When is the last frost in Zone 10?

Zone 10 sees rare frost around mid-January. The December 31 first-fall date is a placeholder — frost is uncommon but not impossible.

What grows in Zone 10 during summer?

Summer heat limits most vegetables. Okra, sweet potatoes, and tropical greens like Malabar spinach handle the heat. Use shade cloth for everything else.

When do I plant tomatoes in Zone 10?

Plant tomatoes in early February so they set fruit before summer heat shuts down production. A fall planting in September works well too.

Zone 10 Planting Dates & Garden Guide Last frost ~Jan 15, first frost ~Dec 31

Seed starting dates for Zone 10

Pre-filled with the Zone 10 representative last frost date. Change it to match your local conditions.

Seed starting dates

Pre-filled last frost — change the date to rebuild the full crop schedule.

Pick a last frost date for the schedule.

Full crop planting schedule for Zone 10

All dates calculated from the Zone 10 representative last frost of Jan 15. Actual dates vary by microclimate.

Crop	Indoor start	Transplant	Direct sow	Notes
Onions	Nov 6	Dec 18	—	—
Celery	Nov 6	Jan 8	—	—
Leeks	Nov 6	Jan 8	—	—
Peppers	Nov 20	Jan 29	—	—
Eggplant	Nov 20	Jan 29	—	—
Peas	—	—	Nov 20	Direct sow only
Shallots	Nov 20	Jan 1	—	—
Chives	Nov 20	Jan 29	—	Perennial — can also divide established clumps.
Oregano	Nov 20	Jan 29	—	Perennial herb.
Thyme	Nov 20	Jan 29	—	Perennial herb.
Tomatoes	Dec 4	Jan 29	—	—
Broccoli	Dec 4	Jan 8	—	—
Cabbage	Dec 4	Jan 8	—	—
Cauliflower	Dec 4	Jan 8	—	—
Basil	Dec 4	Jan 29	—	—
Parsley	Dec 4	Jan 29	—	—
Dill	Dec 4	Jan 29	—	—
Tomatillos	Dec 4	Jan 29	—	—
Ground cherries	Dec 4	Jan 29	—	—
Brussels sprouts	Dec 11	Jan 8	—	—
Lettuce (head)	Dec 18	Jan 1	Dec 18	—
Lettuce (leaf)	Dec 18	Jan 1	Dec 18	—
Spinach	Dec 18	Jan 1	Dec 18	—
Kale	Dec 18	Jan 1	Dec 18	—
Swiss chard	Dec 18	Jan 1	Dec 18	—
Beets	—	—	Dec 18	Direct sow only
Radish	—	—	Dec 18	Direct sow only
Kohlrabi	Dec 18	Jan 8	Dec 25	—
Rutabaga	Dec 18	—	Dec 25	—
Turnips	Dec 18	—	Dec 25	—
Okra	Dec 18	Feb 5	—	Warm soil required — transplant after soil warms.
Arugula	Dec 25	—	Dec 18	—
Bok choy	Dec 25	—	Dec 18	—
Mustard greens	Dec 25	—	Dec 18	—
Collards	Dec 25	—	Dec 18	—
Endive / escarole	Dec 25	—	Dec 18	—
Cucumbers	Dec 25	Jan 29	Jan 22	—
Zucchini / summer squash	Dec 25	Jan 29	Jan 22	—
Winter squash	Dec 25	Jan 29	Jan 22	—
Carrots	—	—	Dec 25	Direct sow only
Pumpkins	Dec 25	Jan 29	Jan 22	—
Melons	Dec 25	Jan 29	Jan 22	—
Parsnips	—	—	Dec 25	Direct sow only
Cilantro	—	—	Dec 25	Direct sow only
Potatoes	—	—	Jan 1	Direct sow only
Bush beans	—	—	Jan 22	Direct sow only
Pole beans	—	—	Jan 22	Direct sow only
Corn	—	—	Jan 22	Direct sow only
Sweet potatoes	—	Feb 5	—	Plant slips 3 weeks after last frost.
Garlic	—	—	—	Fall plant ~6 weeks before first hard freeze (not keyed to spring last frost).

Zone 10 has a last average spring frost around January 15 and rare first fall frost near year-end, giving a near-continuous growing season of roughly 350 frost-free days.

Gardening strategy for Zone 10

Zone 10 is nearly year-round gardening with one critical exception: rare January frost that can wipe out unprotected tender crops overnight. The representative last frost around January 15 is infrequent but real — mature citrus, young pepper plants, and tomato tips all need frost cloth, overhead sprinklers, or row cover staged and ready before mid-January cold fronts arrive. Outside that brief vigilance window, production runs continuously across roughly 350 frost-free days. Cool-season vegetables — lettuce, broccoli, carrots, peas — go in from October through January and deliver through spring. Warm-season transplants set out by early February must finish fruiting before June heat above 100 F stalls most crops. The summer gap from July through September is for okra, sweet potatoes, Malabar spinach, and yard-long beans, plus aggressive soil-building with cover crops on resting beds. September through November acts as a second spring: moderate temperatures let you replant tomatoes, peppers, and squash for harvest before holiday season. Drip irrigation on timers and six-inch organic mulch are infrastructure, not optional upgrades — rapid soil drying kills shallow-rooted crops faster here than frost ever will. Zone 10 success means always having something in the ground while respecting that one January night when thermometers can still dip to 32 F.

Tips for Zone 10 gardeners

Stage frost cloth and row cover before mid-January — the average last frost around January 15 can still damage unprotected peppers and tomatoes.
Plant your main tomato crop in early February so fruit sets before summer highs exceed 100 F in June.
Use the September-through-November window as a second spring — replant warm-season crops when temperatures drop below 90 F.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Zone 10?: Zone 10 sees rare frost around mid-January. The December 31 first-fall date is a placeholder — frost is uncommon but not impossible.
What grows in Zone 10 during summer?: Summer heat limits most vegetables. Okra, sweet potatoes, and tropical greens like Malabar spinach handle the heat. Use shade cloth for everything else.
When do I plant tomatoes in Zone 10?: Plant tomatoes in early February so they set fruit before summer heat shuts down production. A fall planting in September works well too.

Best-bet crops for Zone 10

Estimates only — consult your local extension office for advice specific to your land and animals.