My Planting Calendar

What to plant in January in Arkansas

In Arkansas (AR), January sits about 11 weeks before the average last frost (April 3). The state averages 212 frost-free days a year (last frost April 3, first frost November 1; USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a).

18 crops have a sowing or planting window this month.

Dates here come from Arkansas frost dates (last frost Apr 3, first frost Nov 1). For one crop in detail, see when to plant onion, eggplant or bell pepper in Arkansas.

A planning monthSow or plant: 18Start indoors: 18Harvesting: 0

Arkansas: planting activity through the year

18
46
70
78
40
9
15
31
21
1
2
0
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Apr 3 – Nov 1
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 18 have one in January; the busiest month is April (78).

Start seeds indoors in January (18)

Indoor sowings for transplants later. Six to eight weeks under lights is typical for tomatoes and peppers; onions and leeks need longer.

CropWhat to doWindowThis month
CeleriacStart seeds indoorsJan 9 – Jan 23Jan 9 – Jan 23
CeleryStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
LeekStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
OnionStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
RosemaryStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
EggplantStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
ParsleyStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
ShallotStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
Bell PepperStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
Chili PepperStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
GingerStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
Green Onion / ScallionStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
MintStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
OreganoStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
SageStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
TarragonStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
ThymeStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
TurmericStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Arkansas

Every crop has its own full-year dates for Arkansas: indoor start, transplant or direct sowing, and harvest.

When to plant onion in Arkansas →When to plant eggplant in Arkansas →When to plant bell pepper in Arkansas →When to plant chili pepper in Arkansas →When to plant tomato in Arkansas →When to plant lettuce in Arkansas →When to plant garlic in Arkansas →When to plant carrot in Arkansas →Arkansas frost dates by zone →

A planning month: January garden jobs in Arkansas

  1. Order seed while stock is good. Arkansas's average last frost is April 3, so the first indoor sowings begin around January 9 - see starting seeds indoors.
  2. Sketch this year's beds and move each crop family to a new spot - the garden planner and the crop rotation guide make it quick.
  3. Test old seed: roll ten seeds in a damp paper towel for a week. If fewer than seven sprout, sow thicker or buy fresh.
  4. If the ground isn't frozen, spread compost now so it's worked in by spring, and send off a soil test - January is when labs are quiet.

USDA zone chart for Arkansas

Arkansas spans USDA zones 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average.

ZoneLast frostFirst frostSeason
Zone 6Apr 15Oct 15185 days
Zone 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Arkansas in January?

18 crops have a window in January: celeriac, celery, leek, onion, rosemary, eggplant, parsley, shallot, bell pepper, chili pepper and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.

Is it too late to plant tomatoes in Arkansas in January?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Arkansas the next tomato window opens around February 6: start seeds indoors.

Is it too late to plant lettuce in Arkansas in January?

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Arkansas the next lettuce window opens around February 27: start seeds indoors.

When is the first frost in Arkansas?

The statewide average first fall frost is around November 1 and the last spring frost around April 3. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What should I start indoors in January in Arkansas?

Celeriac (Jan 9 – Jan 23), Celery (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Leek (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Onion (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Rosemary (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Eggplant (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Parsley (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Shallot (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Bell Pepper (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Chili Pepper (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Ginger (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Green Onion / Scallion (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Mint (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Oregano (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Sage (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Tarragon (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Thyme (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Turmeric (Jan 30 – Feb 13).

February in Arkansas →Full-year Arkansas planting calendar →Arkansas frost dates →

What to plant in January in other states

AlabamaFloridaLouisianaMississippiArizonaCaliforniaConnecticutDelawareAll states →

Dates are computed from Arkansas’s statewide average frost dates (from NOAA/NCEI climate normals) and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side - for dates tuned to your ZIP code, use the planting calendar.