Brought to you by garden.gg Brought to you by garden.gg Zone 10 is a frost-free to nearly frost-free subtropical/tropical climate with hot, humid or hot-dry summers and warm, mild winters that rarely (if ever) dip below 30-35°F. The growing calendar is inverted relative to colder zones: winter is the prime vegetable-growing season while mid-summer heat, intense sun, and pests force a slowdown for most cool-season and many heat-sensitive crops.
States & regions in Zone 10: South Florida (Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Naples), Coastal and inland Southern California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County), Southwest desert lowlands (Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona), South Texas / Lower Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville, McAllen), Coastal Southern Louisiana, Hawaii lowlands
Zone 10 doesn't have winter. You can grow tropical fruits, year-round herbs, and successive vegetable harvests every month. The challenge is managing heat, humidity, and the pests that never go dormant. But the payoff? Fresh food every single day.
Pro tip: Grow lettuce and greens in partial shade during summer. Full sun will fry them in zone 10 heat.
Start tracking your zone 10 garden — free
The right crops and methods for each season, based on zone 10's climate and frost timing.
Spring (roughly February through April) is the warm-season planting window before summer heat peaks. Get heat-loving fruiting crops, beans, and squash in early so they set fruit before extreme heat, intense sun, and humidity-driven pests/disease shut pollination down in June-July.
Feb - early Mar
Set out early; heat above ~90F stops fruit set, so aim for harvest by late spring. Choose heat-tolerant/short-season varieties.
Feb - Mar
Peppers tolerate zone 10 heat better than tomatoes and can carry through summer with afternoon shade.
Feb - Mar
Excellent zone 10 performer; productive well into the hot months.
Feb - Mar
Plant at least two for cross-pollination; heat-tolerant.
Feb - Mar
Self-sows readily; thrives in warm soil.
Feb - Apr
Fast crop; succession sow before peak heat and use trellises for airflow.
Feb - Mar
Plant early; powdery mildew and vine borers worsen as humidity climbs.
Feb - Mar
Quick yields before midsummer pest pressure peaks.
Feb - Mar
Needs a long warm run; give vines room and good airflow.
Feb - Mar
Long-season; in FL many grow tropical pumpkin (calabaza) types for heat.
Feb - Apr
Loves the heat; needs full sun and consistent water for sweet fruit.
Feb - Apr
Prime zone 10 crop; sandy warm soil and steady moisture.
Mar - Apr
Wait for warm soil; one of the most heat- and humidity-tolerant summer crops.
Feb - Mar
Plant in blocks for pollination; finish before peak heat for best ear fill.
Feb - Mar
Fast; succession sow until heat (>90F) drops blossoms.
Feb - Mar
Trellised for airflow; harvest before the worst summer heat.
Mar - Apr
Heat-loving; tolerates zone 10 summers better than common beans.
Feb - Apr
Warm-soil crop; harvest pods at the plump-green stage.
Mar - Apr
Long warm season and sandy soil suit zone 10 (esp. FL/TX) perfectly.
Mar - Apr
Outstanding hot-season legume; thrives where common beans fail.
Mar - Apr
Tropical asparagus bean; loves the heat and humidity of zone 10 summers.
Mar - Apr
Plant slips into warm soil; one of the best zone 10 summer staples.
Mar - Apr
Heat-loving leafy green that replaces true spinach all summer.
Feb - Apr
Heat-tolerant spinach substitute for warm months.
Mar - Apr
Thrives in heat; cut-and-come-again summer green.
Feb - Apr
Heat-lover; pinch flowers and it produces all summer.
Mar - Apr
Perennial in zone 10; plant once and harvest year-round.
Feb - Apr
Easy and fast; great pollinator draw and seed crop.
Feb - Apr
Pest-deterrent companion; thrives in heat.
Feb - Apr
Heat- and drought-tolerant cut flower; pollinator magnet.
Feb - Apr
Loves heat and poor soil; long bloom into summer.
Feb - Mar
Edible flowers; fades in peak heat, so plant on the early side.
