What to plant in January: zone 6b
Zone 6b averages its last spring frost around April 25 and its first fall frost around October 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Plan & order
- Inventory and order seedaround Jan 3
Sort what you already have, toss anything over 3 years old, and order early while varieties are in stock.
- Map this year's bedsaround Jan 10
Rotate families off last year's ground. Nightshades, brassicas and cucurbits each move to a new bed.
- Soil testaround Jan 17
A $20 test now tells you what to amend before planting instead of guessing all season.
Dormant care
- Sharpen and oil toolsaround Jan 24
Clean, sharpen and oil blades while there's time. Dull tools bruise plants and slow you down.
Start indoors
- Sow microgreens indoorsaround Jan 31
A tray on the windowsill gives you a cut of fresh greens every 10-14 days through the cold months.
Direct sow
- Rutabagaaround Jan 31
Soil is ready -12 weeks before last frost.
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