Local planting guide · California
zip 90057
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 sits in USDA hardiness zone 10b, where winter temperatures rarely drop below 35–40°F. The frost dates of December 31 (last spring frost) and December 28 (first fall frost) reveal the true climate constraint: not cold, but heat and drought. The growing season spans the full calendar year, but the dominant rhythm is inverted compared to most of North America. Summer heat (June through September regularly exceeds 85°F in inland areas) is often too intense for cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and peas. The local water supply remains the second binding constraint, particularly during summer months and periods of regional drought. Figs thrive in Los Angeles' Mediterranean climate and low-water reality, as do peppers, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes when planted strategically to avoid the peak heat stress window. Herbs like rosemary and basil establish easily. The challenge is not survival, but timing plantings to align with the milder months (November through April) for cool-season crops, and managing heat stress and irrigation during the long warm season.
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
Heat-driven crop failure ranks first. Cool-season crops planted in spring often bolt or fail to establish before summer heat arrives; tomatoes and peppers set fewer fruits during July and August when nighttime temperatures stay above 70°F. Powdery mildew and other fungal diseases flourish in the warm, dry environment, particularly on susceptible pepper and squash varieties, requiring vigilance in variety selection and early intervention. Water scarcity is the third major constraint. Los Angeles faces recurring drought conditions and municipal water restrictions. Drip irrigation and mulching are essential, not optional. Unirrigated or under-mulched gardens fail quickly in summer months. Soil drainage also matters: native Los Angeles soils often retain excess moisture despite the dry climate, leading to root rot in poorly sited beds or containers without good aeration.
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 cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, peas) in September through November for a winter and early-spring harvest, not spring. A spring planting bolts by June. Time warm-season crops to mature before the peak heat window. Tomatoes and peppers planted in February or March will set a full crop before July heat stress begins; a July planting takes longer to mature and competes with cooler October weather. Afternoon shade cloth (30–50% shade) deployed in May through September protects tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant from sunscald and heat stress without sacrificing yield. Mulch heavily (3–4 inches of wood chips or compost) to conserve moisture and moderate root-zone temperature. Drip irrigation with soil moisture monitoring is more efficient than overhead watering in a water-constrained region.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Los Angeles?
Figs, tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, sweet potato, basil, and rosemary all thrive in zone 10b. Timing matters: cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, beets) grow best in winter and early spring. Warm-season crops dominate late spring through fall, though summer heat limits success for heat-sensitive varieties.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
February through March for the main spring and early-summer harvest. A July planting produces fruit through fall and winter but matures more slowly. Avoid planting in June or August, when seedlings struggle in extreme heat before they establish roots.
- Do I need frost protection in Los Angeles?
Frost damage is extremely rare given the zone's 35–40°F winter lows. However, late-spring heat spikes can damage young transplants and tender crops more than cold ever would. Shade cloth and careful timing are more valuable than frost cloth here.
- What's the biggest gardening challenge in Los Angeles?
Heat and drought together. Summer temperatures and low water availability eliminate many cool-season crops and stress warm-season crops if not carefully timed and irrigated. Powdery mildew pressure in the warm, dry environment also demands vigilant variety selection and early intervention.
- Can I garden year-round in Los Angeles?
Yes, but with different crops in each season. Winter and spring favor cool-season crops (November through April). Late spring, summer, and early fall are for heat-loving crops, though peak summer (July and August) requires shade and consistent irrigation to prevent failure.
- How do I manage water in a drought-prone region?
Drip irrigation delivers water directly to roots and reduces waste. Mulching (3–4 inches) cools soil and conserves moisture. Choose drought-adapted varieties and perennials (figs, rosemary) where possible. Expect to adapt during municipal water restrictions.
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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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