The reason I ask is Im about six months out of my second graduation (career switch, I went back to school, 31 years old) and have been seriously considering relocating. Ive been looking to Hawaii really hard. Yes cost of living is high, but in my new profession the pay scale will be more then adequate and the need there in demand, as it is pretty much anywhere. Ive tossed around places in Cali, as well as florida... they all seem to have pros and cons as does everything in life.

However, Im in a unique situation of pretty much being able to go anywhere I want, and I do want to relocate (within the US).

One of my primary considerations is being able to grow a garden for the large majority of the year, if not year round. Im primarily interested in the typical veggies, tomatoes, sweet bells, but also I really like hot peppers Hungarian wax, jalepeno, habanero, bhut jolokias, etc, etc. However, being able to grow fruits would be a HUGE perk as well which is one of the reasons I have been considering south or subtropical/tropical... nothing is set in stone though.

So what would your top 5 list of places to live and garden consist of ... and why those places??

If you are interested in that area, check out the website 'The Cloudforest Cafe' and post your question there.

The Fruitnut

I'd agree with JXbrown. The Napa valley would be very hard to beat for growing all kinds of fruits and veggies. That is one reason why real estate is so expensive in that area. So you need a pretty big ship to come in to move there.

The poor man's area of CA for gardening is around Modesto and as far north from there as Chico and as far south as Visalia.

The Fruitnut

The Fruitnut

Yet, I see how the Canadians and Alaskans have great success with greenhouses and high tunnels. And I see how exacting adherence to IPM practices can lead to bountiful harvests locally during three seasons. I can be like the fruitnut and grow fruit year round if I want. Here, land and taxes are cheap so, comparatively speaking, I can afford the special equipment(like a greenhouse) easier than exhorbitant land and taxes such as found in California. I think of it as a game, a huge challenge to outwit mother nature. And the fruits and vegetable grown here are to die for!

Please pardon the discourse. Good luck! Misterbaby.

Fruits that require a chilling period are not a necessity in my book, in fact, fruits are an after thought and more of an added bonus in my mind. Vegetables, specifically tomatoes, sweet bells, and many varieties of hot peppers are a must in my book of course. Ill definately look into those areas of Cali.

As far as Hawaii is concerned, I like the idea of a year round growing season. I would be perfectly content with what many of you probably will call a modest garden. Maybe 50 or so plants mainly consisting of the veggies I mentioned above. A single tree or two of banana, pineapple, avacado, and some citrus would be MORE then enough to make me happy.

Plus I love to dive, and the thought of fresh fish on a regular basis is intriguing beyond belief. I just looked at several 3/2/2 houses on the big island of hawaii.. not far from Hilo Medical Center (where I would be working) and several places with 3 acres of land are under $250K ... not bad, its not as populated as the other islands... but thats ok in my book.

However, that being said, theres definately huge advantages to being on the mainland and the cali recomendations will be considered.

Oh .. and Misterbaby ... I like the way you think as well .. Ild be interested in hearing more about your greenhouse experiences .. surely your not able to grow year round with something as simple as a greenhouse??

I didnt realize they were that effective ... and could very well throw a curve ball in my thought process.

No point buying land with a view to gardening if you're going to find yourself in continuous drought. While it's impossible to know future climate for sure, the predictions made many years ago of change to rainfall patterns where I live has been spot on, so that might be worth thinking about in regards to your own short-listed locations.

Similarly, if the water supply comes from aquifers that are being used at unsustainable rates (as so many of them are!), that area might not be a good place to settle.

In terms of pest/disease pressure, tropics often suffer more with fungal-type problems because of warm moist conditions. Areas with year-round growing seasons also often have earlier arrival of insect and mite pests in spring because without the hard freeze populations can overwinter successfully.

Just some things to consider. Other issues might be the geology as it influences soil types, potential mineral deficiencies etc.

Just some thoughts...

I don't want to rain on anyone's parade - just want you to know more than what the pictures show....

Peppers and tomatoes? Check out fruit flies and pepper weevils. Ouch!

My advice is to select a location with deep, fertile soil, and mild, temperate growing conditions. Think about how you will be delivering water to your garden and where it will be coming from. My mind wandered to California when i first read your post but i don't really know the area.
Maybe drop into some of the state or regional forums here on Gardenweb for some insight into local growing challenges.

