State rankings
Gardening-Friendly States
California ranks 1st on Gardening Friendly Rank, followed by Washington (2nd) and Florida (3rd); rank 1 is the best. Michigan ranks last (15th).
Gardening Friendly RankBetter directionWhether a higher or a lower value is better. A green arrow means higher is better, a red arrow means lower is better, and no arrow means neither.More in the glossary →
15 of 51 statesGardening Friendly Rank
Green is better, red is worse (rank 1 is the best). Click a place to highlight it.
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All 15 ranked
Best first; rank 1 is the best and has the longest bar.
Data
Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.
50 states · # = rank by Gardening Friendly Rank
| # | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  California | 1st | 5a | 10b | Tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, carrots, beans, figs, apples, jujube, persimmon, lemons, oranges and many more |
| 2 |  Washington | 2nd | 4a | 9a | Carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, capsicums, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, apples pears and many others |
| 3 |  Florida | 3rd | 8a | 11a | Tomatoes, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, tobacco, turnip, oranges and citrus fruit, strawberries, watermelon and other |
| 4 |  Arizona | 4th | 4b | 10b | Leafy greens, cabbage, dates, melons, lemons, oranges, apples, potatoes and tomatoes; and many more. |
| 5 |  Georgia | 5th | 6a | 9a | Cucumbers, collards, lima beans, and turnip greens |
| 6 |  Oregon | 6th | 4b | 9b | Snap beans, sweet corn, onions, squash, beets, carrots, cauliflower broccoli and others |
| 7 |  North Carolina | 7th | 5b | 8b | Lettuce, spinach, radishes, cucumbers, kale,beets, potatoes, apples |
| 8 |  Texas | 8th | 6b | 10a | Cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, okra, squash, corn, green cabbage, carrots, herbs, mushrooms, apples, pears, plums, persimmons, figs, pomegranates, peaches, pears, and others |
| 9 |  Hawaii | 9th | 9a | 13a | Lettuce, cabbage, kale and collard greens, macadamia, papaya, banana, guava, avocado, and specialty tropical fruits. |
| 10 |  South Carolina | 10th | 7a | 9a | Apples, peaches, nectarines, persimmons, figs, and plums, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, blueberries and strawberries |
| 11 |  Maryland | 11th | 5b | 8a | Beets, carrots, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas and radishes |
| 12 |  Tennessee | 12th | 5b | 8a | Lettuce, radishes, kale, collards, broccoli, cabbage, spinach and turnips |
| 13 |  Virginia | 13th | 5a | 8a | Cabbage, cucumbers, string beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, watermelon, apples and peaches |
| 14 |  Alabama | 14th | 7a | 9a | Tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers, peaches, blueberries, muscadines, figs, and many other fruits and veggies |
| 15 |  Michigan | 15th | 4a | 5b | Lettuce, peas, spinach, tomatoes, peppers and melons |
| — |  New York | — | 3b | 7b | Lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, beets, asparagus, apples, apricots, blueberries. |
| — |  Pennsylvania | — | 5b | 7a | Carrots, beets, turnips, peas, cucumbers,blueberries and others |
| — |  Illinois | — | 5a | 7a | Snap beans (green beans), cauliflower, asparagus, green peas, lima beans, and others |
| — |  Ohio | — | 5a | 6a | Swiss chard, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and okra |
| — |  New Jersey | — | 6a | 7b | Tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, apples, spinach, squash, and asparagus, blueberries, cranberries, peaches |
| — |  Massachusetts | — | 5a | 7b | Kale, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, onions, peas, potatoes, and spinach |
| — |  Indiana | — | 5b | 6b | Radishes, leafy greens, carrots, chard, beets, turnips and others |
| — |  Missouri | — | 5b | 7a | Swiss chard, spinach, parsley, lettuce, collards, and endive |
| — |  Colorado | — | 5b | 6a | Beets, carrots, celery, chard, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, parsnips, radishes, spinach, and turnips |
| — |  Wisconsin | — | 3b | 5b | Tomatoes, kale, bunching onions, cucumbers, beets, rutabagas and turnips, cabbage |
| — |  Minnesota | — | 3a | 5a | Tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, radishes |
