Skip to main content
Zone 8B — January

What to Plant in January in Zone 8B

January in Zone 8B: 138 crops to start indoors, 31 to plant or direct sow outside, and 0 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 20. Reference city: Houston, TX.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
138 Start Indoors
31 Plant Outside
0 Harvest
Frost risk: High

Frost risk is still high in Zone 8B. The last spring frost typically lands on March 20, with the earliest plausible clearance around February 27. Hold tender crops indoors a while longer.

See full Zone 8B frost outlook →

Start Indoors in January

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Alaska Early Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Black Salsify root vegetable Jan 14 Jan 21 Perennial — see plant page
Broad Windsor Fava Bean legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 13 – Apr 23
Caraway herb Jan 21 Jan 28 Perennial — see plant page
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 3 – Apr 5
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Jan 14 Jan 28 Apr 13
Chervil herb Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Jan 14 Jan 21 Perennial — see plant page
Dandelion herb Jan 21 Jan 28 Perennial — see plant page
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi brassica Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi brassica Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Jan 14 Jan 21 Apr 21 – May 21
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Jan 14 Jan 28 Apr 3 – Apr 13
French Red Shallots allium Jan 14 Jan 21 Apr 21 – May 21
Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Flowers flower Jan 21 Jan 28 May 8 – May 28
Green Arrow Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 3 – Apr 8
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 13 – May 3
Holland Red Shallots allium Jan 14 Jan 21 Apr 21 – May 21
Little Marvel Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 29 – Apr 1
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 6 – Apr 12
Michihili Cabbage brassica Jan 14 Jan 28 Apr 8
Oregon Giant Snow Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 8 – Apr 12
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 29 – Apr 6
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 27 – Mar 31
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Jan 14 Jan 28 Apr 13 – Apr 18
Sugar Ann Snap Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 21 – Mar 25
Tatsoi lettuce Jan 7 Jan 21 Feb 15 – Mar 7
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi brassica Jan 21 Jan 28 Mar 24 – Apr 3
Vienna White Kohlrabi brassica Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 3
Wando Pea legume Jan 21 Jan 28 Apr 1 – Apr 6
Alexandria Alpine Strawberry berry Jan 14 Feb 25 Perennial — see plant page
All Season Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 15 – Apr 25
All Year Round Cauliflower brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
Angelica herb Jan 21 Feb 18 May 9 – May 19
Baby's Breath Flowers flower Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Barletta, Pearly White Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 May 4 – May 9
Blue Flax Flowers flower Jan 28 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
Bouquet Dill herb Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 26 – Apr 10
Brilliant Celeriac root vegetable Jan 7 Feb 18 Jun 8 – Jun 18
Brunswick Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 25 – May 5
Calabrese Broccoli brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
Cardoon (Purple Artichoke Thistle) vegetable Jan 28 Feb 25 Perennial — see plant page
Carentan Leeks allium Jan 14 Feb 4 May 5 – May 25
Catmint herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers flower Jan 28 Feb 4 Apr 10 – Apr 30
Common Sage herb Jan 28 Feb 25 Perennial — see plant page
Copenhagen Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
Crackerjack Mix Marigolds flower Jan 28 Feb 18 Apr 19 – May 4
Crimson Forest Bunching Onions root vegetable Jan 28 Feb 18 Apr 19
Curly Parsley herb Jan 14 Feb 18 Apr 29 – May 9
Daikon Radishes root vegetable Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 21 – Mar 31
Danish Ballhead Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 May 15 – May 25
Dark Green Italian Giant Parsley herb Jan 28 Feb 4 Apr 5 – Apr 20
Di Cicco Broccoli brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
Drumhead Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 May 5 – May 15
Dukat Dill herb Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 16 – Mar 26
Early Purple Broccoli brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
English Thyme herb Jan 21 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
English White Daisy Flowers flower Jan 21 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Evergreen Bunching Onions root vegetable Jan 28 Feb 18 Jun 18
Evergreen Parsley herb Jan 28 Feb 4 Apr 15 – Apr 30
Fenugreek herb Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 11 – Mar 26
Flat-Leaf Parsley herb Jan 14 Feb 18 Apr 29 – May 19
Giant Maximum Mix Snapdragon Flowers flower Jan 21 Feb 18 May 9 – May 24
Giant Musselburgh Leeks allium Jan 14 Feb 4 May 15 – May 20
