Local planting guide · California
zip 90004
Los Angeles is in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with average winter lows of 35°F to 40°F. The local growing season runs roughly 12/31 through 12/28 (~365 days). This zip falls within the California growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10b 35°F to 40°F
- Last spring frost
- 12/31
- First fall frost
- 12/28
- 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 USDA zone 10b, occupies an unusual gardening position: frost is negligible on the calendar (last spring frost December 31, first fall frost December 28) but practical frost risk is confined to rare coastal dips. The true gardening constraint is heat and water availability rather than cold hardship. The 365-day growing season invites year-round cultivation, but success depends on matching crops to the region's microclimates. Coastal areas remain mild; inland valleys climb into the high 90s or low 100s in summer. Figs, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes thrive in the warmth, while cool-season crops like basil and rosemary establish reliably but require strategic timing to avoid summer dormancy. Water scarcity and soil alkalinity distinguish LA gardening from lower-elevation zone 10b regions. Local gardeners often find that heat tolerance and drought resilience matter more than frost protection; crop selection favors plants that withstand sustained warmth and manage with limited water.
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
Heat stress in July and August pushes many crops to the edge, particularly tomatoes and peppers if not shaded or irrigated consistently. Summer dormancy affects cool-season herbs and leafy greens; basil wilts and lettuce bolts without afternoon shade cloth and extra water. The second challenge is soil pH and mineral content: many LA soils lean alkaline (pH 7.5 to 8.5), which binds phosphorus and zinc, showing up as pale or stunted plants despite adequate fertilizer. The third is sporadic but severe drought years that deplete water budgets; irrigation must be efficient and reliable, or crops fail mid-season. Coastal salt spray damages foliage in beachside neighborhoods; inland gardeners face infrequent but destructive freeze events (below 32 degrees) that kill tender perennials without frost cloth protection.
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
First, prioritize drought-tolerant rootstocks and varieties that handle water scarcity without supplemental irrigation beyond winter rainfall. Figs, pomegranates, and desert-adapted pepper varieties show greater resilience than European apple or pear varieties. Second, time cool-season crops to mature in winter (October through March) when heat is not a stress. Direct-sow basil and leafy greens in September for fall and winter harvests; expect these to struggle if grown through June onward. Replant in February for spring maturity. Third, use 30 to 50 percent shade cloth over tomatoes and peppers from June through August to prevent fruit sunscald and reduce physiological heat stress while maintaining adequate air circulation to avoid fungal disease.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops for year-round gardening in Los Angeles?
Figs, rosemary, basil, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and sweet potato thrive in LA's heat and extended growing season. Cool-season crops like lettuce and chard work best from October through April, before summer heat becomes limiting.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Spring transplants go in January through March for summer harvest. For fall crops (avoiding peak summer heat), start seeds in June for transplants in late July. This dodges July-August heat stress and matures fruit in milder September-October conditions.
- Do I need frost protection in Los Angeles?
Frost is rare but possible in January and February, especially inland and at elevation. Tender perennials like avocado and citrus benefit from frost cloth on the few nights when temperatures dip below 32 degrees. Most annual vegetables face negligible frost risk.
- How do I manage summer heat stress in peppers and tomatoes?
Shade cloth (30 to 50 percent density) from June through August prevents sunscald and keeps foliage temperatures lower. Consistent, deep irrigation every 2 to 3 days during peak heat reduces physiological stress and improves fruit set and quality.
- What's the biggest weather challenge for LA gardeners?
Water scarcity and periodic drought cycles are the primary constraints, not cold. Summer heat (often 90 to 100+ degrees Fahrenheit inland) and alkaline soil pH also limit crop choices. Heat and drought tolerance matter more than frost planning.
- Can I grow cool-season crops like lettuce and basil in summer?
Not reliably without aggressive shade and irrigation. Lettuce, chard, and basil bolt or wilt in July-August heat. Plan these crops for October through April maturity, when mild temperatures favor both germination and harvest-quality greens.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00023152. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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