Local planting guide · California
zip 90033
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 is effectively frost-free, with winter lows rarely dipping below 35 to 40°F and frost dates so late (December 31) and early (December 28) that frost occurs in fewer than 1% of years. This means the gardening calendar here is inverted relative to most of the United States; the traditional 'spring planting season' faces brutal heat and water stress, while fall through early spring is the optimal growing window for most crops.
The dominant constraint is summer heat and water availability, not cold. Daytime temperatures regularly exceed 85°F from June through September, with peaks often above 95°F. The combination of heat and low humidity puts severe stress on plants that prefer cooler conditions. Tomatoes, peppers, and many greens struggle if planted in late spring and expected to produce through summer. Figs, rosemary, basil, eggplant, and hot peppers thrive here because they love heat and tolerate drought better than other vegetables.
Successful gardening in Los Angeles means treating fall and winter as the main growing seasons. Cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and chard, which would be marginal or impossible in most of zone 10b due to humidity or pest pressure, thrive here from October through May.
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
The biggest challenge is the inverse calendar. Most gardeners default to spring planting, but April through August is the hardest time to grow anything except heat-loving crops. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant planted in spring often fail to set fruit when temperatures climb above 95°F during the day. Irrigation infrastructure becomes mandatory in summer; water restrictions during drought years can eliminate the garden entirely.
A secondary issue is that the lack of hard freezes means pests and diseases never fully cycle out. Whiteflies, spider mites, and fungal pathogens persist year-round. Powdery mildew, which is cosmetic in cooler climates, becomes a serious problem on squash and cucurbits during the warm, dry season. Careful cultivar selection and sulfur sprays become routine management rather than occasional fixes.
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
Plan the main season for fall. Start warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) in late July or August for a September–May harvest window. This avoids the June–August heat stress that causes flowers to drop and fruit to abort. Cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, chard, kale) planted in September will produce heavily from November through April.
Succession-plant cool-season crops every 3 to 4 weeks from September through January. Because there is no first frost date to watch, the limiting factor is heat, not cold. Stop plantings by late January to avoid the brief spring window before heat returns.
Treat water as your primary resource. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are not luxuries; they are essential for any garden that will produce through the hot season. Mulch heavily to retain soil moisture and reduce watering frequency. Rosemary, figs, and drought-tolerant herbs can get by with less; everything else will need supplemental water even if rainfall occurs.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops for Los Angeles?
Heat-loving crops (figs, peppers, eggplant, basil, rosemary) and cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, chard, kale) are both reliable, but they require different timing. Warm-season crops planted in late summer produce heavily in fall and winter. Cool-season crops thrive October through April. Tomatoes work well when planted in late summer rather than spring.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Late July through August is ideal for a September–May harvest. Spring-planted tomatoes (March–April) often fail to set fruit when temperatures exceed 90°F in June and July. Starting seeds or transplants in summer seems counterintuitive but aligns with the local growing season.
- Do I need frost protection?
No. Frost occurs so rarely (once in many decades) that frost cloth and cold frames are unnecessary. Focus instead on shade cloth for summer protection and consistent irrigation.
- What's the biggest challenge in Los Angeles?
Summer heat and water scarcity. Unlike cooler zones where cold is the limiting factor, here the biggest risk is that intense, dry heat kills or stresses crops, and water restrictions may prohibit irrigation. Choosing drought-tolerant varieties and installing efficient irrigation is essential.
- Can I garden year-round?
Yes, but not the same crops year-round. Cool-season crops dominate October–May, while heat-tolerant crops (figs, peppers, eggplant, herbs) handle June–September. The most productive gardens cycle between two seasonal sets rather than maintain continuous beds.
- Why do my peppers drop flowers in June?
Pepper flowers abort when daytime temperatures exceed 90–95°F, especially if plants are water-stressed. Delay planting to late July or August so peak heat coincides with fruit maturation rather than flowering. Consistent irrigation and afternoon shade cloth can help spring-planted peppers survive the heat.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00023152. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related