Pacific Beach Gardening

Sunset Climate Zone 24 for Pacific Beach Gardening

Pacific Beach is a community in San Diego, with neighboring La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach and Mission Bay to the south, Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. “P.B.,” as it is known as by local residents, is home to one of San Diego’s amazing nightlife scene, with a great variety of bars, eateries, and clothing stores—often with a great view of the ocean.

Pacific Beach is classified Climate Zone 24. Stretched along Southern California’s beaches, this climate zone is almost completely influenced by the ocean. Where the beach runs along high cliffs or palisades, Zone 24 extends only to that barrier. But where hills are low or nonexistent, it runs inland several miles. This zone has a mild marine climate because south of Point Conception, the Pacific is comparatively warm. The winters are mild, the summers cool, and the air seldom really dry. On many days in spring and early summer, the sun doesn’t break through the high overcast until afternoon. Tender perennials like geraniums and impatiens rarely go out of bloom here; spathiphyllums and pothos become outdoor plants; and tender palms are safe from killing frosts. In this climate, gardens that include such plants as ornamental figs, rubber trees, and scheffleras can become jungles. The all-time high temperatures aren’t greatly significant in terms of plant growth. The average all-time high of weather stations in Zone 24 is 105°F. Record heat usually comes in early October, carried to the coast by Santa Ana winds. The wind’s power and dryness usually causes more problems than the heat itself—but you can ameliorate scorching with frequent sprinkling—though  difficult in draught conditions.