When to plant in La Palma, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in La Palma, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
La Palma's growing season is short at roughly -2 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. These dates come from a station roughly 27 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around La Palma (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 10a is warm enough that La Palma can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
SAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are La Palma’s own odds, recorded at SAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 20 | Jan 17 | Dec 20 | Dec 6 | Dec 26 | Jan 30 |
| 32°F | Jan 28 | Jan 4 | Dec 19 | Dec 18 | Jan 2 | Jan 26 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in La Palma, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 31 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
La Palma planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in La Palma, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in La Palma around January 4 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in La Palma, CA?
Expect La Palma's first fall frost near January 2 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is La Palma in?
La Palma is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in La Palma?
There are roughly -2 frost-free days in La Palma (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 4 to the first fall frost near January 2.
When should I plant tomatoes in La Palma?
In La Palma, start tomato seeds indoors around November 9–November 23, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 11 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in La Palma
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to La Palma’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Buena Park · 3 km
- Cerritos · 3 km
- Cypress · 4 km
- Hawaiian Gardens · 4 km
- Artesia · 4 km
- Los Alamitos · 6 km
- La Mirada · 6 km
- Stanton · 7 km
Frost dates recorded at SAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT, 27 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in La Palma, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00047785. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/la-palma.