Summer (May through September) is zone 10's hardest season: extreme heat, intense UV, drenching humidity (FL/Gulf) or aridity (desert SW), and heavy pest/disease pressure. Plant only the toughest tropical heat-lovers, use afternoon shade and mulch, and treat the deep-summer lull as a soil-building and cover-cropping period.
May - Jul
Possibly the best true summer producer; harvest pods every day or two.
May - Jun
Vigorous in summer heat; vines also act as living mulch and edible greens.
May - Aug
Productive through the hottest months; also a nitrogen-fixing cover crop.
May - Aug
Keeps setting pods in heat that stops common beans.
May - Jun
More heat-tolerant than bush/pole beans for early summer.
May - Jun
Thrives in summer heat; needs a long frost-free run, which zone 10 easily provides.
May - Aug
Vining heat-proof green; the reliable summer 'spinach' for zone 10.
May - Jul
Tolerates heat and some drought; ground-covering greens.
May - Aug
Cut-and-come-again leaves through the hottest weeks.
May - Jul
Tropical vine that revels in heat and humidity; trellis it.
May - Jun
Long-season tropical gourd; eat young or grow out for sponges.
May - Jun
Plant a whole sprouting fruit; perennial vine in zone 10, very productive.
May - Jun
Carries through summer better than tomato; provide afternoon shade in desert SW.
May - Jun
Hot peppers especially keep producing; shade cloth helps set fruit in extreme heat.
May - Aug
Peak-season herb; keep pinching flowers for continuous leaves.
May - Jul
Loves summer heat; clumps expand fast and can be divided.
May - Jul
Tender perennial sweetener that thrives in zone 10 warmth.
May - Jul
Keep in containers and partial shade; needs steady water in summer.
May - Jul
Heat-proof; provides shade and pollinator/seed value.
May - Aug
Among the most heat-tolerant cut flowers; deadhead for continuous bloom.
May - Aug
Tolerates heat and lean soil; airy summer color.
May - Jul
Holds up in heat; useful pest companion through summer.
Fall (September through November) is the transition into zone 10's main season as temperatures ease. This is when you re-sow the warm-season fruiting crops for a second harvest AND begin starting cool-season greens and brassicas for winter. It is arguably the busiest and most productive planting window of the year.
Sep - Oct
Fall crop often outperforms spring; cooler nights improve fruit set through winter harvest.
Sep - Oct
Set out for a long fall-into-winter harvest.
Sep - Oct
Strong fall producer as heat backs off.
Sep - Oct
Second crop; cooler weather reduces pest pressure.
Sep - Oct
Fall planting dodges peak summer vine borers.
Sep - Oct
Reliable fall crop in cooler, drier weather.
Sep
Sow early in fall to mature through the mild winter.
Sep - Oct
Fall beans set well as nights cool.
Sep - Oct
Trellised fall crop; long harvest into winter.
Oct - Nov
Cool-season star; succession sow all fall and winter.
Oct - Nov
Best flavor in cool weather; harvests through winter.
Oct - Nov
Tolerates both warm and cool; long cut-and-come-again season.
Oct - Nov
Heat- and cool-tolerant; classic Southern fall/winter green.
Oct - Nov
Fast, spicy greens for fall and winter.
Oct - Nov
Quick cool-season green; bolts in heat so wait for fall.
Oct - Nov
Fast Asian green for fall; succession sow.
Oct - Nov
Set transplants as heat eases for winter heads.
Oct - Nov
Needs the cool of fall/winter; time so heads form in mild weather.
Oct - Nov
Cool-season; reliable winter harvest in zone 10.
Oct - Nov
Sweetens in cool soil; keep seedbed moist for germination.
Oct - Nov
Dual-purpose roots and greens; thrives in cool season.
Oct - Nov
Fast (3-4 weeks); succession sow all fall and winter.
Oct - Nov
Long mild roots; also a soil-loosening cover crop.
Oct - Nov
Use short-day varieties only in zone 10 for proper bulbing.
Oct - Nov
Quick and forgiving; harvest at any size.
