Brought to you by garden.gg Zone 10a Planting Calendar & Schedule
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.
Zone 10a is the cooler half of USDA zone 10, where the average coldest winter night bottoms out at 30 to 35°F. Compared with the zone 10 averages, the last spring frost in zone 10a comes about a week later (Jan 22) and the first fall frost about a week earlier (Dec 24), for a growing season of about 336 days. Every planting window on this page is shifted to match: spring sowing and transplant dates move a week later, fall plantings a week earlier. Crop notes still quote zone 10 timing.
Zone 10 treats frost as a rare event, not an annual boundary: South Florida, coastal Southern California from Los Angeles to San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley all run about 350 growing days. Prime vegetable season is October through May, when nights cool off and pest pressure drops. Summer belongs to heat specialists like okra, sweet potatoes, and cowpeas, plus shade cloth in the desert cities.
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
Tropical growing with no off-season.
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.
Save a planting for your zone 10a garden — free
What to Plant in Zone 10a This Fall (September–November)
The average first fall frost in zone 10a is Dec 24. To find the last safe planting date for any fall crop, count back from that date by its days to maturity plus a 14-day fall factor — growth slows as days shorten and soil cools. Applied to zone 10a's frost date, that gives these plant-by dates:
Plant by Sep 21
80 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Plant by Sep 26
75 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Plant by Oct 1
70 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Plant by Oct 21
50 days to maturity + 14-day fall factor
Zone 10a and 10b: these dates count back from zone 10a's first frost, which is about a week earlier than the zone 10 average of Dec 31. Zone 10b gardeners have about two weeks more fall time — see the zone 10b fall dates.
Fall crops on this zone 10a calendar include Tomato, Pepper (Bell & Hot), Eggplant, Cucumber, Summer Squash, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Bush Bean, Pole Bean, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss Chard, and 20 more. Each crop's sowing and transplant window is in the fall planting section below.
For month-by-month detail, see what to plant in October across every zone, what to plant in September, and the fall vegetable planting guide by zone.
What to Plant by Season in Zone 10a
The right crops and methods for each season, based on zone 10a's climate and frost timing.
What to Plant in Spring
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 8 - Mar 17
Set out early; heat above ~90F stops fruit set, so aim for harvest by late spring. Choose heat-tolerant/short-season varieties.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Peppers tolerate zone 10 heat better than tomatoes and can carry through summer with afternoon shade.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Excellent zone 10 performer; productive well into the hot months.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Plant at least two for cross-pollination; heat-tolerant.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Self-sows readily; thrives in warm soil.
Feb 8 - May 7
Fast crop; succession sow before peak heat and use trellises for airflow.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Plant early; powdery mildew and vine borers worsen as humidity climbs.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Quick yields before midsummer pest pressure peaks.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Needs a long warm run; give vines room and good airflow.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Long-season; in FL many grow tropical pumpkin (calabaza) types for heat.
Feb 8 - May 7
Loves the heat; needs full sun and consistent water for sweet fruit.
Feb 8 - May 7
Prime zone 10 crop; sandy warm soil and steady moisture.
Mar 8 - May 7
Wait for warm soil; one of the most heat- and humidity-tolerant summer crops.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Plant in blocks for pollination; finish before peak heat for best ear fill.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Fast; succession sow until heat (>90F) drops blossoms.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Trellised for airflow; harvest before the worst summer heat.
Mar 8 - May 7
Heat-loving; tolerates zone 10 summers better than common beans.
Feb 8 - May 7
Warm-soil crop; harvest pods at the plump-green stage.
Mar 8 - May 7
Long warm season and sandy soil suit zone 10 (esp. FL/TX) perfectly.
Mar 8 - May 7
Outstanding hot-season legume; thrives where common beans fail.
Mar 8 - May 7
Tropical asparagus bean; loves the heat and humidity of zone 10 summers.
Mar 8 - May 7
Plant slips into warm soil; one of the best zone 10 summer staples.
Mar 8 - May 7
Heat-loving leafy green that replaces true spinach all summer.
Feb 8 - May 7
Heat-tolerant spinach substitute for warm months.
Mar 8 - May 7
Thrives in heat; cut-and-come-again summer green.
Feb 8 - May 7
Heat-lover; pinch flowers and it produces all summer.
Mar 8 - May 7
Perennial in zone 10; plant once and harvest year-round.
Feb 8 - May 7
Easy and fast; great pollinator draw and seed crop.
Feb 8 - May 7
Pest-deterrent companion; thrives in heat.
