Plant... in January?!

That's right.

Most gardeners go in hibernation mode when their gardens look like this, but it didn't even take me a full winter in Chicago to realize that growing nothing just doesn't work for me. I found indoor garden projects I could do and counted down the days till I could start seeds for cool-season plants.

There are things you can grow every single month of the year. Some, if not all, of these things will be grown indoors.

Herbs and vegetables to plant in January fall under two categories: things we can all grow no matter what the weather is doing outside and things that will be more climate-specific to each of us.

Let's look first at seeds we can all plant this month, and then I'll walk you through the steps to figure out what you can plant in January based on your climate.

Herbs and Vegetables to Plant in January No Matter Where You Live

There are three categories of plants we can all grow by seed in the middle of winter:

• Sprouts
• Microgreens
• Herbs

Sprouts can be grown in a matter of days and require no light source. Microgreens take just a bit longer and need a light source and a little more setup. Herbs can be started by seed right now and grown in trays until the weather is right to move them outdoors. These projects are a great way to bring those garden-fresh flavors into your kitchen even when your raised garden beds are covered in six inches of snow.

How to Know What to Plant in January

Knowing which plants you can start by seed indoors in January and which, if any, you can plant outdoors is a bit more complicated than figuring out which indoor gardening projects to do. I'd love to give you a simple list of what to plant in January, but the truth is it will vary depending on where you live. 

Before you can know what you're able to plant in your area, you need to determine which growing season/s you'll be in for the next couple of months, and when you can expect your last frost of winter. From there, you'll work backwards to figure out when you can start plants from seed indoors in anticipation of warmer weather.

Don't worry—I'll walk you through this process step by step!

Step One: Find Your Frost Dates

If you've been a gardener for any period of time or even just been around gardeners, you've probably heard of plant hardiness zones. To scroll through gardening forums online or to follow gardeners on social media is to inevitably see this mantra repeated: "What zone are you in?"

The plant-powers-that-be came up with these zones based on average temperatures and frost dates. I've gardened in so many different zones: zone 9b in Houston, zone 6a in Virginia, zone 5b in Chicago, and now 7a here in Nashville. Here are some of my zones marked on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Maybe you've gardened in lots of different zones like me, or maybe you've only ever gardened in one. Either way, you might have found that knowing your zone doesn't actually tell you much about what you can and can't do in your garden or when. That's because your zone and your frost dates are just starting points.

So let's start here.

Find the predicted first and last frost date for your town or city by checking here or by searching “[your city’s name] first and last frost dates”.

Mine here in Nashville are October 28 and April 6. Since October 28 is so late in the month and April 6 so early, I'll find it simpler to just remember that frost for me can arrive with the month of November and leave with the month of March.

These two dates do not at all tell you when you can and can't garden. I think that's what most people think when they learn their hardiness zone—that these dates are the bookends on their gardening season. In actuality, the only thing your frost dates tell you is when your warm season begins and when your warm season ends. There is still plenty of gardening to do before the last frost date and after the first frost date each year.

Mark your frost dates on your calendar, and let's keep going.

Step Two: Chart Your High and Low Temps

I recommend charting your highs and lows for the whole year so you can plan out your garden for the next 12 months, but you can also just focus on this coming growing season.

Search "high and low temperature for each month in [your city’s name]" or check U.S. Climate Data (RSS Weather is a great source if you're not in the US).

Jot down your average high and low temps for each month.

In Nashville, my average high for January is 47ºF and my low is 28ºF. In February, the average high is 52ºF and the low is 32ºF. In March, it's 61ºF and 39ºF. In April, it's 71ºF and 47ºF. Now I have a great idea what's likely to happen for the next several months in my garden, including that I can look forward to a frost-free period beginning in April.

The temperatures that you find should line up with what you found for your first and last frost date, and give you a really nice picture of what to expect in your garden this season.

Step Three: Label Your Growing Seasons

Use the average high temperature from the monthly chart you created to determine which growing season/s you'll enjoy for the next couple of months.

Here are the numbers you’ll use to label each month:

• If the average high is below 34ºF, then you’re in the Cold Season with a guaranteed chance of frost/snow
• If the average high is between 35ºF and 64ºF, then you’re in the Cool Season with a likely chance of frost/snow
• If the average high is between 65ºF and 84ºF, then you’re in the Warm Season with no chance of frost/snow
• If the average high is above 85ºF, then you’re in the Hot Season with no chance of anything close to cold weather

Knowing your growing seasons (not just your hardiness zone) will give you a much better idea of what's possible in your garden each month. All you have to do now is learn which plants like to grow in your season and which plants can be started now in preparation for your upcoming season.

Step Four: Pick Cool-Season Plants

Many of us experience a cool season in our gardens, though the duration will vary from place to place. Those of you in milder climates may be in your cool season now, while those in colder climates are looking forward to the start of their cool season soon. That means many of us can plant these guys directly outdoors or start seeds for them indoors at the beginning of the new year.

Cool season plants like growing in temperatures that range from 45ºF to about 75ºF. They can tolerate some frost and snow, and some can even survive fairly chilly conditions (especially under frost cloth or cold frames).

Let's look at a list of cool-season plants organized by plant families.

A List of COOL-SEASON Plants

The Onion Family

• Chives
• Garlic
• Onions

Amaranth Family

• Beets
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard

Aster Family

• Buttercrunch
• Calendula
• Chamomile
• Lettuce
• Marigolds
• Radicchio
• Romaine

The Carrot Family

• Carrot
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Fennel
• Parsley

Brassica Family

• Arugula
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Kohlrabi

Fabaceae Family

• Fava Beans
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Sweet Peas

The Mint Family

• Oregano
• Rosemary
• Sage
• Thyme

Step Five: Work Backwards to Figure Out What to Plant in January

If you're in a more moderate climate, these plants can be planted right away. When I lived in Houston, I grew lots of leafy greens throughout the entire winter.

If you're in a colder climate, you'll wait until around late January or February to start some of these indoors so that you can plant them outside around March and get a jumpstart on your growing season. It might sound strange, but we often can start plants way before it's time to plant them in the garden. This isn’t necessary for every plant, just the ones that need at least 75 to 90 days before they’re ready to harvest.

Working backwards using the last frost date you recorded can help you figure out when to start cool-season plants by seed indoors. Typically, you'll start broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and other large cool-season plants indoors 90 to 100 days before your last frost date. Use a calendar to help you count back to find the ideal time to start these plants indoors. Then, count back 45 days before your last frost date to know when you can move these guys out to your garden.

To know when you can plant sugar snap peas, fava beans, and snow peas in your garden, count back 60 days before your last frost date.

Mark your calendar so you never miss a date to plant again!

Don't Stop Planting in January

I'm making it a goal of mine this year to plant seeds every single week, and I hope you'll join me in making growing year round a priority.

This month is also a great time to order seeds for your garden if you haven't already. Here's which seeds to order in January.

Thanks for being here and bringing back the kitchen garden with me!