Planting zone for 90280 — South Gate, CA
ZIP code 90280 (South Gate, Los Angeles County) is in USDA zone 10b: the coldest winter night averages 35 to 40 °F.
Where ZIP 90280 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 10b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for South Gate, CA…
Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.
Frost dates
A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station San Gabriel Fire Dept, CA — 11 miles away, elevation 364 ft) the median growing season is 365 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.
Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
When spring arrived in 2026
In 2026, spring leaf-out near 90280 came on Jan 17 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20).
Jan 202026
Jan 17
The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).
Soil in South Gate, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 90280 is Metz — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.
Map unit: Urban land-Metz-Pico complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes.
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 90280; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in South Gate, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Los Angeles Dwtn Usc Campus, CA (8 mi away); precipitation: Los Angeles Dwtn Usc Campus, CA (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 10b.
Questions about 90280
What planting zone is ZIP code 90280?
ZIP code 90280 (South Gate, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 10b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 35 to 40 °F (1.7 to 4.4 °C).
How much rain and snow does 90280 get?
About 14.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Los Angeles Dwtn Usc Campus station).
How hot do summers get in South Gate, CA?
The average high peaks at 84 °F in August, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 90280 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Metz at the center of ZIP 90280: loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).
Did spring come early in South Gate, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 90280 came on Jan 17 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in South Gate, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 90280 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.