Local planting guide · California
zip 90048
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 occupies an unusual position in zone 10b. While winter lows of 35-40°F do occur, killing frosts are virtually absent, giving the region a year-round growing season. The challenge is not cold but heat and water. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 85°F, and extended periods above 95°F are common, which stresses certain crops even though they could theoretically grow year-round.
Water availability is the critical constraint; many home gardeners in Los Angeles operate under irrigation restrictions or drought conditions. This environment favors Mediterranean and heat-loving crops: figs thrive here without cold periods interrupting dormancy, and herbs like rosemary and basil grow continuously if watered adequately. Tomatoes and peppers, while suited to zone 10b's warmth, often require afternoon shade during peak summer and consistent irrigation to prevent blossom-end rot from heat and water stress.
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 two primary challenges for Los Angeles gardeners are heat stress and inconsistent water access. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant often drop flowers or produce hollow, misshapen fruit when temperatures exceed 95°F, even though the long season allows replanting. Many neighborhoods operate under seasonal water restrictions, making drip irrigation and soil moisture management essential rather than optional.
A secondary issue is year-round pest pressure. Spider mites, scale insects, and whiteflies do not disappear in winter and require consistent monitoring. Cool-season crops like lettuce and broccoli can technically grow year-round but often bolt or become bitter during extended warm periods.
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
Plant heat-sensitive varieties of tomatoes and peppers in early spring (January to February) to establish strong plants before peak summer heat arrives; plan for a summer decline and succession-plant again in late July for fall harvest. Use 30 to 50 percent shade cloth during June through September for tomatoes and peppers, and pair this with drip irrigation or soaker hoses to maintain consistent soil moisture and prevent disorder-causing stress.
Figs, rosemary, and other Mediterranean herbs require minimal supplemental water once established and should be prioritized in drought-conscious landscapes; they deliver reliable harvests without competing with vegetables for water allocation.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best year-round in Los Angeles?
Figs, rosemary, basil, and other herbs thrive with minimal dormancy and water requirements. Tomatoes and peppers require variety selection (heat-tolerant cultivars perform best) and afternoon shade during summer months, but they reward consistent care with harvests across much of the year.
- When should I plant tomatoes in zone 10b Los Angeles?
Early spring (January through March) allows seedlings to establish strong root systems and canopies before peak summer heat. A second planting in late July targets a fall and early winter harvest, when temperatures cool significantly in September and October.
- Do I need frost protection in Los Angeles?
Frost protection is rarely necessary; winter lows typically reach 35-40°F but killing frosts are uncommon. Tender perennials like eggplant and sweet potato survive outdoors year-round in most years without supplemental protection.
- How do I manage water in a drought-restricted area?
Drip irrigation and soaker hoses reduce water waste compared to overhead watering. Group crops by water demand, position thirsty annuals near reliable irrigation, mulch heavily to reduce evaporation, and monitor soil moisture to prevent stress during dry periods.
- Can I grow cool-season crops like lettuce in Los Angeles?
Yes. Lettuce, broccoli, and other cool-season crops thrive from October through April when temperatures remain moderate. Summer plantings often bolt quickly; select heat-tolerant varieties or provide 30-50 percent shade cloth during June through August.
- What's the biggest pest issue year-round?
Spider mites, scale insects, and whiteflies do not disappear in winter due to the absence of hard killing frosts. Consistent scouting for pest presence and early intervention with water spray or organic controls prevent infestations from becoming established.
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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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