Zone 9A — January
What to Plant in January in Zone 9A
January in Zone 9A:
41 crops to start indoors,
23 to plant or direct sow outside, and
1 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages February 15. Reference city: Phoenix, AZ.
Updated April 10, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
41 Start Indoors
23 Plant Outside
1 Harvest
Start Indoors in January
| Plant | Type | Start Indoors | Transplant Outside | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tatsoi | lettuce | Jan 4 | Jan 18 | Feb 12 – Mar 4 |
| Alexandria Alpine Strawberry | berry | Jan 11 | Feb 22 | Jun 2 – Jun 22 |
| Black Beauty Zucchini | squash | Jan 29 | Feb 26 | Apr 12 – Apr 22 |
| Brilliant Celeriac | root_vegetable | Jan 4 | Feb 15 | Jun 5 – Jun 15 |
| Curly Parsley | herb | Jan 11 | Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 6 |
| Daikon Radishes | root_vegetable | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Mar 18 – Mar 28 |
| Flat-Leaf Parsley | herb | Jan 11 | Feb 15 | Apr 26 – May 16 |
| Imperial Star Artichoke | vegetable | Jan 11 | Feb 15 | May 16 – May 26 |
| Isis Candy cherry tomatoes | tomato | Jan 25 | Feb 22 | May 13 – May 23 |
| Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes | tomato | Jan 25 | Feb 22 | May 8 – May 18 |
| Matt's Wild Cherry tomatoes | tomato | Jan 25 | Feb 22 | Apr 18 – May 13 |
| Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil | herb | Jan 25 | Feb 22 | Apr 23 – May 3 |
| Paul Robeson tomatoes | tomato | Jan 25 | Feb 22 | May 3 – May 18 |
| Sweet Marjoram | herb | Jan 25 | Feb 22 | May 8 – May 23 |
| Anaheim Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 17 – May 25 |
| Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 29 |
| Big Jim Hatch Chile | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 15 |
| Broccolini | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | Apr 20 – May 10 |
| Brussels Sprouts | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 25 – Jun 19 |
| California Wonder Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 12 – May 15 |
| Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | Jun 4 – Jun 29 |
| Carolina Reaper peppers | pepper | Jan 18 | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 29 |
| Cayenne Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 25 – Jun 4 |
| Cherry Bomb peppers | pepper | Jan 18 | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Corno di Toro Pepper | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Datil peppers | pepper | Jan 18 | Mar 1 | May 30 – Jun 19 |
| Fresno Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 20 |
| Green Cabbage | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | Apr 30 – Jun 9 |
| Habanero Pepper | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 8 | Jun 6 – Jul 6 |
| Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 15 |
| Jalapeño Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 15 |
| King Arthur Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 2 – May 8 |
| Pinkeye Purple Hull Pea | legume | Jan 4 | Mar 1 | Apr 25 – May 8 |
| Poblano Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 5 – May 15 |
| Red Cabbage | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 10 – Jun 19 |
| Romanesco | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 15 – Jun 9 |
| Serrano Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 10 – May 20 |
| Snow Crown Cauliflower | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | Apr 20 – Apr 30 |
| Thai Hot Peppers | pepper | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 25 |
| Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers | pepper | Jan 18 | Mar 1 | May 20 – Jun 29 |
| Waltham 29 Broccoli | brassica | Jan 25 | Mar 1 | May 15 – May 30 |
Plant Outside in January
| Plant | Type | Action | Target Date | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astro Arugula | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Feb 13 – Mar 4 |
| Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 16 |
| Bok Choy | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 24 |
| Butterhead Lettuce | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 14 – Mar 29 |
| Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) | brassica | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Feb 22 – Mar 14 |
| Curly Kale | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 19 – Mar 29 |
| Endive / Escarole | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 29 |
| Georgia Southern Collard Greens | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 24 – Apr 13 |
| Lacinato Kale | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 24 – Mar 29 |
| Leaf Lettuce Mix | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 19 |
| Mesclun Mix | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Feb 13 – Feb 22 |
| Mizuna | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 4 – Mar 14 |
| Mustard Greens | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Feb 27 – Mar 14 |
| Mâche (Corn Salad) | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 24 – Apr 17 |
| Napa Cabbage | brassica | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Apr 3 – Apr 23 |
| Radicchio | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 24 – Apr 18 |
| Red Leaf Lettuce | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 19 |
| Red Russian Kale | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 14 – Mar 24 |
| Romaine Lettuce | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 29 – Apr 8 |
| Swiss Chard | lettuce | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 14 – Mar 24 |
| Tatsoi | lettuce | Transplant | Jan 18 | Feb 12 – Mar 4 |
| Texas 1015Y SuperSweet Onion | root_vegetable | Transplant | Jan 18 | May 3 – May 13 |
| Winner Kohlrabi | brassica | Direct Sow | Jan 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 14 |
Harvest in January
| Plant | Type | Planted / Sown | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issai hardy kiwi vines | fruit | Feb 1 | Jan 31 |
Key Tasks for January in Zone 9A
- 1 Start 41 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
- 2 Harden off transplants before moving outdoors — set them outside in a sheltered spot for increasing hours over 7–10 days before planting in the ground.
- 3 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
- 4 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
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