Glory of Enkhuizen Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 May 5
Golden Acre Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
Golden Celery vegetable Jan 21 Feb 25 May 21 – May 31
Grano Red Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 Jun 18
Grano White Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 Jun 18
Hamburg Rooted Parsley herb Jan 28 Feb 4 May 5 – May 25
Igloo Cauliflower brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10 – Apr 15
Imperial Star Artichoke vegetable Jan 14 Feb 18 May 19 – May 29
Isis Candy Cherry Tomatoes tomato Jan 28 Feb 25 May 6 – May 16
Italian Oregano herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Kellogg's Breakfast tomatoes tomato Jan 28 Feb 25 May 11 – May 21
Mammoth Dill herb Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 21 – Apr 10
Mary Washington Asparagus vegetable Jan 28 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
Matt's Wild Cherry Tomatoes tomato Jan 28 Feb 25 Apr 21 – May 1
Medium Red Clover Cover Crop cover crop Jan 28 Feb 4 Apr 5 – Apr 20
Millennium Asparagus vegetable Jan 28 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
Mrs. Burns Lemon Basil herb Jan 28 Feb 25 Apr 26 – May 6
OG American Flag Leeks allium Jan 14 Feb 4 May 5 – May 15
Ox-Eye Daisy Flowers flower Jan 21 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Paul Robeson tomatoes tomato Jan 28 Feb 25 May 6 – May 21
Purple Passion Asparagus vegetable Jan 28 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
Rapeseed Cover Crop cover crop Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 21 – Apr 15
Rapini Broccoli Raab brassica Jan 28 Feb 4 Apr 10
Red Burgundy Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 Jun 8 – Jun 18
Roman Chamomile herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Rue herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Savoy Perfection Cabbage brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 May 5 – May 10
Scarlet Flax Flowers flower Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 31 – Apr 15
Shasta Daisy Flowers flower Jan 14 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum) lettuce Jan 28 Feb 4 Mar 16 – Mar 31
Snowball Self-Blanche Cauliflower brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
Southport Red Globe Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 Jun 18
Southport White Globe Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 Jun 18
Spanish Sweet White Onions root vegetable Jan 21 Feb 18 Jun 8 – Jun 18
Sparky Mix Marigolds flower Jan 28 Feb 18 Apr 14 – Apr 29
Sweet Marjoram herb Jan 28 Feb 25 May 11 – May 26
Sweet Woodruff herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Tansy herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Tendercrisp Celery vegetable Jan 21 Feb 25 May 21 – Jun 5
Tropical Milkweed Flowers flower Jan 28 Feb 25 Perennial — see plant page
Victoria Rhubarb vegetable Jan 14 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
Violetta Purple Cauliflower brassica Jan 21 Feb 4 Apr 10
White Lisbon Bunching Onions root vegetable Jan 28 Feb 18 Apr 24
Wormwood herb Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop cover crop Jan 28 Feb 4 Apr 5 – May 5
Anaheim Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 20 – May 28
Bhut Jolokia Ghost Pepper pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 Jun 2 – Jul 2
Big Jim Hatch Chile pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 13 – May 18
Broccolini brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 Apr 23 – May 13
Brussels Sprouts brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 May 28 – Jun 22
Caribbean Red Scotch Bonnet Pepper pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 Jun 7 – Jul 2
Carolina Reaper peppers pepper Jan 21 Mar 4 Jun 2 – Jul 2
Cayenne Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 28 – Jun 7
Cherry Bomb peppers pepper Jan 21 Mar 4 May 18 – May 23
Corno di Toro Pepper pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 18 – May 23
Datil peppers pepper Jan 21 Mar 4 Jun 2 – Jun 22
English Lavender herb Jan 28 Mar 4 Perennial — see plant page
Fresno Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 18 – May 23
Green Cabbage brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 May 3 – Jun 12
Green Globe Artichoke vegetable Jan 28 Mar 4 Perennial — see plant page
Habanero Pepper pepper Jan 28 Mar 11 Jun 9 – Jul 9
Hungarian Hot Wax Pepper pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 8 – May 18
Jalapeño Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 8 – May 18
Lemongrass herb Jan 28 Mar 4 Perennial — see plant page
Pinkeye Purple Hull Cowpea legume Jan 7 Mar 4 May 3 – May 13
Poblano Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 8 – May 18
Red Cabbage brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 May 13 – Jun 22
Romanesco brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 May 18 – Jun 12
Serrano Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 13 – May 23
Snow Crown Cauliflower brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 Apr 23 – May 3
Thai Hot Peppers pepper Jan 28 Mar 4 May 18 – May 28
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers pepper Jan 21 Mar 4 May 23 – Jul 2
Waltham 29 Broccoli brassica Jan 28 Mar 4 May 18 – Jun 2

