Local planting guide · California
zip 90007
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's zone 10b climate offers one of the longest growing seasons in the United States: a full 365 days essentially free of frost. Winter lows rarely dip below 35 to 40°F, a threshold that plants either easily tolerate or simply slow down rather than die back. This frost-free advantage enables year-round gardening and year-round harvests, a luxury that gardeners in colder zones envision.
The practical constraints are heat and water, not cold. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F and can spike into the 100s in inland neighborhoods and during heat waves. Many cool-season crops (lettuce, brassicas, peas) bolt or deteriorate in this heat unless shaded or sown in late fall for winter harvest. Even heat-tolerant crops like tomatoes and peppers can drop flowers when nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F, reducing fruit set.
Water is the second constant pressure. Southern California's arid climate and periodic drought restrictions mean irrigation is not optional. Reliable water supply determines success more than any other single factor.
Given these constraints, Los Angeles excels at heat-loving, drought-tolerant permanent crops: figs, pomegranates, rosemary, and other Mediterranean species thrive with minimal intervention. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil grow prolifically during mild seasons but require careful variety selection and heat management in summer.
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 ranks first. Tomatoes and peppers stop setting fruit when nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F or when daytime highs exceed 100°F, a condition that occurs most years in inland Los Angeles during July and August. Shade cloth (30 to 50% density) can help, but timing planting to avoid peak summer heat is more reliable.
Water scarcity is the second challenge. Los Angeles's semi-arid climate and water restrictions mean drip irrigation is essential, not optional. Shallow-rooted crops like basil and leafy greens require daily watering in summer; deep-rooted perennials like figs can tolerate drought once established, but young trees need consistent moisture in their first two years.
Soil compaction and poor drainage afflict urban gardens, especially in older neighborhoods built on clay subsoil. Many home gardeners inherit hard-pan conditions that impede root development and require amendment (compost, sand, gypsum) before crops establish.
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
Treat summer as off-season for cool crops. Rather than struggling to keep lettuce and brassicas alive through 95°F heat, plan them for fall through spring. A September or October planting delivers fresh greens from November through April, when Los Angeles weather is reliably mild (highs 60 to 75°F). This inversion of the traditional garden calendar suits Los Angeles's climate perfectly.
Shade heat-sensitive crops in peak summer. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant benefit from 30% shade cloth deployed from June through August. This simple structure preserves fruit set during the hottest months and extends the productive season.
Invest in drip irrigation from the start. Hand-watering is impractical in Los Angeles's heat. Drip systems with soil moisture sensors reduce water waste, prevent fungal diseases that thrive on wet foliage, and free time for maintenance and pest scouting.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Los Angeles?
Figs, pomegranates, and rosemary thrive with minimal care. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil grow well with variety selection for heat tolerance. Year-round frost-free weather makes perennial herbs and permanent plantings reliable. Cool-season crops (lettuce, brassicas, peas) excel in winter.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Early spring (February to March) and again in late summer (August) for successful fruit set. Avoid June plantings, which flower during peak summer heat. Because Los Angeles is frost-free, the limiting factor is not frost but the heat stress that causes flowers to drop during the hottest months. Late summer plantings produce fruit into fall when temperatures cool.
- Is it really frost-free here?
Yes. Zone 10b in Los Angeles has year-round frost-free conditions. Winter lows remain above 35 to 40°F in most neighborhoods. This means there is no spring frost risk and no fall frost risk, making the 365-day growing season literal. Frost is not a constraint in Los Angeles gardening.
- How do I prevent my tomatoes and peppers from dropping flowers in summer?
High nighttime temperatures cause flower drop. Choose heat-tolerant varieties, use shade cloth (30% density) from June through August, and plant early enough to set fruit before peak heat arrives.
- What about water restrictions?
Plan for drought. Drip irrigation is essential. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture. Choose drought-tolerant perennials when possible (figs, pomegranates, rosemary). For annuals, succession-plant shallow-rooted crops (basil, greens) only if reliable water is guaranteed.
- Can I garden outdoors year-round in Los Angeles?
Yes. Winter is the ideal season for cool crops and pleasant outdoor work. Spring and fall are mild and productive. Summer requires heat and water management but is not a dormant season as in colder climates.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00023152. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related