Fruits & Vegetables You Can Grow in California

California is one of the main fruit- and vegetable-growing regions in the United States. Much commercial production takes place in the Central Valley, but the California climate allows gardeners to successfully plant and grow fruits and vegetables in all areas of the state.

Cherry

• California is a noted cherry-growing region, and while the main growing region for cherries is the Central Valley, you can also grow cherry trees in the coastal regions. Sweet cherry varieties, such as Bing and Black Tartarian, are varieties most often eaten fresh, while sour varieties such as Meteor and North Star are typically grown to use in pies and preserves.

Olive

• Olives grow well in hot, dry regions, and grow in many regions of California, including the Central Valley and Southern California. You can grow a number of varieties of olive in California, including Manzanillo, which is a variety grown for the table, and Leccino, grown for use in olive oil production.

Warm- and Cool-Season Vegetables

• Cool-season vegetables are those that must be planted and harvested at the cooler times of the year, meaning spring and fall. Cool-season vegetables include carrots, white potatoes and globe artichokes. Warm-season crops, which should be planted and harvested in late spring and summer, include lima beans, watermelon and sweet corn.