Plant Outside in January

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
Alaska Early Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Black Salsify root vegetable Transplant Jan 21 Perennial — see plant page
Broad Windsor Fava Bean legume Transplant Jan 28 Apr 13 – Apr 23
Caraway herb Transplant Jan 28 Perennial — see plant page
Cascadia Sugar Snap Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Apr 3 – Apr 5
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Jan 28 Apr 13
Chervil herb Transplant Jan 28 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Transplant Jan 21 Perennial — see plant page
Dandelion herb Transplant Jan 28 Perennial — see plant page
Delicatesse Blue Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Jan 28 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Delicatesse White Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Jan 28 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Transplant Jan 21 Apr 21 – May 21
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Transplant Jan 28 Apr 3 – Apr 13
French Red Shallots allium Transplant Jan 21 Apr 21 – May 21
Giant Imperial Mix Larkspur Flowers flower Transplant Jan 28 May 8 – May 28
Green Arrow Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Apr 3 – Apr 8
Hard Red Wheat Cover Crop cover crop Transplant Jan 28 Apr 13 – May 3
Holland Red Shallots allium Transplant Jan 21 Apr 21 – May 21
Little Marvel Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Mar 29 – Apr 1
Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Apr 6 – Apr 12
Michihili Cabbage brassica Transplant Jan 28 Apr 8
Oregon Giant Snow Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Apr 8 – Apr 12
Oregon Sugar Pod Snow Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Mar 29 – Apr 6
Progress No. 9 Shelling Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Mar 27 – Mar 31
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Transplant Jan 28 Apr 13 – Apr 18
Sugar Ann Snap Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Mar 21 – Mar 25
Tatsoi lettuce Transplant Jan 21 Feb 15 – Mar 7
Texas 1015Y SuperSweet Onion root vegetable Transplant Jan 21 May 6 – May 16
Vienna Purple Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Jan 28 Mar 24 – Apr 3
Vienna White Kohlrabi brassica Transplant Jan 28 Apr 3
Wando Pea legume Transplant Jan 28 Apr 1 – Apr 6

Harvest in January

No crops entering harvest in January for Zone 8B.

Key Tasks for January in Zone 8B

  1. 1 Start 138 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. 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. 3 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.
Back to full Zone 8B planting calendar
December January in Zone 8B February

Get a Personalized January Calendar

SoilStack builds your exact planting schedule from your ZIP code — day-by-day tasks, weather prompts, and harvest tracking included.

Start Your Free Garden Calendar