Local planting guide · California
zip 90001
Los Angeles is in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with average winter lows of 35°F to 40°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/09 through 01/05 (~365 days). This zip falls within the California growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10b 35°F to 40°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/09
- First fall frost
- 01/05
- Growing season
- 365 days
- Compatible crops
- 23
- Growing region
- California
Right now in Los Angeles
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Los Angeles
Los Angeles in zone 10b offers year-round growing with minimal frost risk. The last spring frost occurs around January 9, and the first fall frost arrives around January 5 of the following year. This creates a brief frost-risk window in early January, but with a 365-day growing season, the region is essentially frost-free. Heat becomes the dominant constraint rather than cold.
Summer temperatures regularly exceed 85°F, and peak July-August heat can stress even warm-season crops. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil thrive during spring and early summer, but mid-summer heat often requires shade cloth or strategic irrigation to maintain production. Fig, rosemary, and other Mediterranean crops are naturally suited to the region. Winter brings cooler temperatures and rain, making it ideal for cool-season crops like leafy greens and root vegetables, though drainage and fungal pressure from winter moisture can challenge some growers.
Water availability is the second constraint. Los Angeles experiences extended dry periods, and landscape water restrictions periodically limit irrigation. Drip systems and mulch become essential for efficiency. The region's Mediterranean climate supports productive gardening year-round, but success depends on choosing crops suited to each season and managing both summer heat and winter moisture.
Regional context · California
What the California brings to Los Angeles
From cool foggy coast to hot Central Valley to mountain to desert. Mediterranean climate dominates: wet winters, dry summers. The most productive agricultural state in the country, with reach into citrus and olives that exceed the rest of the country.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 10b, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ No winter chill
- ▸ Tropical pest and disease pressure
- ▸ Saltwater intrusion in coastal soils
What defeats new gardeners in Los Angeles
Summer heat stress tops the list. Even heat-loving tomatoes and peppers can experience flower drop and reduced fruit set when daytime highs exceed 95°F (typically July through August). Blossom-end rot becomes common in tomatoes during hot, dry spells.
Water scarcity is the second challenge. Los Angeles routinely faces drought conditions and municipal water restrictions. Shallow-rooted crops like basil and leafy greens require frequent irrigation, and inconsistent watering triggers bolting or wilting.
The third is winter wet. December through February bring concentrated rainfall after months of dry weather. Poor drainage in clay-heavy soils leads to root rot, and the wet, cool conditions create fungal diseases. Powdery mildew and rust infections are common on ornamentals and vegetables during this season.
Crops that grow in Los Angeles
23 crops from our catalog match zone 10b, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 10b Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 10b Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 10b Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 10b Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 10b Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
zone 10b Mango
Mangifera indica
zones 10b–13b
zone 10b Avocado
Persea americana
zones 9b–11b
zone 10b Banana
Musa acuminata
zones 9b–13b
Berries
2 crops
Nuts
1 crop
Vegetables
6 crops
zone 10b Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 10b Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 10b Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 10b Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 10b Sweet Potato
Ipomoea batatas
zones 6a–10b
zone 10b Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
zones 6a–10b
Herbs
2 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Los Angeles
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Los Angeles's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Los Angeles, CA (zone 10b)
Quiet week in Los Angeles, CA (zone 10b). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
128 bars · 23 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 10b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Pseudococcidae spp.
Soft white waxy insects that cluster at leaf joints, fruit stems, and root crowns. Honeydew secretion supports sooty mold; root mealybugs cause decline that mimics drought.
Coccoidea spp.
Sap-sucking insects that attach to bark, leaves, and fruit, secreting honeydew that fuels sooty mold. Heavy infestations weaken trees and cause leaf yellowing.
Ceratitis capitata
Quarantine pest in many regions. Adult females puncture ripening fruit to lay eggs; larvae tunnel through the flesh, causing premature drop and rot.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
Multiple species (Aleyrodidae)
Tiny white moth-like flying insects that feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew. Transmit numerous viral diseases including tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Anastrepha suspensa
Tropical fruit fly endemic to Florida and the Caribbean. Less aggressive on commercial citrus than Mediterranean fruit fly, but devastating on guava, carambola, and other thin-skinned tropicals.
