Local planting guide · California
zip 90030
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 in zone 10b offers year-round growing potential, which is rare even within the zone. The frost window is exceptionally narrow: frost risk drops to near-zero after early January, and winter frost typically arrives only in late December. This creates an effectively 365-day growing season where the primary constraint is not cold but heat and water availability. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 85-90°F, and drought conditions are a recurring challenge. Figs and rosemary thrive in this climate, as do heat-loving crops like eggplant, sweet potato, and hot peppers. Tomatoes and basil grow reliably, though summer plantings face intense heat stress. The zone's defining advantage is the ability to grow cool-season crops like lettuce and brassicas in fall and winter without the long spring dormancy that limits gardeners in cooler zones. Water access shapes planting decisions more than frost dates in Los Angeles.
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 first major challenge. Tomatoes, basil, and other heat-sensitive crops often struggle when nighttime temperatures stay above 70-75°F for extended periods, leading to poor fruit set and diminished leaf vigor. This problem intensifies in peak summer (June through August) when LA experiences its hottest nights. Water scarcity is the second constraint; even in years without formal restrictions, irrigation demands are high and soil often drains quickly in LA's typical sandy loam. The third challenge is the inverse of what most gardeners expect: the late-December frost window can catch off-guard anyone accustomed to frost-free subtropical climates. A cold snap in late December can damage tender perennials like basil and pepper plants, or newly planted seedlings. Additionally, powdery mildew thrives in LA's hot, dry conditions and affects a wide range of crops, particularly in fall when morning humidity rises slightly.
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, use succession planting to work around the heat. Plant cool-season crops (lettuce, brassicas, spinach) in September through November for winter and early-spring harvest, then again in February through April for a late-spring crop before summer heat renders them bitter. This approach maximizes the mild season and avoids peak summer stress. Second, choose heat-tolerant tomato and pepper varieties for summer plantings; research cultivars bred specifically for hot climates, as many modern hybrids maintain fruit set better than older heirloom varieties when nighttime temperatures exceed 70°F. Third, prepare for the late-December frost window by having frost cloth on hand and knowing which tender plants (basil, peppers, tender herbs) need protection. Water deeply and less frequently to encourage deeper root growth, and consider drip irrigation or soaker hoses to minimize evaporation losses in LA's persistently dry climate.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the easiest crop to grow in Los Angeles?
Basil, rosemary, and figs require minimal intervention and tolerate LA's heat and water-limited conditions. Eggplant and hot peppers are equally reliable for home gardeners comfortable with watering through summer.
- Can I plant tomatoes year-round?
Technically yes, though the timing matters significantly. Early spring (February-March) plantings produce best before peak summer heat, and late summer (August) plantings yield a fall harvest. Midsummer plantings typically fail because nighttime temperatures exceed 70°F, preventing adequate fruit set.
- Will frost damage my plants?
Frost is rare but possible in late December. Most years gardeners will not experience frost, but every few years a cold snap arrives and damages tender plants. Monitor weather in late December and use frost cloth if temperatures drop below 35°F.
- What about California water restrictions?
Plant drought-tolerant varieties and use efficient irrigation. Figs, rosemary, sage, and hot peppers need less water than lettuce, tomatoes, or basil. Drip irrigation and mulch significantly reduce water demand compared to sprinklers.
- Is powdery mildew a problem?
Yes, especially in fall and early winter when humidity rises slightly. Thin foliage to improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and consider resistant varieties. Neem oil or sulfur dust can control mild infections.
- Can I grow cool-season crops?
Yes, and they thrive in LA's mild winters. Lettuce, kale, spinach, and broccoli grow from September through April. This is actually the easiest growing season for these crops in 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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