What temperature range is USDA zone 10a?

Zone 10a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 30 to 35 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.

Does zone 10a tell me when to plant?

No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 10a to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.

What can I grow in zone 10a?

Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 10a; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.

USDA hardiness zone 10a — frost dates & what to plant

USDA hardiness zone 10a

Average annual extreme minimum temperature: 30 to 35 °F

USDA plant hardiness zone 10a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 30 to 35 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive an average winter. Hardiness zone sets winter survival, but planting DATES depend on your local frost calendar, which varies within a zone. 149 locations on this site fall in zone 10a (Alafaya, FL, Alton, TX, Alva, FL, Anaheim, CA, Bartow, FL, Belle Glade, FL, Berkeley, CA, Bodega Bay, CA, and 141 more); open one to see its frost dates, growing-season length, and a printable per-crop planting calendar.

Locations in zone 10a — 60 of 149

Same zone, different frost calendars — open one for its full planner. A spread across the zone is shown; browse a state for its full list.
Location	Last frost	First frost	Season (days)
Alafaya, FL	frost-free	frost-free	365
Alva, FL	Jan 22	Jan 10	364
Bartow, FL	Jan 24	Jan 7	352
Bodega Bay, CA	Mar 20	Nov 13	240
Borrego Springs, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Buckhead Ridge, FL	Jan 31	Jan 11	355
Callender, CA	Feb 4	Dec 13	315
Carmel Valley, CA	Feb 13	Dec 27	323
Christmas, FL	Jan 25	Jan 13	362
Corpus Christi, TX	frost-free	frost-free	365
Daly, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Eastern Goleta Valley, CA	Jan 11	Dec 16	342
El Centro, CA	Jan 3	Dec 27	363
Escondido, CA	Feb 2	Dec 7	309
Fairbanks Ranch, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Fortuna Foothills, AZ	Jan 4	Dec 25	361
Fremont, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Glendora, CA	Apr 28	Nov 15	199
Half Moon Bay, CA	Feb 6	Dec 17	328
Hayward, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Indio, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Jamul, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
La Quinta, CA	Feb 7	Dec 2	298
Lake Havasu, AZ	frost-free	frost-free	365
Lake Wales, FL	Feb 4	Jan 4	332
Lasana, TX	Jan 8	Dec 29	357
Lehigh Acres, FL	frost-free	frost-free	365
Los Angeles, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Los Angeles, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Los Osos, CA	Jan 16	Dec 25	349
Marina, CA	Feb 4	Dec 6	311
McAllen, TX	frost-free	frost-free	365
Montura, FL	frost-free	frost-free	365
Moss Landing, CA	Jan 28	Dec 13	324
North Port, FL	Feb 1	Jan 6	336
Oakland, CA	Jan 7	Dec 23	356
Oceanside, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Ontario, CA	Jan 17	Dec 19	335
Oviedo, FL	Jan 24	Jan 9	352
Pala, CA	Apr 29	Nov 18	201
Palm Springs, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Phoenix, AZ	Jan 8	Dec 25	354
Phoenix, AZ	Jan 6	Dec 26	353
Pomona, CA	Jan 8	Dec 28	354
Port Orange, FL	Jan 30	Jan 8	340
Port St. Lucie, FL	frost-free	frost-free	365
Redwood, CA	Jan 17	Dec 12	333
Riverside, CA	Jan 9	Dec 30	362
San Bernardino, CA	Jan 27	Dec 19	329
San Diego, CA	Jan 6	Dec 21	350
San Marcos, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Santa Clarita, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Sausalito, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Scottsdale, AZ	Feb 4	Dec 16	313
Seaside, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Sullivan, TX	Jan 31	Dec 17	321
Tempe, AZ	Feb 13	Dec 5	298
Thousand Oaks, CA	frost-free	frost-free	365
Vandenberg AFB, CA	Jan 20	Dec 19	335
Wildomar, CA	Jan 28	Dec 18	329

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.

What zone 10a means for your garden

A plant rated "hardy to zone 10a" can be expected to survive a winter whose coldest night lands in the 30 to 35 °F range — the metric the USDA map is built on. That governs perennials, shrubs, and trees. For annual vegetables, what matters is the frost calendar: the dates of the average last spring and first fall freeze, which set when it is safe to plant and how long the season runs. Those come from the individual location pages above.

Zones are from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP — see the methodology page. Browse all hardiness zones or crop-by-crop timing.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature range is USDA zone 10a?: Zone 10a covers areas whose average annual extreme minimum winter temperature is 30 to 35 °F. Each numbered zone is a 10°F band; the "a" and "b" half-zones split it into 5°F steps.
Does zone 10a tell me when to plant?: No — the hardiness zone tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow annual vegetables. Planting dates depend on your local last and first frost, which can vary within a single zone. Open one of the sample locations in zone 10a to see its frost calendar and per-crop planting windows.
What can I grow in zone 10a?: Almost any common vegetable can be grown in zone 10a; what changes with zone and local climate is the timing and the length of the season. Cold-hardy crops (peas, spinach, lettuce) go out earliest, tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the last frost. Use each location's calendar for exact dates.