Feb 8 - May 7
Heat- and drought-tolerant cut flower; pollinator magnet.
Feb 8 - May 7
Loves heat and poor soil; long bloom into summer.
Feb 8 - Apr 7
Edible flowers; fades in peak heat, so plant on the early side.
What to Plant in Summer
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 8 - Aug 7
Possibly the best true summer producer; harvest pods every day or two.
May 8 - Jul 7
Vigorous in summer heat; vines also act as living mulch and edible greens.
May 8 - Sep 7
Productive through the hottest months; also a nitrogen-fixing cover crop.
May 8 - Sep 7
Keeps setting pods in heat that stops common beans.
May 8 - Jul 7
More heat-tolerant than bush/pole beans for early summer.
May 8 - Jul 7
Thrives in summer heat; needs a long frost-free run, which zone 10 easily provides.
May 8 - Sep 7
Vining heat-proof green; the reliable summer 'spinach' for zone 10.
May 8 - Aug 7
Tolerates heat and some drought; ground-covering greens.
May 8 - Sep 7
Cut-and-come-again leaves through the hottest weeks.
May 8 - Aug 7
Tropical vine that revels in heat and humidity; trellis it.
May 8 - Jul 7
Long-season tropical gourd; eat young or grow out for sponges.
May 8 - Jul 7
Plant a whole sprouting fruit; perennial vine in zone 10, very productive.
May 8 - Jul 7
Carries through summer better than tomato; provide afternoon shade in desert SW.
May 8 - Jul 7
Hot peppers especially keep producing; shade cloth helps set fruit in extreme heat.
May 8 - Sep 7
Peak-season herb; keep pinching flowers for continuous leaves.
May 8 - Aug 7
Loves summer heat; clumps expand fast and can be divided.
May 8 - Aug 7
Tender perennial sweetener that thrives in zone 10 warmth.
May 8 - Aug 7
Keep in containers and partial shade; needs steady water in summer.
May 8 - Aug 7
Heat-proof; provides shade and pollinator/seed value.
May 8 - Sep 7
Among the most heat-tolerant cut flowers; deadhead for continuous bloom.
May 8 - Sep 7
Tolerates heat and lean soil; airy summer color.
May 8 - Aug 7
Holds up in heat; useful pest companion through summer.
What to Plant in Fall
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.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Fall crop often outperforms spring; cooler nights improve fruit set through winter harvest.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Set out for a long fall-into-winter harvest.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Strong fall producer as heat backs off.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Second crop; cooler weather reduces pest pressure.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Fall planting dodges peak summer vine borers.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Reliable fall crop in cooler, drier weather.
Aug 25 - Sep 23
Sow early in fall to mature through the mild winter.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Fall beans set well as nights cool.
Aug 25 - Oct 24
Trellised fall crop; long harvest into winter.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Cool-season star; succession sow all fall and winter.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Best flavor in cool weather; harvests through winter.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Tolerates both warm and cool; long cut-and-come-again season.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Heat- and cool-tolerant; classic Southern fall/winter green.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Fast, spicy greens for fall and winter.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Quick cool-season green; bolts in heat so wait for fall.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Fast Asian green for fall; succession sow.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Set transplants as heat eases for winter heads.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Needs the cool of fall/winter; time so heads form in mild weather.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Cool-season; reliable winter harvest in zone 10.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Sweetens in cool soil; keep seedbed moist for germination.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Dual-purpose roots and greens; thrives in cool season.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Fast (3-4 weeks); succession sow all fall and winter.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Long mild roots; also a soil-loosening cover crop.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Use short-day varieties only in zone 10 for proper bulbing.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Quick and forgiving; harvest at any size.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Plant softneck cloves; zone 10 garlic benefits from pre-chilling the cloves.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Plant seed potatoes in fall for a winter/early-spring harvest.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Cool-season only; bolts fast in heat, so this is its season.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Direct sow; dislikes transplanting and summer heat.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Slow to germinate; productive through the cool season.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Cool-season edible flower; long bloom through winter.
Sep 24 - Nov 23
Cool-season cut flower; blooms through zone 10 winter.
