What to plant in January

In zones 3–6, January is for indoor seed starting (onions, leeks, slow-growing herbs) and ordering seeds/bare-root plants before stock sells out. In zones 7–8, cool-season crops can go directly in the ground or under cover this month. In zones 9–11, a full cool-season planting is

January looks dormant from the outside. But if you garden in zones 7–11, there is planting to do right now. And if you garden anywhere in the US, January is the month to start planning and ordering — the seed racks in March will be picked over. Here's what to plant, start, and order by region.

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Before the first seed tray: check your frost dates

Every timing recommendation in this article is relative to last frost date (LFD). Per Oregon State Extension, "planting dates are meaningless without a last frost date as your anchor." Find your last frost date at your state extension service's planting calendar — links at /planting/.

January planting dates by zone:

• Zone 4–5: Last frost May 15–30. January is 4–5 months before LFD. Suitable for onions, leeks, celery started indoors.
• Zone 6: Last frost April 15–30. January is 3+ months before LFD. Start onions, leeks, slow herbs indoors.
• Zone 7: Last frost March 15–April 15 (varies). January is 6–14 weeks before LFD. Start onions, slow herbs indoors; plant peas, spinach, and kale outdoors late in the month in mild areas.
• Zone 8: Last frost Feb 15–March 15. January is 2–6 weeks before LFD. Direct sow cool-season crops outdoors; transplant leafy greens under frost protection.
• Zone 9–10: Last frost January–February. Cool-season crops are fully in season.
• Zone 11: No frost dates apply; planting is year-round, managed around heat rather than cold.

What to start indoors in January

Onions and leeks (zones 4–8)

Onions and leeks have the longest indoor lead time of any common vegetable. Per Penn State Extension, onion seedlings need 10–12 weeks of indoor growth before transplanting. Starting them in January gives enough lead time for zone 6–8 gardeners to get stocky transplants ready for outdoor planting in March or April.

Sow onion seed 1/4 inch deep in trays or flats. Germination takes 7–14 days at 65–75°F. Per Penn State Extension, "keep seedlings in strong light (grow lights 12–14 hours/day) to prevent leggy growth." Thin to 1 inch spacing. Trim tops when seedlings exceed 4 inches to encourage root development.

Leeks require an even longer lead time than onions — 12–14 weeks. Starting leeks in January is the right timing for zone 6–7 transplanting in April.

Celery and celeriac (zones 5–8)

Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, celery requires 10–12 weeks indoors and is one of the most cold-sensitive vegetables to transplant. Start indoors in January in a warm spot (70–75°F) under grow lights. Germination is slow and unreliable — 14–21 days is normal. Surface-sow; celery seeds require light for germination.

Slow-growing herbs

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): Germinates slowly, 14–21 days. Start indoors in January for transplanting in late spring. Per NC State Extension, rosemary seeds have "low and erratic germination rates" — start extra seed.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): 14–21 days to germinate; slow early growth. Start in January for a June transplant. I grow 'Munstead' lavender from cuttings rather than seed in my zone 7a beds because seed germination is genuinely unreliable, but zone 8–9 gardeners starting from seed do well with a January start date.

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): Notoriously slow — 14–28 days to germinate. Start indoors 10–12 weeks before outdoor transplanting. Pre-soaking seed in warm water for 24 hours improves germination rates per Penn State Extension.

What to direct sow outdoors in January

Zone 9–10: full cool-season garden

January is peak planting season in the Gulf Coast, Southern California, Central California valleys, and Hawaii. Per Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, January is the time to plant or transplant: lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, beets, carrots, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, and collards directly in the garden.

Temperatures in zone 9–10 in January: Average daytime highs of 55–70°F; occasional nights below 32°F. Frost cloth provides protection on the coldest nights. Per Texas A&M AgriLife, "light frost protection extends the planting window significantly" for transplants.

Zone 8: direct sow under cover

Spinach, lettuce, arugula: Per Clemson HGIC, these cool-season crops can be direct-sown outdoors in zone 8 "as early as late January to early February" when soil temperatures reach 35°F (the minimum for spinach germination) to 45°F (for lettuce). Use a cold frame or floating row cover to extend the window.

Peas (Pisum sativum): Zone 8 gardeners can attempt a direct sow of garden peas in late January. Per Clemson HGIC, peas "should be planted as soon as the soil can be worked" in late winter. Pea seeds germinate at soil temperatures as low as 40°F, though 55°F is more reliable.

Zone 7: late January with row cover

Spinach and mâche (corn salad): In a mild zone 7 January (relatively rare on Long Island), cold-hardy spinach varieties like 'Bloomsdale Long Standing' can be direct-sown under row cover or in a cold frame. Per University of Maryland Extension, spinach planted in zone 7 in late January under Reemay will germinate slowly and begin producing by March.

