Zone 10a planting calendar
Subtropical; frost is rare and gardening is essentially year-round.
Coldest temps30 to 35°F
Avg. last spring frostJan 31
Avg. first fall frostDec 28
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 10a →
The growing season in Zone 10a
Zone 10a has a coldest-winter range of 30 to 35°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 331 days — from the last spring frost around Jan 31 to the first fall frost around Dec 28. That is a very long, near year-round season — heat, not frost, is usually the limiting factor here, so time cool-season crops for the milder shoulders of the year.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Jan 31, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 331-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 10a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 10a's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Dec 13–Dec 27 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Nov 29–Dec 13 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 21 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Jan 10–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 19–Nov 2 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 28 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Jan 10–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 21 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Dec 20–Jan 17 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 23 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 5–Nov 2 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Dec 20–Jan 10 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Jan 10–Feb 7 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 23 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Dec 13–Dec 27 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Sep 21–Oct 12 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Dec 13–Dec 27 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 24–Feb 7 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Nov 30–Dec 14 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Oct 19–Nov 2 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 30 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 21 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 21 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 21 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 30 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 24–Feb 7 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Oct 5–Nov 2 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 23 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Jan 10–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 23 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Oct 19–Nov 2 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 28 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 21 Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 14–Feb 21 Direct sow outdoors Feb 7–Feb 21 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Dec 13–Dec 27 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Dec 27–Jan 10 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Dec 27–Jan 10 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Dec 27–Jan 10 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Dec 20–Jan 10 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Dec 20–Jan 10 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 21 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Dec 20–Jan 10 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Dec 6–Dec 20 Transplant outdoors Jan 17–Jan 31 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Nov 22–Dec 6 Transplant outdoors Jan 3–Jan 17 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Jan 3–Jan 17 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Dec 20–Jan 17 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Jan 3–Jan 24 Direct sow outdoors Nov 2–Nov 16 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Dec 20–Jan 3 Transplant outdoors Feb 7–Feb 14 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Jan 17–Feb 14 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Jan 31–Feb 14 |