Local planting guide · California
zip 90058
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 gardeners enjoy what appears to be an almost year-round growing season. Frost occurs on average only in early January, meaning most crops can be cultivated from late winter through the following December. In practice, the frost risk is minimal in most Los Angeles microclimates, and the real limiting factor is not cold but heat and aridity. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F, and in many neighborhoods, consistent 100°F+ heat is routine from July through September. Intense sun exposure, particularly in unshaded or non-coastal areas, can sunscald tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens despite adequate water. Many commonly recommended crops thrive here (tomatoes, peppers, figs, basil), but they often perform best outside the hottest months. Winter and spring are actually the dominant growing seasons for most gardeners, not summer. The Mediterranean-like climate supports fig cultivation and heat-loving crops well, but only varieties and techniques designed for intense sun will succeed reliably.
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
Summer heat is the primary challenge. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and even basil produce best during cooler months; in peak summer from July through August, heat stress causes blossom-drop on fruiting crops and accelerates bolting in leafy greens, regardless of water availability. Water restrictions imposed during drought years further limit irrigation frequency, forcing gardeners to choose drought-tolerant varieties or shift planting to cooler seasons. Powdery mildew and other fungal issues can pressure plants in close-planted gardens with poor air circulation, particularly on squashes and cucurbits. Intense midday sun exposure, especially in inland areas away from coastal moderation, can damage foliage and fruit even on traditionally sun-loving crops if they lack some afternoon shade. Few crops truly thrive in Los Angeles peak summer heat without intervention.
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
Plan the calendar around heat, not frost. Plant tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant in early spring (February through March) for harvest before July heat, or in late summer (late July through August) for fall production after temperatures cool. January frost dates are effectively non-threatening for most of the city; cold tolerance matters less than heat tolerance. Use shade cloth or afternoon-shade positioning aggressively during May through September for heat-sensitive crops like spinach, lettuce, brassicas, and even tomatoes in inland areas. This is standard practice in Los Angeles climate, not weakness. Embrace the genuine cool season from November through April as the premium growing window. Winter vegetables (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, peas) thrive here and produce longer than they would in colder zones, extending the harvest window well into spring.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Los Angeles?
Figs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, and rosemary are all well-suited to zone 10b. Timing matters: tomatoes and peppers produce best from spring through early summer and again in fall. Cool-season crops like kale, broccoli, and lettuce thrive from November through April.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant tomatoes in February or early March for spring harvest, or in late July or August for fall/winter production. Avoid late spring and early summer plantings; tomatoes set fruit poorly when nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F, making midsummer planting risky.
- How do I protect plants from the summer heat?
Use 30-50% shade cloth over sensitive crops (tomatoes, lettuce, peppers in inland areas) from May through September. Plant in afternoon-shade locations if possible. Choose heat-tolerant varieties. Consider shifting heat-sensitive crops to cooler months rather than struggling through the summer.
- Are the January frost dates a real concern for my garden?
Frost risk is minimal in most Los Angeles neighborhoods. The January dates represent rare events tied to specific microclimates or unusually cold air masses. Focus gardening decisions on heat and aridity instead, which are far more limiting than cold.
- Can I grow cool-season crops like broccoli and lettuce?
Yes, readily. November through April is ideal for brassicas, leafy greens, and root crops. These crops perform better in Los Angeles cool season than spring or summer plantings and produce over a longer window than they would in colder zones.
- How does a year-round growing season affect my planning?
Year-round frost absence does not mean continuous production. Instead, think in seasons: spring for warm-season crops, summer for reduced activity or shade-dependent crops, fall for a second warm-season window, and winter for cool-season crops. This is more reliable than fighting the heat.
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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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