Local planting guide · California
zip 90012
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 sits in USDA zone 10b with winter lows between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Unlike most of the country, frost is not the dominant gardening constraint here. Last spring frost arrives on December 31st, and first fall frost on December 28th, meaning the growing season effectively spans the full 365 days. This extended season lets gardeners cycle through multiple plantings of warm-season crops and maintain year-round harvests of cold-tolerant varieties. The real challenge is heat and water. Summer temperatures stress cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, and broccoli. Figs, tomatoes, peppers, and sweet potatoes thrive in LA's reliable warmth. Basil and rosemary are perennial here in most years, unlike in colder zones where they die back. Choosing varieties bred for heat tolerance and understanding the distinct planting windows for spring and fall crops within this long season separates successful gardens from frustrated ones.
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 primary obstacle. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants set fruit reliably, but cool-season crops bolt or fail if planted during peak heat months (June through September). Water availability is the second constraint. Los Angeles faces ongoing drought and water-use restrictions that limit irrigation frequency and volume. Gardeners must choose drought-tolerant varieties and amend soil heavily with compost to retain moisture. Pests and diseases thrive in the warm, dry climate. Spider mites, whiteflies, and powdery mildew are more persistent here than in cooler regions, requiring vigilant scouting and early intervention. Soil pH also tends toward alkalinity in urban LA, requiring sulfur amendments to grow acid-loving crops like blueberries.
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
Take full advantage of the year-round season. Rather than viewing gardening as spring-to-fall, treat spring (January-April) and fall (October-December) as the prime windows for cool-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens. Plant heat-sensitive varieties in late winter to mature before peak summer arrives. Use shade cloth or interplant with taller crops to protect sensitive plants during June through August. Mulch heavily and irrigate deeply but less frequently to combat drought stress and reduce water use. This improves soil structure and reduces pest pressure compared to frequent shallow watering.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Los Angeles?
Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, sweet potatoes, and basil thrive. Figs and rosemary are nearly perennial. Cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, and broccoli are best planted in fall (October-December) or early spring (January-March) to avoid summer bolting.
- When should I start tomatoes in Los Angeles?
For spring harvest, sow seeds indoors in December or early January and transplant in February-March. For fall crop, sow in July and transplant in August. This timing avoids peak summer heat and takes advantage of warm but not scorching months.
- Is frost a real concern in zone 10b Los Angeles?
Frost is minimal. Last spring frost is December 31st and first fall frost is December 28th, meaning frost is rarely the limiting factor. Cold snaps are possible but brief. Focus on heat and water management instead.
- How do I manage water restrictions in an LA garden?
Mulch all beds heavily with compost or wood chips to retain soil moisture. Plant drought-tolerant varieties bred for California conditions. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth. Focus on perennials like figs, rosemary, and established peppers that need less supplemental irrigation.
- What's the biggest pest or disease problem in Los Angeles gardening?
Spider mites and powdery mildew thrive in the warm, dry climate. Scout plants weekly starting in spring. Use sulfur sprays preventatively and remove affected leaves promptly to avoid spread.
- Can I grow cool-season crops like lettuce year-round?
No. Lettuce and similar crops bolt or fail during LA's hot months (June-September). Plant them in fall, winter, and early spring instead. This extends your season from 12 months of potential growing to 8-9 prime months for any given cool-season crop.
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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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