Best growing zone overall

Hi,

Residence-wise I’ve been confined to a fairly temperate zone 5-7 my whole life. I’ve travelled to the tropics, though, and some just-sub-of-the-Arctic regions, and the Mediterranean. It just crossed my mind to wonder, among those who study gardening, or do it for a living, or are otherwise experts, is there generally regarded a “best” or most prolific growing zone overall? Appreciate your insight. Thanks.

Hi felinist,

I am living and gardening in east central Kansas, not because that is an optimal growing zone, but because I have family in this area. However, I am aware of a person who apparently did have the opportunity to pick an optimum growing area, and it was in the Veracruz, Mexico general area. You might be interested to read this message from that person (in the National Gardening Association Forum)

https://garden.org/thread/view_post/2033339/

ZM

From the attached link, it sounds like the person found some place where zinnias will grow real well. That's a pretty small box - not to mention not much seasonality by which I mean winter/spring/summer/fall. But that is fine for those who want that regime that never gets cold. I wonder how the mentioned chosen plants would actually grow in a garden there, versus the basically commercial set up described. Seems like a lot more effort than necessary to grow annual flowers.

I really think the question of "best" really applies to what you want to grow, and the site/region's tolerance of growing those plants. Prolific-ness may apply to the sheer numbers of species possible or successful, so I suspect that will be someplace equatorial, possibly the Amazon.

If you want to grow plants that require a winter dormancy - say Cornus florida, well, don't go too far south. Minimum chill is a standard for these kinds of plants to successfully grow, and I'm fairly certain you can't grow that species in most/all parts of Mexico. Similarly, most of the tropical and xeric species from that part of the world are poor fits in NC - unless you create contrived exacting conditions that suit the species.

I've always believed that the zone range you describe - most of the mid Atlantic coast from New Jersey/Pennsylania south to North Carolina - is quite the congenial growing region in eastern North America. Just consider the number of nurseries and other agricultural operations that are sited there - not to mention long established botanical gardens, arboretums, and fine estate collections.

That's more than two cents, but I believe in all the best senses and intentions of the word gardening, it is sustainably growing plants that you need and want to survive in a happy life.

Hello ViburnumValley,

" I've always believed that the zone range you describe - most of the mid Atlantic coast from New Jersey/Pennsylvania south to North Carolina - is quite the congenial growing region in eastern North America. "

That's not my zone. I am in east central Kansas, which is fairly close to the geographic center of the nation. But I am here not because it is an optimal growing zone, but because I have family in this area. The original poster was asking "... is there generally regarded a “best” or most prolific growing zone overall? " I merely provided a link to a person who had picked a location based on it being a good growing zone.

" Seems like a lot more effort than necessary to grow annual flowers. "

Some people like to expend "more effort" than others. I grow zinnias as a hobby (they do OK here in Kansas, as do the native sunflowers) and I breed zinnias to get new forms. That is obviously "more effort than necessary", but I enjoy it, and I have had some success getting zinnias that you can't get from a commercial seed packet.

ZM

Sorry, Zen_Man, but my comments were directed to the original poster - not you. I'm sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.

I'm certain you know as much as you need to about yourself and where you garden.

I only commented about the link you provided, and mainly because I don't think it was a good match to the information requested - that's all.

Everyone makes gardening and plant growing choices. You've made yours, and I've made mine. The original poster apparently is seeking opinions on these matters, and we've contributed ours.