What to plant in January — zone 10a
Zone 10a averages its last spring frost around January 30 and its first fall frost around December 25. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Garden care
- Harden off early transplantsaround Jan 2
Two weeks of increasing outdoor time keeps cold-hardy seedlings from stalling when they go out.
Start indoors
- Lettucearound Jan 2
4 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Succession sow every 2 weeks. Harvest outer leaves for a cut-and-come-again supply.
- Cucumberaround Jan 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Trellis vertically to double yield in the same footprint and cut mildew.
- Zucchiniaround Jan 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). One plant feeds a family. Pick at 6-8 in for the sweetest fruit.
- Winter squasharound Jan 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Cure 10 days in a warm dry spot after harvest — the skin toughens and storage doubles.
- Watermelonaround Jan 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Ripe = tendril nearest the fruit is brown and the ground spot has turned buttery yellow.
- Cantaloupe / Melonaround Jan 9
3 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (01-30). Ripe fruit slips off the vine with a gentle tug — the smell alone tells you.
Direct sow
- Lettucearound Jan 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Spinacharound Jan 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Radisharound Jan 2
Soil is ready -4 weeks before last frost.
- Carrotaround Jan 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Kalearound Jan 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Beetaround Jan 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Onionaround Jan 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Broccoliaround Jan 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Chivesaround Jan 9
Soil is ready -3 weeks before last frost.
- Potatoaround Jan 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Cilantroaround Jan 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Parsleyaround Jan 16
Soil is ready -2 weeks before last frost.
- Dillaround Jan 30
Soil is ready 0 weeks after last frost.
Transplant out
- Kalearound Jan 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Broccoliaround Jan 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Chivesaround Jan 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Jan 9
Goes out 3 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Lettucearound Jan 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Onionaround Jan 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Strawberryaround Jan 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Parsleyaround Jan 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Mintaround Jan 16
Goes out 2 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Turn this into your own calendar
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