Planting Zone 10a
Min winter temp 30 to 35°F · last frost ~January · first frost ~December
In Zone 10a, the average last spring frost is around January and the first fall frost around December, about a 323-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 10a planting schedule and calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Peppers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cucumbers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Lettuce | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Carrots | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Peas | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Broccoli | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Spinach | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Kale | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Onions | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Garlic | ||||||||||||
| Potatoes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Squash (winter) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Corn | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Radishes | ● | |||||||||||
| Beets | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Eggplant | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Basil | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cilantro | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Parsley | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Pumpkins | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Sunflowers | ● | ● |
What to plant this fall in Zone 10a
Fall planting in Zone 10a is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around December 20, so a crop needs its days to maturity, plus about two weeks for the slower growth of shortening days, to fit before then. Hardy crops get some of that back because they keep going past a light frost.
| Crop | Sow by | Fall harvest | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | Nov 29 | Dec 27 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Nov 5 | Dec 20 | ~45 |
| Kale | Nov 4 | Jan 3 | ~60 |
| Beets | Nov 2 | Dec 27 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Oct 31 | Dec 20 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Oct 25 | Jan 3 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Oct 23 | Dec 27 | ~65 |
| Peas | Oct 21 | Dec 20 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Sep 28 | Nov 22 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Sep 28 | Nov 22 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Sep 23 | Nov 22 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Sep 17 | Dec 16 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Sep 8 | Nov 22 | ~75 |
| Peppers | Sep 3 | Nov 22 | ~80 |
| Eggplant | Aug 29 | Nov 22 | ~85 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 10a winter: garlic (Dec 20 to Jan 17) , onions (Nov 8 to Nov 29) , spinach (Nov 8 to Nov 22) , parsley (Nov 8 to Nov 22) .
More on the method: the fall planting calendar by zone, when to plant garlic and how to stretch your first frost date.
When to plant popular crops in Zone 10a
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantSeasonal reading for Zone 10a
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 10a.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 10a.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 10a season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 10a.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 10a last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 10a, and what that changes.
- Companion planting chart
Which crops to plant together once you know your dates.
Nearby zones
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Zone 10a?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 10a is around January; the first fall frost is around December.
What can I grow in Zone 10a?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 10a; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 10a frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 10a?
radishes (sow by Nov 29), cilantro (sow by Nov 5), kale (sow by Nov 4), beets (sow by Nov 2), lettuce (sow by Oct 31), carrots (sow by Oct 25). Each date is counted back from the Zone 10a average first frost around December 20.
How long is the growing season in Zone 10a?
About 323 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.