Local planting guide · California
zip 90006
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 is one of the most generous gardening climates in the continental United States. The last spring frost typically arrives after December 31 and the first fall frost not until December 28, meaning frost is a genuine rarity here. With a 365-day growing season, this zone presents the opposite challenge from gardening in most of the country: not fighting the cold, but managing heat and aridity. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant thrive during the traditional spring planting window but often struggle in the intense summer heat. Figs are a reliable cornerstone crop, requiring minimal input and tolerating the heat better than most other fruit-bearing plants. Basil and rosemary flourish year-round. The defining advantage of zone 10b Los Angeles is the ability to grow cool-season crops in fall and winter when most of the country is dormant. Broccoli, lettuce, and other brassicas planted in late August or September reach peak quality in the cooler months. The trade-off is water availability, which limits the variety of crops that can be sustainably grown without supplemental irrigation.
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 challenge. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 85°F from June through September, and during heat waves can spike above 95°F. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant may stop setting fruit during extreme heat, a phenomenon called blossom drop. Water scarcity and restrictions on residential irrigation present the second major constraint. Los Angeles is semi-arid, and city water-use limitations often tighten in summer, making efficient water management essential for sustained production. Soil quality is the third issue. Many Los Angeles properties have compacted clay or poor native soil with high pH. Most edible crops prefer slightly acidic, well-draining soil amended with organic matter. Without amendment, crops may suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, visible as yellowing foliage or stunted growth.
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
Plant heat-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers early in spring (February to March) so they reach productive maturity before the June heat surge. In August, shift focus to cool-season crops: lettuce, arugula, broccoli, and cabbage. These germinate and establish during late summer and reach peak quality in the mild fall and winter (September to February). Figs, rosemary, peppers, and basil form a reliable foundation because they tolerate heat and water stress better than tomatoes or other fruiting crops. Use drip irrigation on timers, apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch (wood chips or straw), and monitor soil moisture carefully after rain. Adjust irrigation frequency based on rainfall and temperature; overwatering in cool months causes root diseases.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the best time to plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
February to March for spring crops. Plant early so tomatoes establish roots before the June heat wave; extremely hot temperatures reduce fruit set. For a fall crop, start seeds in late May or June for transplanting in July; these mature in the milder fall months (September to November).
- Can I garden year-round in Los Angeles zone 10b?
Yes. Frost is rare (last spring frost after December 31, first fall frost not until December 28). Grow heat-lovers like peppers and figs spring through early summer, rest during peak heat, then shift to cool-season crops from August onward. Winter gardening is productive here.
- What vegetables grow reliably in the intense summer heat?
Armenian cucumber, yard-long beans, okra, and eggplant thrive in 90°F+ heat. Basil, rosemary, and other Mediterranean herbs are nearly unstoppable. Peppers tolerate heat well if consistently watered. Avoid tomatoes during peak summer; they sunscald and stop setting fruit.
- How do I deal with water restrictions in Los Angeles?
Prioritize drought-tolerant crops like figs, rosemary, eggplant (once established), and basil. Use drip irrigation to deliver water efficiently to the root zone rather than broadcasting by sprinkler. Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture. In peak summer, reduce the planting area to manageable beds.
- Why do my tomatoes stop producing in summer?
Temperatures above 85-90°F at night cause pollen sterility; flowers drop without setting fruit. This is called blossom drop. Plant tomatoes early (February to March) for spring harvest, or wait until mid-summer to start a fall crop that matures in the cool months.
- What's the biggest frost risk I should know about?
Frost is rare but possible between late November and early January. If temperatures drop toward 35°F, tender crops like eggplant and pepper can suffer leaf damage. Mulch around plants and be ready with frost cloth if an unexpected cold snap is forecast.
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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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