Garlic cloves (if not planted in fall): If you missed fall garlic planting, zone 7 gardeners can still plant cloves in late January with a mulch cover. Growth will be delayed relative to fall-planted garlic, but the plants will catch up by spring. Per Penn State Extension, garlic planted in late winter "may produce smaller bulbs than fall-planted" but will still produce a harvestable crop.

What to do outdoors in January (non-planting tasks)

Order seeds and bare-root plants now

Per UC Cooperative Extension, "seed companies sell out of popular varieties early." Order seeds in January, before the spring rush depletes the most popular tomato, pepper, and flower varieties. Focus on:

• Tomato and pepper varieties (slow to grow, need long indoor lead time)
• Onion and leek varieties (need to start in January–February)
• Any specialty vegetable seeds that require pre-ordering

Bare-root ordering window

January and February are the prime window for ordering bare-root roses, fruit trees, asparagus crowns, and berry bushes. Per University of California Cooperative Extension, bare-root plants are "less expensive, establish more quickly, and are available in greater variety" than container plants. Many mail-order nurseries ship bare-root stock in January–March for immediate planting.

Prune dormant trees and shrubs (zones 5–8)

January is ideal for dormant pruning of fruit trees, roses, and deciduous shrubs. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, pruning in late dormancy (January–February) "reduces the chance of disease entry through wounds" because the wounds begin callusing as growth starts in spring.

Do not prune: Spring-blooming shrubs (forsythia, lilac, azalea, viburnum) in January. These bloom on old wood and winter pruning removes the flower buds.

Cool-season vs. warm-season: January perspective

Regional adjustments

Northeast (zones 5–7)

January is primarily an indoor planning and seed-starting month. Start onions and leeks by January 15–20 if your last frost is mid-April. Per Cornell Cooperative Extension, "starting too early leads to root-bound seedlings" — stay within the 10–12 week window.

Southeast (zones 7–9)

January is an active outdoor gardening month. Plant cool-season vegetables in the ground or under row cover. In zones 8–9 (Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh), transplant kale, broccoli, and cabbage transplants outdoors.

Midwest (zones 4–6)

Indoor planning and early seed starts. No outdoor planting. Per University of Minnesota Extension, "January is the right time to start onion and leek seeds indoors" for the Minnesota and Wisconsin climate.

Pacific Northwest (zones 7–9)

Zone 8 Pacific Northwest (Portland, Seattle suburbs) gardeners can sow spinach, mâche, and arugula under cover in January. Per Oregon State Extension, fava beans can be sown outdoors in late January in the Willamette Valley.

West and Southwest (zones 8–11)

January planting is active in Southern California (zone 9–10). Sow or transplant cool-season vegetables directly in the garden. Per UC Cooperative Extension, January is the last month to plant fall-season vegetables that are still in the ground and the first good month for new cool-season plantings.

State planting calendars

For state-specific last frost dates and vegetable timing, see:

• New York: /planting/ny/
• New Jersey: /planting/nj/
• Pennsylvania: /planting/pa/
• Texas: /planting/tx/
• California: /planting/ca/
• North Carolina: /planting/nc/
• Georgia: /planting/ga/

What I'd do differently

I lost two seasons of onions by starting seed too late (February instead of January) and getting thin, underdeveloped transplants. The fix was obvious in hindsight: onions need 10–12 weeks indoors, and they need to come out of the ground in July before the heat arrives. The arithmetic leaves no room for a late start. January 15 is now a firm date on my calendar for onion seed sowing.

Frequently asked

Is January too early to start tomatoes indoors?

Yes, for most zones. Tomatoes need 6–8 weeks of indoor growth before transplanting. Starting tomatoes in January for a zone 7 last frost of April 15 produces plants that are far too large and root-bound before they can go outside. Start tomatoes in mid-to-late February for most zones 5–7 gardens. Per Penn State Extension, the correct timing is "6–8 weeks before the expected last frost date."

Can I plant tulip bulbs in January?

In zones 3–6, tulip bulbs should have been planted in fall (October–November). If you have unplanted bulbs, try planting them in January — they will often still bloom, though the bloom may be diminished. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, tulip bulbs require a cold stratification period of 12–14 weeks at below 40°F, which they would receive if planted in January in cold-climate zones.

What herbs can I start indoors in January?

Onion family herbs (chives), parsley, rosemary, lavender, thyme, and sage are all suitable for January indoor starts. Basil should not be started until 4–6 weeks before last frost — it needs warm conditions and grows too fast for a January start in most zones.

Sources

1. Penn State Extension — Vegetable Seed Starting
2. Oregon State Extension — Planting Calendar
3. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Vegetable Planting Guide
4. University of Minnesota Extension — Starting Seeds Indoors
5. Cornell Cooperative Extension — Vegetable Planting Calendar
6. Clemson HGIC — Cool-Season Vegetables