What to plant in January
What to start indoors, plant or sow outside, and harvest in January, for every hardiness zone from 3a to 10b. Find your zone, or enter your ZIP code for dates made for exactly where you live.
January in each zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | Harvest (food crops) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | — | — |
| Zone 3b | — | — | — |
| Zone 4a | — | — | — |
| Zone 4b | Onion, Pansy / viola | — | — |
| Zone 5a | Onion, Pansy / viola | — | — |
| Zone 5b | Onion, Pansy / viola | — | — |
| Zone 6a | Onion, Leeks, Pansy / viola | — | — |
| Zone 6b | Onion, Leeks, Artichoke, Chives, Pansy / viola | — | — |
| Zone 7a | Kale, Cabbage, Onion, Parsley, Collard greens, Leeks, Artichoke, Chives, Lovage, Garlic chives, Snapdragon, Pansy / viola | — | — |
| Zone 7b | Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Onion, Parsley, Collard greens, Leeks, Celery, Artichoke, Chives, Lavender, Celeriac, Lovage, Garlic chives, Snapdragon, Black-eyed Susan, Petunia, Pansy / viola, Salvia, Vinca | — | — |
| Zone 8a | Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Parsley, Brussels sprouts, Collard greens, Leeks, Celery, Artichoke, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Lemon balm, Lavender, Celeriac, Catnip, Lovage, Garlic chives, Snapdragon, Black-eyed Susan, Petunia, Impatiens, Salvia, Vinca, Coleus | — | — |
| Zone 8b | Pepper, Eggplant, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Parsley, Brussels sprouts, Collard greens, Celery, Artichoke, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Lemon balm, Lavender, Sweet alyssum, Hot pepper, Radicchio, Napa cabbage, Celeriac, Stevia, Marjoram, Catnip, Lovage, Garlic chives, Snapdragon, Black-eyed Susan, Petunia, Impatiens, Salvia, Vinca, Coleus | Spinach, Peas, Snap peas, Mâche, Fava beans, Sweet pea | — |
| Zone 9a | Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Parsley, Brussels sprouts, Collard greens, Celery, Tomatillo, Ground cherry, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Lemon balm, Lavender, Sweet alyssum, Cherry tomato, Hot pepper, Radicchio, Napa cabbage, Celeriac, Stevia, Marjoram, Catnip, Lovage, Garlic chives, Snapdragon, Black-eyed Susan, Petunia, Impatiens, Salvia, Vinca, Coleus | Spinach, Radish, Peas, Onion, Snap peas, Mâche, Fava beans, Sweet pea | — |
| Zone 9b | Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Sweet potato, Cauliflower, Basil, Brussels sprouts, Tomatillo, Ground cherry, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Lemon balm, Marigold, Sweet alyssum, Cherry tomato, Hot pepper, Radicchio, Napa cabbage, Malabar spinach, Cucamelon, Thai basil, Stevia, Marjoram, Catnip, Strawflower, Impatiens, Coleus | Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Peas, Potato, Onion, Onion, Cilantro, Arugula, Bok choy, Collard greens, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Turnip, Shallots, Scallions, Snap peas, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Horseradish, Strawberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Honeyberry, Chives, Mâche, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Fava beans, Sorrel, Blackberry, Raspberry, Grape, Currant, Gooseberry, Elderberry, Apple tree, Pear tree, Peach tree, Apricot tree, Cherry tree, Plum tree, Chervil, Sweet pea, Bachelor's button, Pansy / viola, Crimson clover, Oats, White clover | — |
| Zone 10a | Tomato, Eggplant, Sweet potato, Basil, Cannabis regular, Tomatillo, Ground cherry, Marigold, Cherry tomato, Malabar spinach, Cucamelon, Thai basil, Stevia, Strawflower | Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Peas, Swiss chard, Potato, Onion, Onion, Cilantro, Parsley, Arugula, Bok choy, Brussels sprouts, Collard greens, Kohlrabi, Mustard greens, Leeks, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Turnip, Shallots, Scallions, Snap peas, Artichoke, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Horseradish, Strawberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Honeyberry, Chives, Mint, Chamomile, Calendula, Sweet alyssum, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Mâche, Mizuna, Tatsoi, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Broccoli raab, Fava beans, Sorrel, Sunchoke, Blackberry, Raspberry, Grape, Currant, Gooseberry, Elderberry, Apple tree, Pear tree, Peach tree, Apricot tree, Cherry tree, Plum tree, Catnip, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives, Sweet pea, Snapdragon, Bachelor's button, Phacelia, Black-eyed Susan, Pansy / viola, Peony, Rose, Crimson clover, Oats, White clover | Radish, Asparagus |
| Zone 10b | Sweet potato, Cannabis regular | Tomato, Pepper, Cucumber, Zucchini / Summer squash, Winter squash, Pumpkin, Sweet corn, Green beans, Dry beans, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Swiss chard, Potato, Basil, Cannabis auto, Cannabis regular, Cilantro, Parsley, Dill, Bok choy, Brussels sprouts, Leeks, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Celery, Artichoke, Pole beans, Lima beans, Edamame, Tomatillo, Horseradish, Ground cherry, Strawberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry, Chives, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Lemon balm, Fennel, Chamomile, Tarragon, Lavender, Borage, Marigold, Nasturtium, Zinnia, Calendula, Cosmos, Sweet alyssum, Sunflower, Cherry tomato, Hot pepper, Endive / escarole, Radicchio, Napa cabbage, Daikon radish, Celeriac, Sunchoke, Malabar spinach, Amaranth, Peanuts, Popcorn, Cucamelon, Blackberry, Raspberry, Grape, Elderberry, Fig, Apple tree, Pear tree, Peach tree, Apricot tree, Cherry tree, Plum tree, Thai basil, Lemongrass, Stevia, Summer savory, Marjoram, Catnip, Chervil, Lovage, Garlic chives, Snapdragon, Phacelia, Strawflower, Dahlia, Gladiolus, Coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Milkweed, Petunia, Impatiens, Geranium, Begonia, Salvia, Coleus, Hosta, Daylily, Peony, Rose, Buckwheat, White clover | Spinach, Radish, Arugula, Asparagus, Rhubarb |
These follow each zone's average frost dates, and include fall crops. Crops planted in fall for next year (garlic, spring bulbs) show under planting.
Tips for January
- Don't start seeds too early. Tomatoes need about 6 to 8 weeks indoors, and peppers 8 to 10; squash and cucumbers only 3 to 4. Seedlings kept inside too long outgrow their pots and stall when you plant them out.
- Choose varieties bred for pots. Look for words like patio, bush, dwarf, or compact on the seed packet or plant tag. They stay small but still produce well, where a full-size tomato or squash would soon outgrow the pot.
- Clean and sharpen tools in the fall. Scrape off the soil, sharpen the edges, and wipe the metal with a little oil. Tools won't rust over winter, and clean pruners don't spread disease.
- Put tall crops on the north side. Corn, trellised vines, and tall tomatoes cast long shadows. Plant them on the north side of the garden so they don't shade shorter crops.
For a garden in the middle of the country (around zone 6). Colder places run a few weeks behind, warmer ones ahead.