What to Plant in 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.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Peak season; succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Sweetest in winter cool; harvest outer leaves continuously.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Productive all winter; very low-maintenance.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Mainstay winter green; flavor improves with cool nights.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Fast spicy greens; succession sow.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Crisp and mild in winter cool; quick turnaround.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Cool-season Asian green; mild and fast.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Rosette green for winter salads and stir-fries.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Thrives in winter; bolts if planted into warmth.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Needs the cool of winter to head up properly.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Cool-season; harvest flower stalks and leaves.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Fast cool-season green; harvest before it fully flowers.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Winter is ideal for tight heads; harvest side shoots after main head.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool winter weather gives the best curds; blanch by tying leaves.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Heads well in winter cool; minimal pest pressure now.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Quick cool-season bulbing brassica; harvest at tennis-ball size.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Sweet in cool soil; keep evenly moist for germination.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Roots and greens both; reliable winter root.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
3-4 week turnaround; great winter succession crop.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Long roots in cool soil; mild and crisp.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool-season legume; zone 10 winter is its window. Trellis tall types.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Sweet edible pods in cool weather; harvest young and often.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool-season legume (z3-10); also fixes nitrogen for spring beds.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Short-day varieties only; bulbs size up as days lengthen.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Harvest at any size all winter long.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Plant sets in cool soil; harvest as bulbs mature in spring.
Nov 24 - Dec 24
Late window for softneck cloves; pre-chill for better bulbing in mild zone 10 winters.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Needs the long cool season; keep consistently moist.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool-season chicory; blanch the heart for milder flavor.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Bulbs best in cool weather; bolts if it gets warm.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Plant seed potatoes for a late-winter/spring harvest.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Its best season in zone 10; harvest leaves before the spring warm-up bolts it.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool-season productive; will hold into spring.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool-season; direct sow as it resents transplanting.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Fast peppery green; ideal in winter cool.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Grow in constantly wet soil or near water; cool-season green.
Nov 24 - Feb 21
Blooms through the mild winter; edible petals and pollinator support.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Cool-season cut flower at its zone 10 peak now.
Nov 24 - Jan 24
Self-sowing edible flower; supports pollinators in the cool season.
Save a planting from your zone 10 calendar
Choose a crop and a date that suits your local conditions. Create a free account or sign in, then review and save your planting plan. Your saved plan is available on web, iOS, and Android.
Zone calendars are starting points, not local forecasts. Check local frost dates, soil temperature, and the crop's planting instructions before choosing a date. This does not change your profile's zone.
Full Planting Timing Table
Start-indoors, direct-sow, transplant, and harvest windows for every crop in zone 10a.
Vegetables
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amaranth (Leaf) | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Cut-and-come-again leaves through the hottest weeks. |
| Arugula | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Crisp and mild in winter cool; quick turnaround. |
| Beet | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Roots and greens both; reliable winter root. |
| Bitter Melon | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | — | Tropical vine that revels in heat and humidity; trellis it. |
| Bok Choy / Pak Choi | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Thrives in winter; bolts if planted into warmth. |
| Broccoli | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Winter is ideal for tight heads; harvest side shoots after main head. |
| Broccoli Raab (Rapini) | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Fast cool-season green; harvest before it fully flowers. |
| Bush Bean | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | — | Fall beans set well as nights cool. |
| Cabbage | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Heads well in winter cool; minimal pest pressure now. |
| Carrot | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Sweet in cool soil; keep evenly moist for germination. |
| Cauliflower | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Cool winter weather gives the best curds; blanch by tying leaves. |
| Celery | — | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | Needs the long cool season; keep consistently moist. |
| Chayote | — | — | May 8 - Jul 7 | — | Plant a whole sprouting fruit; perennial vine in zone 10, very productive. |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | — | Nov 24 - Feb 21 | — | — | Cool-season; harvest flower stalks and leaves. |
| Collards | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Mainstay winter green; flavor improves with cool nights. |
| Corn (Sweet) | — | Feb 8 - Apr 7 | — | — | Plant in blocks for pollination; finish before peak heat for best ear fill. |
| Cowpea / Southern Pea | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Productive through the hottest months; also a nitrogen-fixing cover crop. |
| Cucumber | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | — | Second crop; cooler weather reduces pest pressure. |
| Daikon Radish | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Long roots in cool soil; mild and crisp. |
| Edamame (Soybean) | — | Feb 8 - May 7 | — | — | Warm-soil crop; harvest pods at the plump-green stage. |
