Although it is still too early for those of us living in the northern states to start direct sowing outdoors, January is a great time to start sowing hardy, cool season vegetables outdoor if you live in the lower half of the United States.

Here is a breakdown of common vegetables, herbs and flowers you can direct sow in January by USDA zone:

Zones 3–6 (Cool Climate Zones)

In these zones, direct sowing is not advised in the month of January due to the frozen ground and frigid temperatures. However, it is a great time to start some of your vegetables, herbs, and annual flowers indoors or use winter sowing techniques.

• Indoor Sowing:

• Onions, Leeks, Celery, Peppers, Tomatoes

• Herbs (with grow lights): Basil, Chives, Parsley

• Winter Sowing (Outdoor in Milk Jugs or Zip Lock Storage Bags): Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Arugula, Mustard Greens, Lettuce, Radish, Carrots, Poppies, Sweat Peas, Snapdragons, Pansies, Coneflower (Echinacea), Milkweed, Lupine, and Rudbeckia

Zones 7–8 (The Mild Winter Zones)

Mild winters allow for direct sowing of cold hardy vegetables and flowers in these zones.

• Vegetables:

• Leafy Greens: Spinach, Kale, Collards Greens, Arugula, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Pak Choy

• Root Veggies: Carrots, Radishes, Beets

• Brassicas: Broccoli, Cabbage

• Alliums: Onion sets, Garlic and Shallots

• Legumes: Peas (snap and shelling)

• Herbs: Chives, Dill, Parsley, Cilantro, Chamomile, Lavender, Anise Hyssop

• Flowers: Poppies, Coneflower (Echinacea), Sweet Peas, Larkspur, Nigella, Delphinium

Zones 9–11 (The Warm South)

January is prime time to start sowing cool season vegetables, herbs and flowers and some warm season varieties as well.

• Vegetables:

• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, Spinach, Kales, Arugula, Swiss Chard, Mustard Greens, Bok Choy

• Root Veggies: Carrots, Radishes, Beets, Turnips, Parsnips, Kohlrabi, Potatoes

• Alliums: Onion sets, Green Onions, Shallots.

• Legumes: Peas (snow and snap).

• Herbs: Parsley, Cilantro, Dill, Chives

• Flowers: Alyssum, Pansies, Violas, Snapdragons, Sweat Peas, Calendula, Poppies, Echinacea

*Zone 10-11: If chance of frost has passed, can also direct sow cosmos, sunflowers and marigolds.

💡Fun Fact: Did you know January is the peak month for Winter Sowing, a popular low-cost method invented in 2000. Gardeners upcycle plastic milk jugs into mini-greenhouses, leaving them outside in the snow. This protects seeds from birds and heavy rain while allowing them to acclimate to outdoor conditions, eliminating the need to "harden off" plants later.