Local planting guide · California
zip 90043
Los Angeles is in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with average winter lows of 35°F to 40°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/09 through 01/05 (~365 days). This zip falls within the California growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10b 35°F to 40°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/09
- First fall frost
- 01/05
- 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 occupies zone 10b, where winter minimum temperatures typically range from 35 to 40°F. The growing season stretches nearly year-round; frost danger is minimal and brief. Last spring frost occurs around January 9, and frost risk does not return until early January of the following calendar year, creating approximately 365 frost-free days for continuous planting and harvest.
This extended season has shaped local gardening practice. Fig, tomato, pepper, eggplant, basil, and rosemary thrive outdoors with minimal winter protection. Sweet potato, typically grown as a warm-season annual elsewhere, persists and produces reliably in this climate.
Heat and drought present more serious constraints than frost. The region's urban character compounds both: soil compaction and alkaline pH are endemic in established neighborhoods, and summer water restrictions periodically limit irrigation options. Long-term success depends less on frost avoidance and more on heat-tolerant variety selection, soil amendment, and water-smart irrigation practice.
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
Sporadic frost in early January, though mild and brief, can damage unprotected tender crops. Peppers, eggplants, and marginal perennials face sudden loss if temperatures drop to 35°F during the January 5 to 9 window. Many gardeners underestimate this risk after eleven months of frost-free growing.
Heat stress peaks from June through September, causing flower drop on peppers and eggplants, sunscald on exposed tomato fruit, and rapid bolting in basil. Afternoon shade becomes critical for any cool-season crop planted for late-summer or early-fall production.
Alkaline soil (pH 7.5 to 8.0) is common in urban neighborhoods, locking up nutrients and reducing the availability of boron, zinc, and manganese. Poor drainage follows naturally, promoting root rot and fungal issues. Water scarcity during drought years eliminates flexible overhead irrigation and makes drip systems plus heavy mulch non-negotiable for survival.
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
Keep frost cloth and stakes ready through January 9. Though frost is infrequent and mild in zone 10b, a single night at 35°F can kill productive pepper and eggplant plants. The investment is minimal compared to crop loss.
Plant tomatoes in late February to March for spring/early-summer production (April through June) and again in late July to August for fall harvest (September through November). This timing sidesteps the hottest months and aligns with natural pest life cycles in zone 10b.
Amend soil with compost and sulfur to lower pH if alkalinity is endemic in your neighborhood. Most vegetables perform best in soil with pH between 6.0 and 6.8. Drip irrigation with heavy organic mulch reduces water use and moderates soil temperature during peak heat.
Frequently asked questions
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant in late February to March for spring/early-summer harvest (April to June), and again in late July to August for fall harvest (September to November). This avoids the hottest months when flower drop and sunscald reduce yields.
- What is the biggest weather threat in zone 10b Los Angeles?
Sporadic frost in early January (between January 5 and January 9) can kill tender perennials and frost-sensitive crops like peppers and eggplants. Keep frost cloth and stakes on hand despite the year-round growing season.
- Which crops thrive year-round in this climate?
Rosemary, basil, figs, and cold-hardy greens like chard and kale tolerate the full calendar. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants require careful variety selection and timing around seasonal heat stress.
- Do I really need frost protection with a 365-day growing season?
Yes. Winter lows of 35 to 40°F reliably kill unprotected peppers, eggplants, and tender perennials. Frost protection is essential even in the warmest zones if you want consistent production.
- What is the most common soil problem in urban Los Angeles gardens?
Alkaline pH (often 7.5 to 8.0) is endemic and locks up nutrient availability. Most vegetables prefer 6.0 to 6.8. Sulfur and compost amendments over multiple seasons gradually lower pH and improve drainage.
- How do I garden during California's dry years?
Drip irrigation, heavy organic mulch, and drought-tolerant varieties are essential. Figs and rosemary handle dry conditions better than tomatoes or eggplants. Check local water restrictions before the growing season.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00003122. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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