The geography made a lot of difference in the life and the economy of the Middle Colonies. The Northern Colonies lived along the colder, rocker coast. Their ability to farm was not as good but they were able to grow enough to keep their own families. The Southern Colonies were greatly involved in farming.. but it was not necessarily the edible kind. Most of their cash crops were cotton, cane sugar and indigo. These crops need a lot of moist damp soil. The Middle Colonies had a temperate climate that lent itself for growing most of the grains, fruits and vegetables for the cities. The Middle Colonies were known as the Bread Basket.