Local planting guide · California
zip 90005
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 zone 10b has a 365-day growing season with essentially no frost risk, making it one of the most forgiving climates in North America for home gardeners. Unlike other parts of zone 10b, the region's maritime influence moderates temperature extremes. The last measurable spring frost occurs around December 31, and the first fall frost around December 28, rendering traditional frost dates nearly irrelevant. The real gardening constraints are heat and water. Summer heat stresses many cool-season crops and limits flowering and fruit set in heat-sensitive varieties like tomatoes. Water availability is the chronic challenge: despite year-round growing potential, Los Angeles' semi-arid climate and municipal water restrictions mean successful gardens must prioritize drought-adapted plants or invest in drip irrigation. These conditions favor Mediterranean crops (olives, figs, rosemary), warm-season vegetables (peppers, eggplant, sweet potato, basil), and cool-season crops planted in fall to grow through the mild winter.
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 is the dominant barrier. Despite the 365-day growing season, sustained high summer temperatures cause tomatoes to drop flowers and stop setting fruit, trigger bolting in lettuce and spinach, and stress shallow-rooted crops like basil. The second major issue is water availability. Los Angeles' semi-arid climate and seasonal water restrictions mean many gardens face inadequate water during the dry season unless supplemented with irrigation. Additionally, the region's alkaline water can induce iron and zinc deficiency in acid-loving plants like blueberries, creating chronic yellowing (chlorosis) even when nutrient levels are adequate. Winter cold snaps, though rare, occasionally drop below 35°F and damage tender perennials like peppers and eggplants that have overwintered.
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
Plan for succession planting of cool-season crops (lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli) from August through October. Unlike most regions, Los Angeles' mild winter allows these crops to establish and mature fully during the off-season, then bolt once spring heat returns. Provide afternoon shade during peak heat months (June through September) using 30 to 50% shade cloth over heat-sensitive crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants to prevent flower drop and heat stress that reduces yields. Install drip irrigation on a timer and apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch (wood chips or straw) to reduce evaporation and conserve soil moisture year-round. These practices are non-negotiable in Los Angeles' semi-arid climate.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Los Angeles?
Warm-season vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potato), Mediterranean perennials (figs, olives, rosemary, basil), and cool-season crops grown in fall and winter when heat is not a constraint. Frost-sensitive perennials like peppers and eggplants can be overwintered outdoors, returning for multiple seasons.
- When do I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Tomatoes are best planted in early spring (March to early May), allowing them to establish before peak heat stress. Spring plantings produce the largest harvests. Summer plantings mature quickly before fall decline. Consider replanting in late August for a smaller fall crop after summer stress.
- What's the biggest threat to gardens in Los Angeles zone 10b?
Summer heat and water scarcity are equally critical. High temperatures cause tomatoes and peppers to drop flowers and stop producing. Water restrictions during dry months force difficult choices unless drip irrigation is used efficiently.
- How do I protect plants from summer heat?
Use 30 to 50% shade cloth over heat-sensitive crops like tomatoes from June through September. Select heat-tolerant varieties bred for hot climates. Apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch to keep soil cooler and reduce water loss. Increase watering frequency during heat stress.
- Can I grow cool-season crops in Los Angeles?
Yes, but on an inverted schedule. Plant cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, kale, spinach, peas) in August through October to harvest during the mild winter and spring before heat triggers bolting in summer.
- Is winter cold a concern in Los Angeles?
Hard freezes are rare. Most years, temperatures stay above 35°F, and frost is nearly absent. However, occasional cold snaps can drop below freezing and kill tender perennials like overwintered peppers. Treat these as annuals or move containers to shelter during cold warnings.
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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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