Top diseases for zone 10b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Capnodium spp.
Black fungal coating that grows on honeydew secreted by aphids, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Doesn't infect plant tissue directly but blocks photosynthesis and disfigures fruit.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Most damaging mango disease worldwide. Fungal spores infect blossoms and developing fruit during humid weather, producing black sunken lesions that expand on ripening fruit.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Verticillium dahliae
Soil-borne fungal disease similar to fusarium wilt but with broader host range and cooler temperature optimum. Persists in soil for 10+ years.
Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
Devastating bacterial disease vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid. Once infected, trees decline progressively over several years and there is no cure. Has destroyed commercial citrus across Florida and threatens production worldwide.
Xanthomonas citri
Bacterial disease producing raised corky lesions on leaves, twigs, and fruit. Spread by wind-driven rain and contaminated tools. Quarantine-regulated in many areas.
Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and X. perforans
Bacterial disease causing leaf spots and fruit blemishes on pepper and tomato. Severe in warm humid weather, transmitted via splashing water and seed.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 10b.
- Fig + Rosemary
Rosemary tolerates the dry sites figs prefer and provides aromatic pest deterrence.
- Tomato + Basil
The classic Italian pairing. Basil's volatile oils are reported to repel hornworms and whiteflies, and the two crops share the same warm-season schedule and water needs. Plant basil between tomato cages.
- Sweet Pepper + Basil
Same warm-season culture, same watering schedule. Basil reportedly improves pepper flavor and repels aphids and thrips that are pepper's primary pests.
- Hot Pepper + Basil
Compatible heat-loving culture, similar water needs. Basil interplanted between hot pepper plants supports beneficial insects and reduces aphid pressure.
- Okra + Hot Pepper
Both heat-loving warm-season crops with similar water and fertility needs. Hot pepper at okra's base benefits from the slight afternoon shade in extreme summer heat.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Los Angeles
Start cool-season crops in late August and September for fall and winter harvest. The frost-risk window in early January is brief enough that cool-season crops planted by late summer will mature before frost arrives and can continue through winter. Succession-plant leafy greens every 2 to 3 weeks from September through March for continuous harvest.
Use shade cloth from late June through September to reduce heat stress on sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers. Even a 30 to 50 percent shade cloth can prevent flower drop and blossom-end rot during peak summer while maintaining adequate light for fruit development.
Invest in drip irrigation or soaker hoses and apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around plantings. Consistent moisture from drip systems prevents the stress-induced bolting and wilting common when hand watering misses days during Los Angeles' dry season.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the easiest crops to grow in Los Angeles?
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, and fig thrive with basic care. Fig is nearly foolproof in zone 10b and produces year-round. Tomatoes and peppers require summer heat management (shade cloth) during peak heat but are reliable crops in spring and early summer.
- When should I start tomato seeds for Los Angeles?
Start seeds indoors in late February to early March for transplanting in April. This timing allows spring planting and early-summer harvest before mid-summer heat stress reduces productivity. A second round can be started in late July for fall production if heat-tolerant varieties are chosen.
- Is frost a real risk in Los Angeles?
Frost risk is minimal and brief. The last spring frost occurs around January 9, and the first fall frost arrives around January 5 of the following year. This creates a narrow frost-risk window in early January, but outside these dates, frost is extremely rare, making winter gardening viable.
- How do I manage water during Los Angeles' dry season?
Drip irrigation is essential. Set up soaker hoses or drip lines on timers to deliver water consistently during the dry months (April through October). Mulch beds with 2 to 3 inches of wood chips or compost to reduce evaporation and maintain soil moisture.
- What should I grow in winter in Los Angeles?
Cool-season crops thrive: leafy greens, root vegetables, brassicas, and herbs. Plant from August through October for fall and winter harvest. The mild, frost-free winters allow these crops to mature slowly over months, providing continuous harvest through February.
- How do I prevent blossom-end rot in tomatoes?
Blossom-end rot results from calcium deficiency triggered by irregular watering during hot, dry spells. Use drip irrigation to maintain consistent soil moisture, avoid overhead watering, and mulch to buffer moisture fluctuations. Choose determinate or bush varieties suited to containers where water control is easier.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00003122. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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