Oct - Nov
Plant softneck cloves; zone 10 garlic benefits from pre-chilling the cloves.
Oct - Nov
Plant seed potatoes in fall for a winter/early-spring harvest.
Oct - Nov
Cool-season only; bolts fast in heat, so this is its season.
Oct - Nov
Direct sow; dislikes transplanting and summer heat.
Oct - Nov
Slow to germinate; productive through the cool season.
Oct - Nov
Cool-season edible flower; long bloom through winter.
Oct - Nov
Cool-season cut flower; blooms through zone 10 winter.
Winter (December through February) is zone 10's PRIME growing season. Frost is rare to absent, so this is when nearly the entire cool-season catalog flourishes: lettuces, brassicas, root crops, peas, and cool herbs all produce abundantly with minimal pest pressure. Keep succession-sowing greens and roots throughout.
Dec - Feb
Peak season; succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Dec - Feb
Sweetest in winter cool; harvest outer leaves continuously.
Dec - Feb
Productive all winter; very low-maintenance.
Dec - Jan
Mainstay winter green; flavor improves with cool nights.
Dec - Feb
Fast spicy greens; succession sow.
Dec - Feb
Crisp and mild in winter cool; quick turnaround.
Dec - Feb
Cool-season Asian green; mild and fast.
Dec - Feb
Rosette green for winter salads and stir-fries.
Dec - Feb
Thrives in winter; bolts if planted into warmth.
Dec - Jan
Needs the cool of winter to head up properly.
Dec - Feb
Cool-season; harvest flower stalks and leaves.
Dec - Jan
Fast cool-season green; harvest before it fully flowers.
Dec - Jan
Winter is ideal for tight heads; harvest side shoots after main head.
Dec - Jan
Cool winter weather gives the best curds; blanch by tying leaves.
Dec - Jan
Heads well in winter cool; minimal pest pressure now.
Dec - Feb
Quick cool-season bulbing brassica; harvest at tennis-ball size.
Dec - Feb
Sweet in cool soil; keep evenly moist for germination.
Dec - Feb
Roots and greens both; reliable winter root.
Dec - Feb
3-4 week turnaround; great winter succession crop.
Dec - Jan
Long roots in cool soil; mild and crisp.
Dec - Jan
Cool-season legume; zone 10 winter is its window. Trellis tall types.
Dec - Jan
Sweet edible pods in cool weather; harvest young and often.
Dec - Jan
Cool-season legume (z3-10); also fixes nitrogen for spring beds.
Dec - Jan
Short-day varieties only; bulbs size up as days lengthen.
Dec - Feb
Harvest at any size all winter long.
Dec - Jan
Plant sets in cool soil; harvest as bulbs mature in spring.
Dec
Late window for softneck cloves; pre-chill for better bulbing in mild zone 10 winters.
Dec - Jan
Needs the long cool season; keep consistently moist.
Dec - Jan
Cool-season chicory; blanch the heart for milder flavor.
Dec - Jan
Bulbs best in cool weather; bolts if it gets warm.
Dec - Jan
Plant seed potatoes for a late-winter/spring harvest.
Dec - Feb
Its best season in zone 10; harvest leaves before the spring warm-up bolts it.
Dec - Jan
Cool-season productive; will hold into spring.
Dec - Jan
Cool-season; direct sow as it resents transplanting.
Dec - Feb
Fast peppery green; ideal in winter cool.
Dec - Feb
Grow in constantly wet soil or near water; cool-season green.
Dec - Feb
Blooms through the mild winter; edible petals and pollinator support.
Dec - Jan
Cool-season cut flower at its zone 10 peak now.
Dec - Jan
Self-sowing edible flower; supports pollinators in the cool season.
Start-indoors, direct-sow, transplant, and harvest windows for every crop in zone 10.
