Local planting guide · California
zip 90021
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 minimum temperatures between 35 and 40°F. Frost is virtually never a concern. According to NOAA Climate Normals data, the growing season extends approximately 365 days, allowing year-round cultivation. This extreme frost protection enables gardeners to grow warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants continuously, even through winter.
Yet the real challenge in Los Angeles is not cold but heat and water availability. Peak summer temperatures regularly exceed what many vegetables tolerate optimally. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants set fewer fruits when nighttime temperatures stay consistently above 75°F and daytime highs exceed 95°F. Meanwhile, water restrictions and aridity make drought management the defining constraint for most home gardeners here. Figs thrive in the heat and with minimal water once established, making them a natural fit. Basil and rosemary, both Mediterranean natives, handle LA's conditions well. The real skill for most gardeners is timing plantings to catch spring and fall windows when heat stress eases, rather than attempting continuous production year-round.
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
Los Angeles home gardeners face three persistent challenges. First, summer heat stress: tomatoes and peppers stop setting fruit reliably when temperatures spike above 95°F, particularly if nighttime lows remain warm. Planting these crops to mature before June or after August avoids the worst heat, but the compressed spring and fall windows leave limited margin for error. Second, water scarcity and restrictions: even though frost is not a concern, water availability often is. Young plants, newly transplanted specimens, and leafy crops all suffer if irrigation lapses during summer. Third, intense sunlight can damage fruit and foliage. Sun scald on tomatoes and peppers, and leaf bleaching on leafy greens, occur more frequently in LA than in cloudier regions of zone 10b. Afternoon shade cloth during peak summer can help, but it requires planning and infrastructure.
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
Stagger plantings for heat avoidance: Plant tomatoes and peppers in late winter (January through early March) so they mature before June heat peaks, or choose a fall window (late July through August) for a shorter, late-season crop. Figs and rosemary can go in year-round but establish best from spring through early fall. Choose heat-tolerant pepper and tomato varieties: Select cultivars rated for high-temperature fruit set. Many heirloom varieties fail in peak LA summer. UC Davis and local extension often identify regional performers. Mulch heavily and water deeply: A 3 to 4-inch mulch layer retains soil moisture between waterings and keeps roots cooler during peak heat. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep root growth that weathers dry spells better than shallow watering.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the best time to plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Late winter through early March gives tomatoes time to flower and set fruit before June heat arrives. Harvest typically peaks in May and June. A second planting window opens in late July or early August for a smaller fall crop. Avoid planting during late spring or summer when seedlings face extreme heat stress.
- Will figs actually grow here?
Yes, figs thrive in Los Angeles. The long, hot, dry season matches their preference exactly. Trees establish within 2 to 3 years and produce reliably. Many cultivars tolerate poor soil and neglect, making them one of the lowest-maintenance crops for the area.
- Is frost actually a concern in Los Angeles?
Frost is almost never a concern. According to NOAA Climate Normals data, the growing season extends approximately 365 days with measurable frost occurring only in extreme years. Winter cold is the region's least pressing constraint.
- How do I keep peppers producing in summer?
Afternoon shade cloth (30 to 40% shade) helps peppers retain fruit set during peak heat. Consistent, deep watering prevents stress. Choosing varieties bred for high-temperature regions improves odds significantly compared to standard cultivars.
- What herbs grow best year-round?
Rosemary, basil, oregano, and thyme all thrive year-round in Los Angeles. Rosemary and oregano are essentially permanent once established. Basil may slow slightly in winter but rarely stops producing. Plant in spring for fastest establishment.
- How much water do gardens need?
Water needs depend on soil type and season. During summer, most vegetables need consistent moisture, often daily deep watering. Mulching and drip irrigation reduce waste. Winter water needs drop dramatically, sometimes to zero if natural rainfall occurs, though LA's dry climate means supplemental watering is often necessary.
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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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