Local planting guide · California
zip 90017
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 occupies zone 10b with average winter minimums between 35 and 40°F. This is mild enough that frost is essentially absent year-round. NOAA Climate Normals data shows no meaningful last spring frost date or first fall frost date; the growing season extends 365 days. This is the primary advantage: crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil can be planted whenever conditions suit them, not constrained by frost dates like the rest of the country. The real constraints in LA are heat and water. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 85°F and can spike into the low 90s, which stresses shade-loving crops and causes blossom-end rot in tomatoes, sunscald in peppers, and early bolting in leafy greens. Winter cooling is mild but adequate for crops that need dormancy (figs, stone fruits) or vernalization. Water availability and cost matter more than frost risk; garden watering is subject to city restrictions during dry spells, requiring efficient irrigation and careful variety selection for drought tolerance. The combination of year-round growing potential and heat stress distinguishes LA gardening from neighboring zones.
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. Mid-July through August temperatures exceed 85°F in downtown LA, causing tomatoes to drop blossoms, peppers to sunscald, and basil to bolt. Many gardeners shift to heat-tolerant warm-season crops (eggplant, Armenian cucumber, yard-long beans) during this window and reserve tomatoes, lettuce, and other cool-season crops for the mild months (October through May). Water restrictions imposed by the LA Department of Water and Power during drought years force gardeners to choose between plants and lawn. Soil pH is another obstacle; LA soil tends toward alkaline (pH 7.5 to 8.2), which locks up trace elements like zinc and iron in many crops. Finally, spider mites and aphids thrive in hot, dry conditions and can defoliate plants quickly in summer if natural predators are not abundant.
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 tomatoes and peppers in late winter (January through February) so they mature during the cool-to-mild spring (April through June) before peak summer heat; a second planting in late summer (August) can produce a light fall crop before November. Use 30 to 50 percent shade cloth during June through August for susceptible crops like tomato and lettuce; this keeps soil cooler and reduces water demand. Invest in drip irrigation on a timer; hand watering daily during summer heat is impractical in a zone with water restrictions, and drip delivers water directly to the root zone with minimal runoff.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow year-round in Los Angeles?
Basil, rosemary, and citrus are nearly foolproof perennials. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant thrive in spring and fall but struggle in peak summer heat. Succession plant tomatoes in February and August for consistent harvest. Leafy greens and root crops are most reliable October through May.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant in late January or early February to mature before summer heat peaks (June through August). A second planting in late August can produce a lighter fall crop. Both plantings avoid the temperature stress that causes blossom-end rot and early senescence.
- Is frost a risk in Los Angeles gardening?
Frost is negligible. Winter minimums rarely dip below 35 to 40°F downtown, and NOAA data shows no meaningful frost dates. The far greater risk is summer heat stress; planning the garden around heat tolerance matters far more than frost protection.
- How do I grow tomatoes successfully with summer heat?
Select heat-tolerant varieties of tomato bred for hot, dry climates. Plant early (February) so fruit matures before heat peaks in June. Use 30 to 40 percent shade cloth June through August, and mulch heavily to stabilize soil temperature and reduce water demand.
- What should I do about Los Angeles's alkaline soil?
Add sulfur to lower pH, or grow in raised beds with acidified potting mix. Some gardeners accept the pH and choose acid-tolerant crops like citrus and stone fruits, which tolerate LA's natural alkalinity better than vegetables do.
- How do I manage water restrictions during drought?
Install drip irrigation to reduce runoff and deliver water directly to plant roots. Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture. During drought years, prioritize perennial crops (figs, citrus, rosemary) and drought-tolerant vegetables (Armenian cucumber, yard-long beans, eggplant) over water-hungry crops like lettuce.
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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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