What to Plant in January
January sits at the heart of the Florida Zone 9 cool-season garden. Leafy greens, root vegetables, peas, and brassicas can continue growing while the gardener also begins quietly preparing for the warm season ahead.
January at a Glance
January is both a growing month and a planning month. Cool-season crops continue to thrive outdoors, while some warm-season vegetables can begin their journey indoors or in another protected location. Frosts and freezes remain possible, so keep an eye on nighttime temperatures and be ready to protect tender plants.
Vegetables
Keep the cool-season garden productive with another round of root vegetables, greens, and peas. January is also when we can begin starting a few warm-season favorites for transplanting after cold weather begins to retreat.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Carrots
Sow directly into loose soil and keep the surface moist during germination. Thin seedlings so developing roots have room to grow.
Radishes
Continue sowing small batches for quick harvests throughout the winter garden.
Beets
Direct sow into fertile, well-drained soil. Both the roots and tender young leaves are useful in the kitchen.
Turnips
Sow directly for edible roots and greens. Thin seedlings as needed to allow the roots to develop.
English Peas
Direct sow during the cool weather and provide support for climbing varieties.
Arugula
Sow small amounts at intervals for tender leaves and a continued winter harvest.
Leaf Lettuce
Continue succession sowing rather than planting everything at once for a longer supply of fresh leaves.
Mustard Greens
Direct sow into raised beds, pots, or grow bags for a dependable cool-season crop.
Spinach
Take advantage of January's cool temperatures by sowing directly into fertile soil with consistent moisture.
Swiss Chard
Direct sow and thin young seedlings as they grow. Chard works especially well in raised beds and larger containers.
Start for Transplanting Later
Tomatoes
Begin seeds in a warm, protected location for transplanting after the danger of frost has passed and the garden begins warming.
Peppers
Start seeds indoors or in another warm location. Peppers germinate best with warmth and need time to develop before spring planting.
Eggplant
Start seeds with plenty of warmth for sturdy transplants that will be ready when warm-season conditions return.
Broccoli
Start a final succession of seedlings for transplanting while enough cool weather remains for the plants to mature.
Cabbage
Start another small planting for later transplanting into available garden space.
Kale
Start additional seedlings for transplanting and continued harvests through the remainder of the cool season.
Flowers
January continues to favor cool-season flowers, but it is also a useful time to begin thinking ahead to flowers for the warmer months that follow.
Direct Sow in the Garden
Calendula
Sow directly into sunny beds or containers for bright cool-season flowers.
Sweet Alyssum
Sow lightly in beds, along garden edges, or in containers for small fragrant blooms.
Baby's Breath
Direct sow into a sunny, well-drained location for delicate flowers during the cooler months.
Larkspur
Sow directly during cool weather in a sunny garden location with well-drained soil.
Start for Transplanting Later
Snapdragons
Start seeds for additional cool-season plants that can be transplanted into sunny beds and containers.
Dianthus
Start seeds for transplanting while cool growing conditions remain favorable.
Petunias
Start seeds in a protected location for transplanting into sunny containers and garden beds.
Verbena
Begin plants for sunny beds, borders, and containers as the garden gradually moves toward spring.
Marigolds
Start seeds in a protected location for transplanting once warmer conditions begin returning to the garden.
Zinnias
Toward the latter part of the month, seeds can be started in a warm protected location for planting during the coming warm season.
January Planting Notes
- January can bring some of the coldest nights of the Florida gardening year, so keep frost protection available for tender plants.
- Continue succession sowing radishes, lettuce, arugula, and other quick-growing cool-season vegetables.
- Water according to soil moisture rather than the calendar. Containers and raised beds may dry slowly during cool weather.
- Watch brassicas such as broccoli, cabbage, and kale for caterpillar feeding even during winter.
- Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants started now need warmth and protection. They are being prepared for the coming warm season, not planted outside yet.
- January is a good time to review seed supplies and prepare pots, trays, and growing areas for the transition toward spring.