It's an enviable position you are in, enjoy the ride.

Cali sounds great ... but you cant grow if you cant water and Ill need to look into the water shortage. Hawaii will certainly get enough rain ... but the soil and insect pests. Whereever I go composting will be a priority .. regardless... so the soil quality can be fixed to an extent ...

gracias on the input once again .. Im open to hearing more opinions if anyone should have them!!

On the negative side - we are now on water rationing - 3 days a week, before 10:00 a.m. It is still enough for our needs, but I've prepared for it - with lots of ground covering mulch for my fruit trees, and around the veggie areas. No rain - hardly - except in late winter and early spring.

Peppers grow well - but our cool summers, make them slow to ripen if at all - but lots of green ones. Hot peppers are easier to deal with.

California has a lot of microclimates - sometimes changing just a few miles apart. Commercial growers of strawberries especially like the coastal areas, near the lagoons - which maintain even temps for longer growing time. Flowers are especially happy here - and grown commercially, except more and more growers are "moving south" because of high water and land taxes now.

Napa and the valleys - with better soil and water conditions mean less added supplements of compost, fertilizers, amendments - as opposed to the sandy coastal areas.

All-in-all, it would depend mainly on what crops you want to grow. Gilroy, Ca., is known as the "Garlic Capital of the World" - some areas grow almonds better than others.

Our near-by desert areas have some of the finest pink grapefruit - which requires high temps to bring out their sweetness, and the thick skins can protect the fruit while it is growing - from the swings in temperature from near freezing to double digit heat.

The Salton Sea area grows some of the country's winter crops - lettuce, etc., as the water from the "Sea" maintains the desert heat level at an acceptable level for growing these crops during the winter and up to the very warmest months.

Sooo - that is just my 2 c's. Still I love it here - and so just because I have a problem with rhubarb, cherries - and crops that like dormant periods, doesn't discourage me.

I must admit tho - surfboards still grow best here.

Bejay

Paso Robles, California - lots of heat, mild winters, close enough to the ocean to cool off a bit at night, and up out of the Central Valley smog a bit

Willamette Valley, Oregon - mild winters, but does get cold and drizzly for months on end. Should be able to grow cool season crops all winter, but not as much heat for the warm season crops.

Sequim, Washington - although it is in NW Washington state, it is in a rain shadow and has many more sunny days than much of the surrounding area, plus mild winters, and moderate rainfall.

California grows a small amount of Mangoes down by the Salton Sea. They actually had them for sale in the SuperWalmart here in Wisconsin!

The lower humidity and mild winters would be my top reason.

If you've got a greenhouse or high tunnel, you can grow good stuff anywhere... There is a book out there that has a guy growing veggies year round in zone 5...with little or no heat.

Im out on Alaska .. you have 3 decent months out of the year ... the long, instense winters make it a no go for me ... I need mild! I dont mind a rainy winter, but snow is for the birds! lol ...

FrankTank ... any more specific info on that book?? Im in Zone 5 now and would be interested in reading or getting more information on what that guy is doing

Anyone with opinions Im all ears!

No water shortage here so no water rationing (at least since I have been here. Maybe back in 80's). Last storm dumped 8.5 inches but since then it has been sunny and in mid 70's.

This is where we CHOSE to live.

A winter gardening book is "The Winter Harvest Handbook" by Eliot Coleman. He is in Maine, and has lots of good ideas for season extending. He does grow crops all year, many in unheated moveable greenhouses, and under row covers and so on. He has all kinds of good ideas.

If I really wanted to garden somewhere, I would go to soil conservation service maps and find the best soil in the area I was looking at, that I could afford, to begin with. This might save time and anguish later. I did this when I bought my house, and I am glad I did.

I really think that it mostly takes wanting to have a garden, and then the rest of the details sort of fill themselves in. Every area has it's good and bad features. I would just pick where I wanted to live, and then make a garden on the best soil I could find. Think loam....

Also, check for covenants before you buy or rent a new place. Some places around here won't even let you have tomatoes in pots on your patio.

Good luck!