Local planting guide · California
zip 90029
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°F, meaning frost is rarely a winter gardening concern. The real constraint is summer heat and drought. The city's Mediterranean climate delivers a full 365-day growing season but with a distinct rhythm: cool-season crops (lettuces, greens, brassicas) thrive October through April, while heat-lovers like figs, peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes dominate May through September. The sample crops listed above are all suited to LA's warm-season window, with figs particularly reliable given zone 10b's consistently mild winters. Coastal neighborhoods benefit from marine layer moderation in summer, keeping afternoon highs noticeably lower than inland areas; inland gardeners face more intense heat exposure and should prioritize shade strategies and drought-tolerant varieties. The real advantage over cooler zones is the ability to grow tender perennials year-round (rosemary, basil) without winter protection, and to plant cool-season crops in fall for spring harvest rather than the reverse.
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 and water scarcity are the primary obstacles. Mid-summer temperatures regularly exceed 85°F, stressing cool-season crops and some heat-sensitive tomato varieties (pollen drop occurs above 90°F at night). California's water restrictions, particularly in drought years, force difficult irrigation choices; even drip systems lose water to evaporation in 100°F heat. A second issue is pest pressure in summer months. Whiteflies, spider mites, and aphids explode in sustained heat, and many organic sprays lose efficacy above 85°F. Third, some gardeners attempt year-round planting and end up with thin cool-season harvests in summer because they planted crops outside their optimal window. The summer months (June through September) are the season to rest cool crops and push heat-lovers; success requires reversing the intuition from colder zones.
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
First, plant tomatoes in early spring (February through March) for summer harvest, and again in late July through August for fall and winter harvest. The fall-planted window is often underused: cool-season growth in autumn allows a second, often superior harvest from September through December with fewer pest pressures. Second, use shade cloth in summer (30 to 50 percent shade) for cool-season crops and heat-sensitive varieties; positioning it on the south and west sides extends the effective growing window. Third, install drip irrigation on a timer and mulch heavily (4 to 6 inches of wood chips) to reduce evaporation losses. In LA's climate, soil dries out fast enough that hand watering invites inconsistency; mechanical irrigation with mulch is a practical necessity, not a luxury.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Los Angeles?
Heat-loving crops dominate: figs, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, tomatoes, basil, and rosemary are reliable. Cool-season crops (lettuce, chard, brassicas, spinach) grow best planted in fall (September through November) for winter and spring harvest. Sweet potato and other root crops also thrive in the long warm season.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant tomatoes in two windows: early spring (February through March) for May through August harvest, and late summer (late July through early August) for fall and winter harvest. The fall planting often yields better results with fewer disease and pest pressures.
- What's the biggest gardening risk in zone 10b Los Angeles?
Summer heat and drought stress. Water scarcity is a chronic constraint, and temperatures above 90°F at night disrupt fruit set in tomatoes and some peppers. Mulching and drip irrigation are essential; relying on rainfall or hand watering leads to crop failure in most years.
- Can I grow cool-season crops year-round in Los Angeles?
No. Lettuce, greens, and brassicas struggle or bolt in June through September heat. Plant them September through November for fall and winter harvest, then transition to warm-season crops in spring. This reversed planting calendar is key to success.
- What frost protection do I need in Los Angeles?
Winter freezes are rare in zone 10b; frosts occur near late December but are brief. Tender perennials like basil and rosemary survive outdoors year-round. Frost cloth is rarely necessary unless you're in a cold pocket or growing plants marginally hardy to zone 10b.
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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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