| Eggplant | — | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | Excellent zone 10 performer; productive well into the hot months. |
| Endive / Escarole | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Cool-season chicory; blanch the heart for milder flavor. |
| Fava Bean | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Cool-season legume (z3-10); also fixes nitrogen for spring beds. |
| Fennel (Bulbing) | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Bulbs best in cool weather; bolts if it gets warm. |
| Garden Pea | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Cool-season legume; zone 10 winter is its window. Trellis tall types. |
| Garlic | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Plant softneck cloves; zone 10 garlic benefits from pre-chilling the cloves. |
| Kale | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Sweetest in winter cool; harvest outer leaves continuously. |
| Kohlrabi | — | Nov 24 - Feb 21 | — | — | Quick cool-season bulbing brassica; harvest at tennis-ball size. |
| Lettuce | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Peak season; succession sow every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest. |
| Lima Bean | — | May 8 - Jul 7 | — | — | More heat-tolerant than bush/pole beans for early summer. |
| Luffa | — | May 8 - Jul 7 | — | — | Long-season tropical gourd; eat young or grow out for sponges. |
| Malabar Spinach | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Vining heat-proof green; the reliable summer 'spinach' for zone 10. |
| Mizuna | — | Nov 24 - Feb 21 | — | — | Cool-season Asian green; mild and fast. |
| Mustard Greens | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Fast spicy greens; succession sow. |
| Napa Cabbage | — | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | Needs the cool of winter to head up properly. |
| New Zealand Spinach | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | — | Tolerates heat and some drought; ground-covering greens. |
| Okra | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | — | Possibly the best true summer producer; harvest pods every day or two. |
| Onion (Bulb) | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Use short-day varieties only in zone 10 for proper bulbing. |
| Peanut | — | May 8 - Jul 7 | — | — | Thrives in summer heat; needs a long frost-free run, which zone 10 easily provides. |
| Pepper (Bell & Hot) | — | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | Peppers tolerate zone 10 heat better than tomatoes and can carry through summer with afternoon shade. |
| Pole Bean | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | — | Trellised fall crop; long harvest into winter. |
| Potato | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Plant seed potatoes in fall for a winter/early-spring harvest. |
| Pumpkin | — | Feb 8 - Apr 7 | — | — | Long-season; in FL many grow tropical pumpkin (calabaza) types for heat. |
| Radish | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | 3-4 week turnaround; great winter succession crop. |
| Scallion / Green Onion | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Quick and forgiving; harvest at any size. |
| Shallot | — | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | Plant sets in cool soil; harvest as bulbs mature in spring. |
| Snap / Snow Pea | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Sweet edible pods in cool weather; harvest young and often. |
| Summer Squash | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | — | Fall planting dodges peak summer vine borers. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | May 8 - Jul 7 | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | Vigorous in summer heat; vines also act as living mulch and edible greens. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Productive all winter; very low-maintenance. |
| Tatsoi | — | Nov 24 - Feb 21 | — | — | Rosette green for winter salads and stir-fries. |
| Tomatillo | — | — | Feb 8 - Apr 7 | — | Plant at least two for cross-pollination; heat-tolerant. |
| Tomato | — | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | Set out early; heat above ~90F stops fruit set, so aim for harvest by late spring. Choose heat-tolerant/short-season varieties. |
| Winter Squash | — | Aug 25 - Sep 23 | — | — | Sow early in fall to mature through the mild winter. |
| Yardlong Bean | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Keeps setting pods in heat that stops common beans. |
| Zucchini | — | Aug 25 - Oct 24 | — | — | Reliable fall crop in cooler, drier weather. |
Herbs
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Peak-season herb; keep pinching flowers for continuous leaves. |
| Cilantro / Coriander | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Cool-season only; bolts fast in heat, so this is its season. |
| Cress (Garden/Curly) | — | Nov 24 - Feb 21 | — | — | Fast peppery green; ideal in winter cool. |
| Dill | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Direct sow; dislikes transplanting and summer heat. |
| Lemongrass | — | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | Loves summer heat; clumps expand fast and can be divided. |
| Mint | — | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | Keep in containers and partial shade; needs steady water in summer. |
| Parsley | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | Slow to germinate; productive through the cool season. |
| Stevia | — | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | Tender perennial sweetener that thrives in zone 10 warmth. |
| Watercress | — | Nov 24 - Feb 21 | — | — | Grow in constantly wet soil or near water; cool-season green. |
Fruits
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Cherry | — | — | Feb 8 - Apr 7 | — | Self-sows readily; thrives in warm soil. |
| Muskmelon / Cantaloupe | — | Feb 8 - May 7 | — | — | Loves the heat; needs full sun and consistent water for sweet fruit. |
| Watermelon | — | Feb 8 - May 7 | — | — | Prime zone 10 crop; sandy warm soil and steady moisture. |
Flowers
| Plant | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borage | — | Nov 24 - Jan 24 | — | — | Self-sowing edible flower; supports pollinators in the cool season. |
| Calendula | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | — | Cool-season edible flower; long bloom through winter. |
| Cosmos | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Tolerates heat and lean soil; airy summer color. |
| Marigold | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | — | Holds up in heat; useful pest companion through summer. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 8 - Apr 7 | — | — | Edible flowers; fades in peak heat, so plant on the early side. |
| Snapdragon | — | — | Sep 24 - Nov 23 | — | Cool-season cut flower; blooms through zone 10 winter. |
| Sunflower | — | May 8 - Aug 7 | — | — | Heat-proof; provides shade and pollinator/seed value. |
| Zinnia | — | May 8 - Sep 7 | — | — | Among the most heat-tolerant cut flowers; deadhead for continuous bloom. |
Zone 10a vs Zone 10b
USDA divides zone 10 into two half-zones 5°F apart. Zone 10a is the cooler one; here is how its frost dates compare with zone 10b and the zone 10 average.
