Local planting guide · California
zip 90061
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 sits in USDA zone 10b, one of the warmest growing regions in the continental United States. Winter temperatures rarely dip below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and frost is almost absent from the practical gardening calendar. Frost may occur in early January (average last frost around January 9th), but it is rare and light. The real story in Los Angeles gardening is not frost avoidance, but heat and water management. A 365-day growing season means nothing rests. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and basil thrive in the summer and fall heat that stops gardeners in cooler zones. Cool-season crops like leafy greens and root vegetables must be grown in fall and winter to avoid bolting. The dominant constraint is not cold, but drought and intense summer sun. Los Angeles gardeners contend with low annual rainfall, alkaline soils common to the region, and the reality that many tender perennials elsewhere must be grown as annuals or treated as houseplants during the warmest months.
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 stress is the defining challenge. Tomatoes, peppers, and other heat-lovers set fruit reliably, but cool-season crops bolt in June and July, and some ornamentals struggle with temperatures above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Water becomes a limiting factor; even drought-tolerant plants need establishment irrigation in their first season, and the region's seasonal water restrictions complicate regular garden maintenance. Pest pressure is year-round. Scale insects, spider mites, and whiteflies thrive in the warm months. Fungal diseases, particularly powdery mildew, persist on susceptible crops because the climate is rarely dry or cold enough to naturally interrupt their life cycle. Soil alkalinity is widespread in Los Angeles; many acid-loving plants require amendment or sulfur applications to establish.
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
Succession-plant cool-season crops in late August and September for a reliable winter and early-spring harvest. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants planted in February or March will produce through summer and fall, making them ideal for Los Angeles rather than spring-planted varieties that exhaust themselves by mid-summer heat. Prioritize heat- and drought-tolerant varieties; choose cultivars bred for arid climates. Mulch heavily (3 to 4 inches) to moderate soil temperature, conserve moisture, and suppress summer weeds. Drip irrigation on timers reduces water waste and prevents the stress that comes from irregular watering cycles in this climate.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best in Los Angeles?
Heat-loving crops thrive year-round: figs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, and rosemary are reliable and productive. Avocados, citrus, and stone fruits are perennial options. Cool-season crops (lettuce, kale, chard, root vegetables) excel from October through March but struggle in summer.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant in February or March for a long summer and fall harvest. Spring plantings will produce through July and August despite extreme heat, then continue into fall. Avoid planting in May or June; these plantings exhaust themselves in peak summer conditions.
- Do I need to worry about frost?
Frost is rare in Los Angeles, with the coldest nights typically limited to early January. Protection is rarely necessary. Instead, focus on managing summer heat by selecting appropriate varieties and using shade cloth or mulch during the hottest months.
- How do I manage water restrictions?
Drip irrigation is essential for efficiency during dry periods. Water deeply but less frequently to encourage deep rooting and drought resilience. Drought-tolerant varieties and heavy mulch reduce irrigation needs while meeting local water conservation requirements.
- Why do my cool-season crops bolt so quickly?
Cool-season crops bolt in response to heat and long days. Plant lettuce, kale, and greens in late August for fall and winter harvest, when temperatures remain below 75 degrees Fahrenheit and days are shorter. Skip summer planting entirely for these crops.
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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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