Local planting guide · California
zip 90607
Whittier 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 Whittier
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Whittier
Whittier lies in USDA hardiness zone 10b, where winter temperatures rarely dip below 35°F. The last spring frost typically arrives around January 9 and the first fall frost around January 5, meaning freezing temperatures are nearly absent. This creates a nearly year-round growing season of 365 days; most gardeners elsewhere lack this advantage. The dominant challenge is not cold but heat. Summers in Whittier are hot and dry, with intense afternoon sun that stresses cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and peas. Humidity is low, which reduces fungal disease pressure but increases irrigation demand. Crops that thrive in Whittier include heat-lovers like figs, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and basil. Fig trees tolerate the heat and drought stress that would strain other deciduous fruits in cooler zones. Tomatoes and peppers fruit prolifically if given supplemental water and afternoon shade during peak summer. Rosemary, a Mediterranean shrub, finds ideal conditions in Whittier's warm, dry climate. The critical skill is selecting the right crop for the right season: what grows well in January differs sharply from what survives August.
Regional context · California
What the California brings to Whittier
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 Whittier
Southern California's water restrictions present the most pressing constraint. Summer irrigation during drought years can be expensive or impossible, forcing growers to prioritize drought-tolerant varieties. Whittier's hot, dry summers (often exceeding 90°F from June through September) cause rapid fruit drop in peppers and tomatoes if plants are under water stress and cause premature bolting and bitter flavor in leafy greens and cruciferous crops. Late-season vegetable plantings in mid-August often fail to produce substantial yields before September heat breaks, leaving only the hardiest varieties like Swiss chard marketable. Root knot nematodes thrive in warm soil year-round and can stunt sweet potato, tomato, and eggplant yields unless managed with crop rotation or nematode-resistant rootstocks.
Crops that grow in Whittier
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 Whittier
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Whittier's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Whittier, CA (zone 10b)
Quiet week in Whittier, 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 Whittier
Plant cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, peas) in fall and winter (October to February), not spring. Whittier's mild winters allow productive cool-season harvests when most of the country is dormant. Heat-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants reach peak production if planted in late February to March, allowing fruit set during spring and early summer before August heat intensifies. Use afternoon shade cloth at 30 to 50% density for heat-sensitive crops from May through September; this technique often doubles yield on temperamental varieties. Drip irrigation with mulch reduces water demand by 30 to 50% compared to overhead sprinklers, critical in a water-conscious region.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Whittier?
Year-round growing is possible, but crop choice depends on season. Summer through early fall (June to October), tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, and rosemary thrive. Fall through spring (November to May), add cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, kale, peas, and chard. Figs and other Mediterranean-origin fruits are nearly foolproof in Whittier's climate.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Whittier?
Late February through March is ideal. This timing allows plants to establish roots before warming in April and produce fruit during favorable spring and early summer temperatures. August plantings sometimes yield marginal results before fall cooling. Frost is not a concern; heat stress and water availability are the primary risks.
- Is frost a real risk in Whittier?
No. Freezing temperatures are extremely rare; the last spring frost typically occurs around January 9 and the first fall frost around January 5, making frost essentially negligible. The 365-day growing season confirms this advantage. Heat and water availability, not frost, are the defining constraints.
- How do I manage summer heat?
Use shade cloth at 30 to 50% density over tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and other heat-sensitive crops from May through September. Mulch soil thickly to retain moisture and moderate root zone temperature. Install drip irrigation and water deeply in early morning to avoid midday plant stress and reduce water waste.
- Can I garden year-round in Whittier?
Yes, with seasonal crop adjustments. Winter (December to February) favors cool-season crops. Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are ideal for heat-lovers like tomatoes and peppers. Summer requires shade and consistent irrigation. Plan plantings to match seasonal temperature swings, not frost timing.
- What about water restrictions?
Whittier may face seasonal water restrictions during drought years. Prioritize drought-tolerant crops like rosemary, figs, peppers, and eggplants; use drip irrigation and mulch; and concentrate plantings in winter and spring when rainfall is higher and irrigation demand is lower.
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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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