Local planting guide · California
zip 90039
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 zone 10b offers nearly year-round growing conditions, with minimal frost risk except for occasional cold snaps in late December. The 365-day growing season is a significant advantage, but the real constraints are summer heat and water availability rather than cold. Temperatures rarely drop below the 35 to 40°F range, allowing Mediterranean and warm-season crops to thrive: figs, rosemary, basil, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes all flourish here. The intense summer sun and naturally arid climate mean that variety selection and water management dominate garden planning. Crops adapted to heat and drought, particularly those from Mediterranean, African, and tropical regions, outperform cool-season or thirsty cultivars. Tomatoes remain in production earlier and longer than in most regions, though managing summer heat stress requires attention. The extended season rewards succession planting and perennial herb production, which provide reliable yields when timed to avoid peak summer temperatures.
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
Late December cold snaps, while rare, remain the primary frost risk and often catch gardeners off guard after months of warm weather. Temperatures can dip to the upper 30s, threatening tender crops like basil and peppers planted in fall. Summer heat waves regularly exceed 90°F and can damage fruit (sunscald on tomatoes) or cause leaf burn on shallow-rooted transplants. Water availability is the most limiting factor for most gardeners. Periodic drought restrictions affect irrigation schedules, and native soil often drains poorly or has pH issues. Year-round pest activity from spider mites, scale insects, thrips, and whiteflies establishes without winter dormancy, requiring consistent monitoring and management rather than relying on seasonal cold to reset populations.
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
Heat-and-drought-tolerant crops outperform thirsty alternatives: figs, Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, oregano, thyme), peppers, and eggplants require less supplemental water and tolerate intense sun better than many options. Timing tomatoes to mature before brutal mid-summer heat maximizes yield; late January or early February planting allows fruit production in spring and early summer before peak heat arrives. Late December offers the only significant frost risk; frost cloth kept on hand protects tender perennials and fall-planted crops during this brief window, ensuring sensitive varieties survive.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Los Angeles?
Figs, peppers, eggplants, basil, rosemary, and other Mediterranean herbs thrive in zone 10b's heat and drought. Tomatoes do well if timed to mature before peak summer heat. Sweet potatoes and citrus also perform reliably. Cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) work best when planted in fall for winter harvest.
- When should tomatoes be planted in Los Angeles?
Late January or February planting allows transplants to mature and begin fruiting before mid-summer heat peaks, avoiding stress and extending the harvest window. Fall planting (August-September) is also viable for gardeners who prioritize heat-tolerant varieties and provide afternoon shade cloth.
- Is frost a real concern in Los Angeles?
Frost is rarely a problem outside of occasional cold snaps in late December and early January when temperatures may dip to the upper 30s. Frost cloth kept on hand protects tender perennials and fall-planted crops during this brief window. The rest of the year is essentially frost-free.
- How do plants survive Los Angeles summer heat?
Heat-tolerant varieties and Mediterranean herbs adapted to drought perform reliably. Thick mulch retains soil moisture and regulates root temperature. Drip irrigation outperforms overhead watering in efficiency. Shade cloth (30-50% density) protects sensitive crops like lettuce or shallow-rooted transplants during peak summer months.
- Can gardening happen year-round in Los Angeles?
Yes. The 365-day growing season and minimal frost risk outside late December mean something grows every month. Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) thrive in spring and fall, while cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) produce in winter. Succession planting extends harvests across seasons.
- What's the biggest gardening challenge in Los Angeles?
Water scarcity and summer heat are the primary constraints, not cold. Drought restrictions limit irrigation, and extreme sun stress affects yield and fruit quality. Pests also operate year-round without winter dormancy. Prioritizing drought-tolerant varieties and efficient irrigation matters more than frost protection.
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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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