Local planting guide · California
zip 90223
Compton 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 Compton
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Compton
Zone 10b brings year-round gardening to Compton, with a 365-day frost-free season that offers both opportunity and constraint. Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and basil thrive here uninterrupted by winter dormancy. The subtropical Mediterranean climate means mild winters with periodic rain, hot summers with drought stress, and the real threat is not frost but heat, pests, and occasional winter cold snaps that catch off-guard gardeners accustomed to warmth.
The long season reshapes variety selection and timing. Traditional fruit trees often struggle not from cold but from insufficient winter chill hours; low-chill figs and stone fruits are better bets than varieties bred for deep-winter dormancy. Cool-season crops like brassicas, spinach, and lettuce thrive during fall and winter months when temperatures drop into the 50s and 60s, then succumb to heat if planted in late spring. The constraint here is not staying warm enough but managing summer heat, choosing crops suited to two distinct seasonal patterns, and navigating year-round pest pressure.
Regional context · California
What the California brings to Compton
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 Compton
Chill hour shortfall is the dominant obstacle for fruit growers. Figs and low-chill stone fruits are reliable, but many traditional apple and pear varieties requiring 800+ chill hours simply will not set fruit reliably in zone 10b. Secondly, the warm, dry climate and year-round temperatures create ideal conditions for scale insects, spider mites, and whiteflies that remain active through winter; dormant-oil sprays and winter pruning (the standard dormancy-window IPM strategy) are less effective here. Thirdly, occasional winter cold snaps, often brief but sharp, can damage tender growth and surprise growers who have relaxed their frost vigilance; citrus and tender perennials need siting in frost pockets or wind shadows.
Crops that grow in Compton
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 Compton
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Compton's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Compton, CA (zone 10b)
Quiet week in Compton, 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 Compton
Take full advantage of the extended season through succession planting of warm-season crops. Tomatoes can go in the ground in late winter (after late-January frost risk), mature through spring, rest or replant in early summer, then plant again for fall harvest. Second, choose low-chill fruit varieties deliberately; look for rootstocks and scion varieties documented for zone 10 or California coastal regions (often 300 chill hours or fewer). Third, use cool-season windows strategically: plant brassicas, leafy greens, and root crops in fall through early spring for a second complete growing season separate from the summer tomato-pepper-eggplant succession.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Compton?
Warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers (sweet and hot), eggplant, sweet potato, and basil grow reliably year-round or through long windows. Figs are excellent for zone 10b and need minimal chill hours. In cooler months (October through February), brassicas, leafy greens, spinach, and root crops thrive. Match the crop to the season rather than fighting the heat.
- When should I plant tomatoes in zone 10b?
Compton's frost risk is minimal after early January, so transplants can go in the ground in late winter (January-February) for spring harvest, or plant in late summer for fall harvest. Many zone 10b gardeners treat tomatoes as a cool-season-to-spring crop followed by a rest or replant in late summer for fall production.
- Can I grow fruit trees in Compton?
Yes, but chill-hour requirements are the constraint. Figs, low-chill peaches, and nectarines work well. Traditional apple and pear varieties needing 800+ chill hours will not reliably fruit. Look for varieties specifically bred for California coastal regions or zone 10, often with 300-400 chill hour requirements instead of 1,000.
- What's the biggest pest or disease challenge?
Year-round warmth keeps spider mites, scale insects, and whiteflies active through winter when they would normally die off in colder zones. Regular scouting and early intervention are essential. Dormant oils in winter are less effective here than in zones with true dormancy, so focus on integrated pest management and variety resistance.
- How do I manage water in Compton?
Southern California's summer drought stress and unpredictable winter rainfall mean drip irrigation or soaker hoses are nearly essential for consistent harvests. Mulching heavily reduces moisture loss. Cool-season crops (October-March) need less water; summer crops need more frequent irrigation as temperatures climb.
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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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