| Zone 10a | Zone 10 | Zone 10b | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter low | 30 to 35°F | 30 to 40°F | 35 to 40°F |
| Last spring frost | Jan 22 | Jan 15 | Jan 8 |
| First fall frost | Dec 24 | Dec 31 | Jan 7 |
| Growing season | 336 days | 350 days | 364 days |
Not sure which half you're in? The half-zone comes from your area's average coldest winter night, so check the USDA map for your ZIP code. Your own microclimate — slope, shelter, pavement, elevation — can move dates as much as the half-zone does.
Zone 10a Growing Tips
- ✓ Flip your mental calendar: winter is your main vegetable season and mid-summer is your 'off' season. Plant brassicas, lettuces, root crops, and peas from October through February, and reserve a heat-tolerant tropical lineup (okra, sweet potato, cowpea, yardlong bean, Malabar spinach, chayote) for May-September.
- ✓ Use short-day onion varieties only. Long-day and even intermediate-day onions will never bulb properly at zone 10's low latitudes; the same goes for choosing heat-tolerant, short-season tomato varieties for spring.
- ✓ Beat the heat with shade cloth (30-40%), heavy mulch, and afternoon shade for crops you push into summer (peppers, eggplant, tomatoes). In the desert SW especially, drip irrigation and morning watering are essential.
- ✓ Garlic and other crops that normally need winter chilling underperform in zone 10. Pre-chill garlic cloves in the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks before planting, and pick softneck types over hardneck.
- ✓ Skip true spinach (zone 2-9), brussels sprouts, rhubarb, and most temperate berries (currants, gooseberries, raspberries) — they need chill/cold this zone can't provide. Substitute Malabar spinach and New Zealand spinach for greens, and grow figs, grapes, blueberries (low-chill varieties), and blackberries for fruit.
- ✓ Manage humidity-driven disease (FL/Gulf) and intense pest cycles by spacing for airflow, trellising vining crops, succession-sowing fast greens, and using the deep-summer lull to solarize beds and grow nitrogen-fixing cover crops like cowpea.
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Sign Up FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What can I plant in spring in zone 10a?
In zone 10a, 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.
What is the last frost date for zone 10a?
The average last spring frost date for USDA zone 10a is Jan 22. The first fall frost typically arrives around Dec 24, giving a growing season of approximately 336 days.
When is the first frost in zone 10a?
The average first fall frost in USDA zone 10a arrives around Dec 24. That is an average, not a guarantee — the actual first frost varies by up to 2 weeks either way, so watch your local forecast from a few weeks before that date and have row covers ready for tender crops still in the ground.
What can I plant in fall in zone 10a?
Fall planting in zone 10a includes Tomato, Pepper (Bell & Hot), Eggplant, Cucumber, Summer Squash, Zucchini, Winter Squash, Bush Bean, and more.
How long is the growing season in zone 10a?
Zone 10a has an average growing season of 336 days, from the last spring frost around Jan 22 to the first fall frost around Dec 24.
What is the difference between zone 10a and zone 10b?
Zone 10a is the cooler half of USDA zone 10, with average coldest winter nights of 30 to 35°F. Compared with the zone 10 averages (last frost Jan 15, first frost Dec 31), zone 10a's last spring frost is about a week later (Jan 22) and its first fall frost about a week earlier (Dec 24), so zone 10b gardeners plant about two weeks earlier in spring and later in fall than zone 10a.
What to plant right now
Month-specific guides for zone 10, hand-tuned to current frost dates and crop windows.
- What to Plant in October: Garlic Month, Cover Crops, and the Southern Fall Garden — What to plant in October: garlic goes in across zones 3-7, cover crops hit their deadline, and zones 8-10 plant the best garden of their year.
Learn more: When to plant vegetables by zone