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth (Leaf) | — | May - Aug | — | — | Cut-and-come-again leaves through the hottest weeks. |
| Arugula | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Crisp and mild in winter cool; quick turnaround. |
| Beet | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Roots and greens both; reliable winter root. |
| Bitter Melon | — | May - Jul | — | — | Tropical vine that revels in heat and humidity; trellis it. |
| Bok Choy / Pak Choi | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Thrives in winter; bolts if planted into warmth. |
| Broccoli | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Winter is ideal for tight heads; harvest side shoots after main head. |
| Broccoli Raab (Rapini) | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Fast cool-season green; harvest before it fully flowers. |
| Bush Bean | — | Sep - Oct | — | — | Fall beans set well as nights cool. |
| Cabbage | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Heads well in winter cool; minimal pest pressure now. |
| Carrot | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Sweet in cool soil; keep evenly moist for germination. |
| Cauliflower | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Cool winter weather gives the best curds; blanch by tying leaves. |
| Celery | — | — | Dec - Jan | — | Needs the long cool season; keep consistently moist. |
| Chayote | — | — | May - Jun | — | Plant a whole sprouting fruit; perennial vine in zone 10, very productive. |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | Cool-season; harvest flower stalks and leaves. |
| Collards | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Mainstay winter green; flavor improves with cool nights. |
| Corn (Sweet) | — | Feb - Mar | — | — | Plant in blocks for pollination; finish before peak heat for best ear fill. |
| Cowpea / Southern Pea | — | May - Aug | — | — | Productive through the hottest months; also a nitrogen-fixing cover crop. |
| Cucumber | — | Sep - Oct | — | — | Second crop; cooler weather reduces pest pressure. |
| Daikon Radish | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Long roots in cool soil; mild and crisp. |
| Edamame (Soybean) | — | Feb - Apr | — | — | Warm-soil crop; harvest pods at the plump-green stage. |
| Eggplant | — | — | Sep - Oct | — | Strong fall producer as heat backs off. |
| Endive / Escarole | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Cool-season chicory; blanch the heart for milder flavor. |
| Fava Bean | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Cool-season legume (z3-10); also fixes nitrogen for spring beds. |
| Fennel (Bulbing) | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Bulbs best in cool weather; bolts if it gets warm. |
| Garden Pea | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Cool-season legume; zone 10 winter is its window. Trellis tall types. |
| Garlic | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Plant softneck cloves; zone 10 garlic benefits from pre-chilling the cloves. |
| Kale | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Sweetest in winter cool; harvest outer leaves continuously. |
| Kohlrabi | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | Quick cool-season bulbing brassica; harvest at tennis-ball size. |
| Lettuce | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Peak season; succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. |
| Lima Bean | — | May - Jun | — | — | More heat-tolerant than bush/pole beans for early summer. |
| Luffa | — | May - Jun | — | — | Long-season tropical gourd; eat young or grow out for sponges. |
| Malabar Spinach | — | May - Aug | — | — | Vining heat-proof green; the reliable summer 'spinach' for zone 10. |
| Mizuna | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | Cool-season Asian green; mild and fast. |
| Mustard Greens | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Fast spicy greens; succession sow. |
| Napa Cabbage | — | — | Dec - Jan | — | Needs the cool of winter to head up properly. |
| New Zealand Spinach | — | May - Jul | — | — | Tolerates heat and some drought; ground-covering greens. |
| Okra | — | May - Jul | — | — | Possibly the best true summer producer; harvest pods every day or two. |
| Onion (Bulb) | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Short-day varieties only; bulbs size up as days lengthen. |
| Peanut | — | May - Jun | — | — | Thrives in summer heat; needs a long frost-free run, which zone 10 easily provides. |
| Pepper (Bell & Hot) | — | — | Sep - Oct | — | Peppers tolerate zone 10 heat better than tomatoes and can carry through summer with afternoon shade. |
| Pole Bean | — | Sep - Oct | — | — | Trellised fall crop; long harvest into winter. |
