Local planting guide · California
zip 90075
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 in zone 10b offers the rare advantage of a frost-free calendar year. With minimum temperatures holding between 35 and 40°F and no reliable spring or fall frost dates, the growing season extends 365 days. This abundance of warmth supports year-round cultivation of heat-loving crops: figs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil all thrive without winter protection. However, the advantage reverses for gardeners accustomed to cooler regions. The sustained heat creates challenges: cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, cabbage) bolt or suffer in summer months, requiring strategic timing to germinate and mature during cooler fall and winter periods. Water availability, not cold, becomes the limiting factor in LA's semi-arid climate. Soil alkalinity is typical for the region, favoring acid-loving plants less and raising pH management to a priority for crops like blueberries. The year-round growing window is a gift, but requires understanding when each crop thrives in LA's heat rather than blanket year-round planting.
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 dominant challenge. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant set fewer fruits when daytime temperatures exceed 85°F consistently; pollination fails and fruit drops. Cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach, peas) bolt within weeks of warm weather, cutting harvest windows short. Powdery mildew thrives in LA's dry air and mild winters, affecting squash, cucurbits, and stone fruits. Water restrictions in drought years force difficult choices about which crops to irrigate. Pest populations persist year-round without frost to reduce overwintering eggs and larvae; whiteflies, spider mites, and scale insects require ongoing vigilance rather than seasonal dormancy.
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
Shift cool-season crop timing to fall and winter. Sow lettuce, broccoli, and cabbage from September through January, when temperatures moderate to 50-70°F and rainfall increases. Avoid planting these crops in spring (March-May) when heat triggers premature bolting. Use shade cloth (30-50% shade) for tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant during June through September to reduce heat stress and maintain fruit set. Drip irrigation on timers ensures consistent moisture during hot months without waste; hand watering invites inconsistency and blossom-end rot on tomatoes. Practice succession planting on a 2-3 week cycle during prime seasons (fall and spring) to spread harvests over months rather than concentrating them.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow year-round in Los Angeles?
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, figs, and basil grow reliably year-round. Herbs like rosemary thrive with minimal care. However, cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, peas, carrots) grow best from October through March, when temperatures drop below 75°F consistently.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
Plant tomato seedlings in early March to mature and set fruit before sustained June heat arrives. A second planting in late July-August can mature in fall's cooling weather. Avoid planting directly into summer heat when daytime temperatures already exceed 80°F.
- Will frost kill my plants in Los Angeles?
Frost risk in Los Angeles is minimal to nonexistent. Minimum temperatures rarely fall below 35°F, making frost damage to tender annuals (basil, eggplant, peppers) unlikely. Focus instead on heat stress and summer dormancy as seasonal concerns.
- How do I manage powdery mildew in Los Angeles?
Powdery mildew is common in LA's dry climate. Space plants widely for air circulation, avoid overhead watering (which promotes fungal growth), and prune infected leaves. Sulfur spray or potassium bicarbonate controls early infections; plant resistant squash and melon varieties when available.
- What should I do about water restrictions?
Prioritize drip irrigation over sprinklers for efficiency. Choose drought-tolerant crops (figs, rosemary, peppers) and group plants by water need. Mulch heavily to reduce evaporation. During severe restrictions, focus on cool-season crops in fall-winter when rainfall is higher and irrigation demand is lower.
- Is Los Angeles zone 10b really that different from other zone 10b areas?
Los Angeles zone 10b is defined by consistent mild winters, but its semi-arid climate (roughly 12 inches annual rain) differs from humid zone 10b regions like parts of Florida or coastal Texas. Water management and powdery mildew pressure are LA-specific concerns that override the zone-based recommendations.
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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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