Local planting guide · California
zip 90049
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 12/30 (~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
- 12/30
- 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 a unique position within zone 10b. The last recorded spring frost (December 31) and first fall frost (December 30) essentially disappear across the calendar; gardeners here can grow warm-season crops year-round in principle. The real constraint is not freeze protection but heat management and water availability. Coastal areas benefit from marine layer influence that moderates summer temperatures compared to inland zones. This creates distinct gardening microclimates across the region.
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil all thrive, but timing is critical. Figs and rosemary are nearly trouble-free and naturalize readily. Summer heat peaks July through September and can shut down tomato pollination, scald fruit, and wilt tender herbs without afternoon shade or consistent watering. Winter brings episodic rainfall; summer and spring are reliably dry. The 365-day growing season is long enough to accommodate successive plantings of cool-season crops (late autumn through early spring) and heat-lovers (late spring and early summer), with careful water management and attention to the marine layer's modifying effect on 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
Los Angeles gardeners face three primary challenges. First, summer heat stress: from July through September, sustained temperatures above 90°F reduce fruit set in tomatoes, stress peppers and eggplant, and wilt basil without afternoon shade or frequent watering. Second, water scarcity during dry months (May through September) coincides with peak irrigation demand; municipal restrictions often tighten precisely when crops need water most. Third, the April–May marine layer can produce cool nights (50s–60s) even as days warm, slowing establishment of warm-season transplants if hardened off too early. Heat, water, and unpredictable spring timing define the gardening calendar more than frost.
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
Time warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant) for spring establishment in February–March so they fruit before July heat peaks, or plant a fall crop in July for October–November harvest. Both windows avoid sustained heat stress. Figs and rosemary are superior choices to heat-sensitive crops; both thrive in dry summers and rarely require supplemental water after establishment. Basil succeeds if planted late enough to avoid cool marine nights and given afternoon shade during peak heat. Finally, drip irrigation on a timer is essential. Mulch heavily (3–4 inches) to retain moisture and moderate soil temperature; this alone extends the productive window for tomatoes and peppers into early summer without scald or blossom-end rot.
Frequently asked questions
- What vegetables grow best in Los Angeles?
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and sweet potato thrive in zone 10b if timed correctly. Basil succeeds spring through early fall. Figs and rosemary are the most reliable year-round perennials, needing minimal water. Cooler-season crops like lettuce and brassicas produce from October through May without heat stress.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant in February–March for harvest before July heat peaks, or in July for fall and winter fruit. Avoid April–May planting; cool marine nights followed by sudden heat stress stall growth and flowering. Late-summer planting gives the longest disease-free window.
- How do I manage water restrictions and still grow food?
Drip irrigation and mulch reduce water use by 30–40%. Figs, rosemary, and established herbs need little supplemental water. Tomatoes and peppers need consistent moisture but can be managed with deep irrigation every 3–4 days in peak heat rather than daily watering.
- Do I need frost protection in Los Angeles?
Frost risk is essentially nonexistent per NOAA Climate Normals; the last spring frost occurs near December 31 and the first fall frost near December 30. Year-round growing is viable. Focus instead on heat management and water conservation during dry months.
- Why do my tomatoes get blossom-end rot here?
Inconsistent soil moisture causes calcium deficiency and fruit damage. Drip irrigation and heavy mulch (3–4 inches) prevent the problem. Also choose heat-tolerant varieties; cherry and roma types often outperform classic beefsteaks in sustained LA heat.
- Can I grow basil and herbs year-round?
Basil thrives spring through early fall but struggles below 50°F or above 95°F without afternoon shade. Rosemary, oregano, and thyme tolerate the full range year-round. All herbs benefit from mulch and drip irrigation during the dry season.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00023130. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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