What to plant in January — zone 8b
Zone 8b averages its last spring frost around March 20 and its first fall frost around November 25. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Dormant care
- Prune dormant fruit treesaround Jan 2
Prune apples, pears and peaches while fully dormant — open the center, remove crossing wood.
- Check season-extension geararound Jan 23
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
Start indoors
- Start onions and leeks indoorsaround Jan 9
Alliums need 10-12 weeks under lights before they go out — the earliest sowing of the year.
- Onionaround Jan 9
10 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Match day-length to your latitude — long-day north of 37°, short-day south.
- Rosemaryaround Jan 9
10 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). In zone 6 and below, grow in a pot and overwinter indoors near a south window.
- Pepperaround Jan 23
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Jan 23
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Jan 23
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Jan 23
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Jan 23
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Jan 23
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-20). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
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