My Planting Calendar

What to plant in January in zone 8

USDA zone 8 has winter lows of 10 to 20°F, a typical last spring frost around Mar 20 and first fall frost around Nov 5, roughly 230 frost-free days. January is the "seed-starting season" there.

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

Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 8 (last frost Mar 20, first frost Nov 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.

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

Zone 8: 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

Seed-starting season: January garden jobs in zone 8

  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.

Questions gardeners ask

What can I plant in zone 8 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.

When are the last and first frost in zone 8?

The typical last spring frost is around Mar 20 and the first fall frost around Nov 5. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.

What should I start indoors in zone 8 in January?

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).

January in states with land in zone 8

AlabamaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaLouisianaMarylandMississippiNevadaNew MexicoNorth CarolinaOklahoma

Zone 8 in other months

FebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecemberZone 8 overview →

What to plant in January in other zones

Zone 6Zone 7Zone 9Zone 10All states →

Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.