Yeah I live in Sydney around the same area as the Granny Smith apple originated. Not sure about what American zone our climate compares to I figured it was maybe a zone 9? Similar to some of the costal areas of California? San Francisco maybe? Regardless I went ahead and planted a range of apples modern, heritage, "low chill" English, American, French, Japanese, etc. I have about 34 different varieties at the moment. I have no idea what will work but I figure some will work and some wont. I can remove the ones that don't and graft on different types. It's fun. I based my original list of apples off the kuffle creek apple list and added some other that sounded interesting. I have the feeling that the guy from kuffle creek is on these forums but I might be wrong. I think that as long as you keep in mind that growing apples in our climate is a bit of an experiment and that they might not all work you might as well have a crack at it. That being said i would be confident that Anna and Dorset Golden will grow and fruit on the central coast. Good luck J Here is a link that might be useful: Kuffle creek apple list

I already wanted to attend this from the post in gulf coast forum, but how can anybody not want to meet a guy brave and friendly enough to holler "Free BBQ" in the AL forum? All the way over to Panama City should be part of AL anyway, but this probably isn't the place to start such a mini-rant. "Want to attend" is a done deal for me, am trying to attend, that's as much as I can commit at this point at my end. Nothing against the swap in N AL, which I'd like to attend just as much, just a lot farther away from me in an area much less familiar.

I'm a bit late for the original poster, but I just had to take the time say hello to a fellow Santa Cruzian. I live in Santa Cruz proper-- right off Branciforte. Haven't logged in for a bit, but after 2 years without one, I've got a yard again and I'm just gearing up to plant. I've got a difficult site (it's a hillside, with eucalyptus trees at the top, and poor/no topsoil), but it's big, and the sun is excellent. I've been stockpiling compost all winter and I can't wait to get going. I know I can get some strawberries, tomatoes and herbs-- at the very least. Whoo hoo springtime!

You may very well not get enough heat for some citrus to obtain optimum flavor. You will need to just plant a few for trial to see. Satsuma is know for needing less than some others. You will do better with Bears Lime than Key Lime. Bears is more tolerant of frost. Ordinary grapefruit will most certainly not get enough heat to be tolerable and you MIGHT find you have enough heat for Oro Blonco and Melogold. These are hybrids with Pomellos and have a much higher sugar content. Mine are only good if picked very late in the season. Have you considered other fruit than citrus? You are in prime area for Gravenstein apples and I would think the new low chill cherries (Royal Lee and Mini Royal) would do wonderfully there. There are quite a few peaches that would work there as well.