My Planting Calendar

What to plant in January in Mississippi

In Mississippi (MS), January sits about 9 weeks before the average last frost (March 20). The state averages 230 frost-free days a year (last frost March 20, first frost November 5; USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a).

29 crops have a sowing or planting window this month - and 1 of those windows close during January.

Dates here come from Mississippi frost dates (last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 5). For one crop in detail, see when to plant onion, eggplant or bell pepper in Mississippi.

Seed-starting seasonSow or plant: 29Start indoors: 29Harvesting: 0

Mississippi: planting activity through the year

29
61
86
58
9
9
14
30
27
3
2
2
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Frost riskFrost-free: Mar 20 – Nov 5
Bars count the vegetables, herbs and fruit with a sowing or planting window in each month, from the state’s average frost dates. 29 have one in January; the busiest month is March (86).

Last chance in January

Celeriac (start seeds indoors, by Jan 9)

Start seeds indoors in January (29)

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 indoorsDec 26 – Jan 9Last chance - ends Jan 9
CeleryStart seeds indoorsJan 2 – Jan 16Jan 2 – Jan 16
LeekStart seeds indoorsJan 2 – Jan 16Jan 2 – Jan 16
OnionStart seeds indoorsJan 2 – Jan 16Jan 2 – Jan 16
RosemaryStart seeds indoorsJan 2 – Jan 16Jan 2 – Jan 16
EggplantStart seeds indoorsJan 9 – Jan 23Jan 9 – Jan 23
ParsleyStart seeds indoorsJan 9 – Jan 23Jan 9 – Jan 23
ShallotStart seeds indoorsJan 9 – Jan 23Jan 9 – Jan 23
Bell PepperStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
Chili PepperStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
GingerStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
Green Onion / ScallionStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
MintStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
OreganoStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
SageStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
TarragonStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
ThymeStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
TurmericStart seeds indoorsJan 16 – Jan 30Jan 16 – Jan 30
Ground CherryStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
Lemon BalmStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
Shiso (Perilla)Start seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
Sweet MarjoramStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
TomatilloStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
TomatoStart seeds indoorsJan 23 – Feb 6Opens Jan 23
BroccoliStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
Brussels SproutsStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
CabbageStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
CauliflowerStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30
KaleStart seeds indoorsJan 30 – Feb 13Opens Jan 30

Planting dates for popular crops in Mississippi

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

When to plant onion in Mississippi →When to plant eggplant in Mississippi →When to plant bell pepper in Mississippi →When to plant chili pepper in Mississippi →When to plant tomato in Mississippi →When to plant broccoli in Mississippi →When to plant cabbage in Mississippi →When to plant cauliflower in Mississippi →Mississippi frost dates by zone →

Seed-starting season: January garden jobs in Mississippi

  1. Start 29 crops indoors this month, including celeriac, celery, leek, onion. Use a sterile mix and good light - see starting seeds indoors.
  2. 9 weeks until the average last frost (March 20). The seed-starting calculator works out each crop's exact sowing date from it.
  3. Keep seedlings from stretching: lights 2-3 inches above the leaves for 14-16 hours a day, and a fan or a daily brush of the hand across the tops.
  4. Prepare beds as soon as the soil crumbles instead of smearing when squeezed - working wet soil ruins its structure for the season.

USDA zone chart for Mississippi

Mississippi spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. 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 7Apr 5Oct 25200 days
Zone 8Mar 20Nov 5230 days
Zone 9Feb 20Nov 30280 days

Questions gardeners ask

What vegetables can I plant in Mississippi in January?

29 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 Mississippi in January?

No - start seeds indoors runs Jan 23 – Feb 6 in Mississippi.

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

Not too late - it's actually a little early. In Mississippi the next lettuce window opens around February 13: start seeds indoors.

When is the first frost in Mississippi?

The statewide average first fall frost is around November 5 and the last spring frost around March 20. Your town can be a week or two either side - look yours up by ZIP code.

What should I start indoors in January in Mississippi?

Celeriac (Dec 26 – Jan 9), Celery (Jan 2 – Jan 16), Leek (Jan 2 – Jan 16), Onion (Jan 2 – Jan 16), Rosemary (Jan 2 – Jan 16), Eggplant (Jan 9 – Jan 23), Parsley (Jan 9 – Jan 23), Shallot (Jan 9 – Jan 23), Bell Pepper (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Chili Pepper (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Ginger (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Green Onion / Scallion (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Mint (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Oregano (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Sage (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Tarragon (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Thyme (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Turmeric (Jan 16 – Jan 30), Ground Cherry (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Lemon Balm (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Shiso (Perilla) (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Sweet Marjoram (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Tomatillo (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Tomato (Jan 23 – Feb 6), Broccoli (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Brussels Sprouts (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Cabbage (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Cauliflower (Jan 30 – Feb 13), Kale (Jan 30 – Feb 13).

← December in MississippiFebruary in Mississippi →Full-year Mississippi planting calendar →Mississippi frost dates →

What to plant in January in other states

AlabamaArkansasFloridaLouisianaArizonaCaliforniaConnecticutDelawareAll states →

Dates are computed from Mississippi’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.