Debbie, I had one more thought to add to Rick's good discussion on zones for you. I am in zone 10-ish as well. I judge "when to plant what" much more by how warm the weather is expected to be, and don't worry much about cold, although we do (very rarely) get below 40, and even have had frost a few winters since I've been here. I have covers ready for cold nights in that event.
You need to look at the edibles you're growing and ask yourself "Do they need cooler weather to grow well?". Seed packets often have this info, or of course you can ask us. Here, things like salad greens, peas, anything related to cabbage like broccoli and kale, plus some of the root veggies like carrots and beets do much better in the winter, when the temps are rarely over 80 and the nights are reliably cool. I can start these plants indoors (in the a/c) in September but really can't put them outside until after a couple of cold fronts have reached this far south, and the Gulf water is starting to cool off. That's when the nights get cool enough to give the plants a nightly rest - usually mid-October.
Your USDA hardiness zone information doesn't tell you anything about how warm it is in spring, summer and fall. Only how cold it gets in your average winter. It's important to watch the weather forecasts for temperature fluctuations, and act accordingly to protect your plants from either cold or heat.
One of the best things you learn as a gardener is to be pro-active. You can prevent a lot of plant problems by anticipating them and being prepared.