| — |  Kentucky | — | 6a | 7a | Bush beans, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, garlic, peas, peppers, potatoes, rhubarb, and others |
| — |  Louisiana | — | 8a | 10a | Tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries and satsumas |
| — |  Oklahoma | — | 6a | 7b | Squash, cucumbers, melons, sweet potatoes, green beans, kale |
| — |  Connecticut | — | 5b | 7a | Lettuce, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers |
| — |  Utah | — | 4a | 9a | Asparagus, bean, beet, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers and others |
| — |  Nevada | — | 4a | 10a | Summer squash and zucchini, tomatoes, squash, peppers |
| — |  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 |
| — |  Arkansas | — | 6b | 8a | Harsher conditions for specific crops: Collards, irish potatoes, southern peas, summer and winter squash, apples, plums, peaches and pears |
| — |  Kansas | — | 5b | 7a | Carrots, grapes, corn, pears broccoli, onions, garlicm radishes, and others |
| — |  Mississippi | — | 7a | 9a | Corn, bell peppers, roccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, spinach, Swiss chard, and rutabagas |
| — |  New Mexico | — | 4b | 9a | Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, eggs, asparagus, beans, peas, squash, cabbage, and kale |
| — |  Idaho | — | 3b | 7b | Beets, onions, chard, carrots, lettuce, spinach, the cabbage family, radishes, peas, turnips |
| — |  Nebraska | — | 4a | 5b | Beans, cucumber, eggplant, okra, pepper, corn, cauliflower, onion, peas, and greens like cabbage |
| — |  West Virginia | — | 5a | 7a | Asparagus, peas, carrot, cabbage, kale, cucumber, eggplant, okra, pepper, and tomato |
| — |  New Hampshire | — | 3b | 6a | Spinach, kale, Swiss chard, lettuce, beans, okra, eggplant, pepper, apples |
| — |  Maine | — | 3b | 5b | Tomatoes, bush peas, bush beans, summer squash, potatoes, onions, radishes, and greens like lettuce |
| — |  Montana | — | 3a | 5b | Tomatoes, squash, peppers, beans, peas, cole crops like cauliflower and broccoli, and roots |
| — |  Rhode Island | — | 5b | 7a | Pumpkins, peaches, apples, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries |
| — |  Delaware | — | 7 | 7 | Arugula, basil, cilantro, chili peppers, lettuce, parsley, peppers, tomatoes, watercress |
| — |  South Dakota | — | 3b | 4b | Soybeans, field corn, wheat, sunflowers, alfalfa, vegetables and other crops |
| — |  North Dakota | — | 2b | 6a | Potatoes, peas, spinach, dill, and carrots |
| — |  Alaska | — | 1a | 8b | Harsh conditions for specific crops: Cabbage, broccoli and other hardy vegetables |
| — |  Vermont | — | 3b | 5b | Squas, sweet corn, potatoes, apples and leafy greens |
| — |  Wyoming | — | 3a | 6a | Radish, lettuce, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, spinach, and turnip |
What correlates with Gardening Friendly Rank?
Pearson r against 2,123 other state metrics sharing at least 10 states. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.
Higher together
Places that rank better on Gardening Friendly Rank tend to score higher on these (or rank better)
- Plot
- Same Sex Marriages as % of Total MarriagesSame-Sex Marriage by StatePlotr = −0.81 · very strong · n = 15
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- ROI Potential RankCattle Ranching by StateA rank: rank 1 is the bestPlotr = +0.80 · very strong · n = 15
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Opposite directions
Places that rank better on Gardening Friendly Rank tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)
- Circumcision Rates Among Newborn Males (MGMbill)Circumcision Rates by StatePlotr = +0.83 · very strong · n = 14
- % of Needed 2030 RNs State Is Projected to HaveNursing Shortage by StatePlotr = +0.79 · very strong · n = 15
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Quick answers
- Which state ranks first on Gardening Friendly Rank?
- California ranks first on Gardening Friendly Rank, at 1st, followed by Washington (2nd) and Florida (3rd). Rank 1 is the best state.
- Which state ranks last on Gardening Friendly Rank?
- Michigan ranks last of the 15 US states with data, at 15th.
- Where does this gardening-friendly states data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: USDA; RubyHome; StorageCafe; GlobalTrade.