alaska735,132
47 more rows
Feb 22, 2016

What state has the best climate for gardening? ›

California is best known for its warm weather and predictable weather patterns. These same qualities are one of the reasons California is one of the best places for agriculture and home gardening. This is especially true in the Central Valley where much of the state's agricultural land is located.

Which states have the best soil for gardening? ›

Where is the most fertile soil in the US? A massive region of California is covered with the natural substance suitable for plant growth. The great central valley is known for productive Class 1 soil.

Where is the best place to live for gardening? ›

Top 5 Close Up
  • Atlanta | Overall Score: 49.65. Number of Community Gardens: 123 | Rank: 2. ...
  • New York | Overall Score: 47.7. Number of Community Gardens: 762 | Rank: 1. ...
  • Miami | Overall Score: 39.76. Number of Gardening Stores: 184 | Rank: 1. ...
  • Houston | Overall Score: 39.53. ...
  • Tampa, Florida | Overall Score: 38.9.
May 7, 2024

Which city is known as Garden City in USA? ›

Garden City, residential village, town (township) of Hempstead, Nassau county, New York, U.S. It is located on western Long Island. One of the nation's first planned communities, it was the aspiration of textile merchant Alexander Turney Stewart, who bought a 7,000-acre (2,800-hectare) tract of land there in 1869.

What state has the longest gardening season? ›

The closer to the equator, the longer the growing season. In fact, there are areas of South Florida that see no end to the growing season during most years. The state with the shortest growing season is Alaska. In Alaska, the average growing season is around 100 days long.

What state has perfect weather all year round? ›

The US city that is often considered to have the best year-round weather is San Diego, California. With its mild temperatures, low humidity, and abundant sunshine, San Diego offers a pleasant climate throughout the year, making it a popular destination for those seeking ideal weather conditions.

What is the best state to grow your own food in? ›

10 Best States For Homesteading 2023
  1. Tennessee. Rural Tennessee is already a popular location for sustainable living enthusiasts, with a fantastic harvesting season of around 9 months of the year, there are low property taxes and costs.
  2. Idaho. ...
  3. Oregon. ...
  4. Maine. ...
  5. Michigan. ...
  6. Connecticut. ...
  7. Montana. ...
  8. Alaska. ...
Feb 9, 2024

In what state can you garden all year round? ›

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.

Where is the healthiest soil in the United States? ›

Mollisols found in the Midwestern U.S. are the best for agriculture due to the grasslands that were present thousands of years ago. These prairies produced strong and fertile soils because after each year, the grasses would breakdown and contribute nutrients to the ground.

Which US state has the richest soil? ›

Flexi Says: The most fertile soil in the world is located in the region known as the "Black Belt" in the United States, which stretches across parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia. This region is known for its rich, dark soil, which is ideal for growing crops.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a farm? ›

Investing in agricultural land can be a great opportunity to capitalize on the current market, with some states offering highly affordable farmland. North Dakota and Wyoming are two of the most cost-effective states for farming land, followed by Alabama and Kentucky.

Which state has the best fruit? ›

Along with California, Florida has the most days with sunshine in the domestic United States, which makes it a great climate for citrus fruits. Florida is known for its production of oranges, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, melons and sweet corn.

What state produces the most landscape plants? ›

For 2019, the top 5 States are California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio which account for $3.04 billion or 69 percent of the total value. Number of Producers: The number of producers for 2019, at 5,198, is down 19 percent from the 2018 count of 6,386.

Where do people garden the most? ›

The Best Regions for Gardening
RegionPercent of Food Gardens
South29%
Midwest26%
West23%
Northeast22%
Sep 5, 2022

What state has the most plant nurseries? ›

Which States have the highest number of businesses in the Nursery & Garden Stores industry in the United States? Texas (1,775 businesses), California (1,701 businesses) and Florida (912 businesses) are the States with the most number of Nursery & Garden Stores businesses in the US.

Where is market gardening most popular? ›

Market Gardening has enjoyed growing popularity in recent years, with millions of people worldwide working according to this concept. Especially in Canada, Japan and the USA, it can be observed that the practice is becoming increasingly widespread.

How many gardeners are there in the US? ›

HAMILTON, ON, Feb. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - A recent report by Bigger Garden has shown that gardening has become one of the most popular hobbies in America, with 55% of American households actively gardening. In fact, over 71.5 million households, or over 185 million people, now enjoy the benefits of gardening.

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