The better question to ask is what can't you grow? The only real limitation is that water is in short supply, and the lush tropical look and lots of lawn will cost you. You will be a solid USDA zone 10, with hardly any frost,and winter can be as colorful as summer. You will also probably get well acquainted with "June Gloom" when you arrive, and discover daily coastal fog in the mornings. I think you will enjoy the possibilities, but will need to relearn aspects of gardening in a summer dry climate; the best time to actually get a new garden established in a late fall planting. You may also encounter talk of water rationing in your new neighborhood, as their just hasn't been enough rain anywhere in the state to replenish normal supplies.

You'll be living in Sunset zone 24, which some consider the ultimate place for California gardening. :D

I was going to suggest that you immediately purchase a Sunset Western Garden Book, but as Bahia said, the list of what you CAN'T grow will be much shorter than what you can; you could open the book, point, and grow probably 90% of the plants listed in there (think: houseplants growing and thriving outdoors!). Get settled, then explore, explore, explore.

Wisconsin to southern Cali...WOOO, what a change! LOL

Brenda

Your weather forecast will constantly read: "night and early morning low clouds, mostly sunny, highs in the mid 70's."

To reiterate: get a Sunset Western Garden Book and possibly Pat Welsh's Southern California Gardening, A Month By Month Guide. The last will be helpful because monthly garden chores are timed so differently from what you are used to.

Welcome, I hope you like it here.

Welcome to the neighborhood! Bahia is spon on about the water - plant for the future, which means a lush, floriforous and drought tolerant garden.. and a rather dramatic shift in how you approach gardening and watering. It isn't just a change in climate, but a whole mindset around what is possible.. and what not to do.

First, determine your soil characteristics - you could have anything from clay/silt to sand - and determine your drainage - you could have none to a sieve. Managing water retention and good drainage makes the garden successful with the least amount of maintenance - I learned the hard way that it can't be bypassed. Drought tolerant doesn't mean gravel with a cactus - but it does take some thought. SD received less than 5" of rain this year, and the Colorado River water supply is very salty.

You can get some great ideas from the fabulous public gardens, such as Quail Botanical in Encinitas, Balboa park, Wild Animal Park, Buena Creek Nursery's demo gardens, etc.

I maintain a doc of all my plantings and my wish lists. If you want help planning or would like a copy, just drop me a line - I'm right up the road, and am happy to help.

=^,,^= diana

Here is a link that might be useful: jar test for soil

Thanks everyone! My fiance, who already lives there, has indeed warned me of June gloom. We live in a condo and most if not all my garden will be in large containers on the large patio. I would love to get some tomatoes going asap...a combination of veggies, herbs, and ornamentals is my thought. Are there maybe some small citrus or avocado trees that would do well in large containers? So I can make the soil whatever I need to, since I will be buying it...lol! Thanks for the welcome, I have a ton to do to get ready over the next couple months.

Citrus like a Dwarf Meyers Lemon or Tangerine is probably easier in a container than an Avocado, but both can be done. I would suggest that a container the size of a half oak wine barrel is a good minimum size for a containerized fruit tree. Not many people try to grow Avocados as a container plant, as they are fussy about water quality and tend to get leaf tip burn as a container plant with Colorado River water as your water source, which is high in salts. Another less common fruit tree that looks great in containers and likes the coast conditions is the Strawberry Guava, Psidium cattleianum, or Pineapple Guava, Feijoa sellowiana.

"Pink lemonade" does well in containers, and produces tart lemons. If you want sweet lemons, go for the Meyers.
For tomatoes plants and other herbs, go to the Saturday Vista Farmers Market (7:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.
City hall parking lot at Eucalyptus Ave and Escondido Ave, off 78). There's a knowledgeable woman who sells many, many varieties of toms, and can help you select the best for containers.

When you see the selection at the various markets, you can make the decision: grow my own, or buy organic ones? hmmmmm - that avo tree is going to look less appealing when a bag, in season, is 5 for a dollar.

Here is a link that might be useful: SD Farmer markets