| Potato | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Plant seed potatoes in fall for a winter/early-spring harvest. |
| Pumpkin | — | Feb - Mar | — | — | Long-season; in FL many grow tropical pumpkin (calabaza) types for heat. |
| Radish | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | 3-4 week turnaround; great winter succession crop. |
| Scallion / Green Onion | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Harvest at any size all winter long. |
| Shallot | — | — | Dec - Jan | — | Plant sets in cool soil; harvest as bulbs mature in spring. |
| Snap / Snow Pea | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Sweet edible pods in cool weather; harvest young and often. |
| Summer Squash | — | Sep - Oct | — | — | Fall planting dodges peak summer vine borers. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | May - Jun | Oct - Nov | Vigorous in summer heat; vines also act as living mulch and edible greens. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Productive all winter; very low-maintenance. |
| Tatsoi | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | Rosette green for winter salads and stir-fries. |
| Tomatillo | — | — | Feb - Mar | — | Plant at least two for cross-pollination; heat-tolerant. |
| Tomato | — | — | Sep - Oct | — | Set out early; heat above ~90F stops fruit set, so aim for harvest by late spring. Choose heat-tolerant/short-season varieties. |
| Winter Squash | — | Sep | — | — | Sow early in fall to mature through the mild winter. |
| Yardlong Bean | — | May - Aug | — | — | Keeps setting pods in heat that stops common beans. |
| Zucchini | — | Sep - Oct | — | — | Reliable fall crop in cooler, drier weather. |
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | — | May - Aug | — | — | Peak-season herb; keep pinching flowers for continuous leaves. |
| Cilantro / Coriander | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Cool-season only; bolts fast in heat, so this is its season. |
| Cress (Garden/Curly) | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | Fast peppery green; ideal in winter cool. |
| Dill | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Direct sow; dislikes transplanting and summer heat. |
| Lemongrass | — | — | May - Jul | — | Loves summer heat; clumps expand fast and can be divided. |
| Mint | — | — | May - Jul | — | Keep in containers and partial shade; needs steady water in summer. |
| Parsley | — | Oct - Nov | Dec - Jan | — | Slow to germinate; productive through the cool season. |
| Stevia | — | — | May - Jul | — | Tender perennial sweetener that thrives in zone 10 warmth. |
| Watercress | — | Dec - Feb | — | — | Grow in constantly wet soil or near water; cool-season green. |
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Cherry | — | — | Feb - Mar | — | Self-sows readily; thrives in warm soil. |
| Muskmelon / Cantaloupe | — | Feb - Apr | — | — | Loves the heat; needs full sun and consistent water for sweet fruit. |
| Watermelon | — | Feb - Apr | — | — | Prime zone 10 crop; sandy warm soil and steady moisture. |
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borage | — | Dec - Jan | — | — | Self-sowing edible flower; supports pollinators in the cool season. |
| Calendula | — | Oct - Nov | — | — | Cool-season edible flower; long bloom through winter. |
| Cosmos | — | May - Aug | — | — | Tolerates heat and lean soil; airy summer color. |
| Marigold | — | May - Jul | — | — | Holds up in heat; useful pest companion through summer. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb - Mar | — | — | Edible flowers; fades in peak heat, so plant on the early side. |
| Snapdragon | — | — | Oct - Nov | — | Cool-season cut flower; blooms through zone 10 winter. |
| Sunflower | — | May - Jul | — | — | Heat-proof; provides shade and pollinator/seed value. |
| Zinnia | — | May - Aug | — | — | Among the most heat-tolerant cut flowers; deadhead for continuous bloom. |
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Sign Up FreeIn zone 10, spring planting includes Tomato, Pepper (Bell & Hot), Eggplant, Tomatillo, Ground Cherry, Cucumber, Zucchini, Summer Squash, and more. See the spring section above for each crop's timing.
The average last spring frost date for USDA zone 10 is Jan 15. The first fall frost typically arrives around Dec 31, giving a growing season of approximately 350 days.
Fall planting in zone 10 includes Tomato, Pepper (Bell & Hot), Eggplant, Cucumber, Summer Squash, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Bush Bean, and more.
Zone 10 has an average growing season of 350 days, from the last spring frost around Jan 15 to the first fall frost around Dec 31.
Month-specific guides for zone 10, hand-tuned to current frost dates and crop windows.
Learn more: When to plant vegetables by zone