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Zone 9A — January

What to Plant in January in Zone 9A

January in Zone 9A: 24 crops to start indoors, 78 to plant or direct sow outside, and 0 entering harvest window. Last frost averages March 4. Reference city: Phoenix, AZ.
Updated May 13, 2026 · Frost data from NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
24 Start Indoors
78 Plant Outside
0 Harvest
Frost risk: High

Frost risk is still high in Zone 9A. The last spring frost typically lands on March 4, with the earliest plausible clearance around February 5. Hold tender crops indoors a while longer.

See full Zone 9A frost outlook →

Start Indoors in January

Plant Type Start Indoors Transplant Outside Harvest Window
Black Salsify root vegetable Jan 28 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
California Bluebell flower Jan 26 Feb 2 Mar 29 – Apr 8
Carentan Leeks allium Jan 28 Feb 18 May 19 – Jun 8
Charleston Wakefield Cabbage brassica Jan 28 Feb 11 Apr 27
Chinese Forget-Me-Not Flowers flower Jan 26 Feb 2 Apr 8 – Apr 28
Crimson Cherry Rhubarb Root vegetable Jan 28 Feb 4 Perennial — see plant page
Dutch Yellow Shallots allium Jan 28 Feb 4 May 5 – Jun 4
Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage brassica Jan 28 Feb 11 Apr 17 – Apr 27
French Red Shallots allium Jan 28 Feb 4 May 5 – Jun 4
Giant Maximum Mix Snapdragon Flowers flower Jan 21 Feb 18 May 9 – May 24
Giant Musselburgh Leeks allium Jan 28 Feb 18 May 29 – Jun 3
Holland Red Shallots allium Jan 28 Feb 4 May 5 – Jun 4
Michihili Cabbage brassica Jan 28 Feb 11 Apr 22
OG American Flag Leeks allium Jan 28 Feb 18 May 19 – May 29
Rapeseed Cover Crop cover crop Jan 26 Feb 2 Mar 19 – Apr 13
Red Acre Cabbage brassica Jan 28 Feb 11 Apr 27 – May 2
Victoria Rhubarb vegetable Jan 28 Feb 18 Perennial — see plant page
Viola and pansy edible flowers flower Jan 14 Feb 18 Apr 19 – Apr 29
Yellow Sweet Blossom Clover Cover Crop cover crop Jan 26 Feb 2 Apr 3 – May 3
Brilliant Celeriac root vegetable Jan 21 Mar 4 Jun 22 – Jul 2
Curly Parsley herb Jan 28 Mar 4 May 13 – May 23
Flat-Leaf Parsley herb Jan 28 Mar 4 May 13 – Jun 2
Imperial Star Artichoke vegetable Jan 28 Mar 4 Jun 2 – Jun 12
Shasta Daisy Flowers flower Jan 28 Mar 4 Perennial — see plant page

Plant Outside in January

Plant Type Action Target Date Harvest Window
All Year Round lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 28 – Apr 6
America lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 7 – Mar 19
Astro Arugula lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Feb 13 – Mar 4
Black Seeded Simpson lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 10
Blonde de Paris lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 16
Blue Curled Scotch lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 19 – Mar 24
Bok Choy lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 24
Broadleaf Classic lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Broadleaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Perennial — see plant page
Burgundy Boston lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 19
Buttercrunch lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 10 – Mar 19
Butterhead Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 29
Canary Yellow lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) brassica Direct Sow Jan 23 Feb 22 – Mar 14
Crisphead lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Apr 1 – Apr 8
Curly Kale lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 19 – Mar 29
Dark Green Romaine lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Apr 3
Dutch Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Endive / Escarole lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 29
Florida Broadleaf lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Fordhook Giant lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 19
French Lamb's Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Full Heart Batavian lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Apr 18 – Apr 23
Georgia Southern Collard Greens lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Apr 13
Giant Red lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9
Green Ice lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9
Green Wave lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9
Hot Pink lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Iceberg lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Apr 1 – Apr 8
Kagraner Sommer lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 22
Lacinato Kale lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Mar 29
Large Leaf Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Perennial — see plant page
Leaf Lettuce Mix lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 19
Little Gem lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 20
Lollo Bionda lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Lollo Rossa lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 17 – Mar 20
Magenta Sunset lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 19 – Mar 24
Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 24
Matador Viking lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 12
Mesclun Mix lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Feb 13 – Feb 22
Mizuna lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Monstrueux de Viroflay lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 14
Morris Heading lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Apr 8 – Apr 13
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
New Zealand Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Noble Giant lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 10 – Mar 14
Old Fashion lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 14
Orange lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 19
Premier lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Radicchio lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Apr 18
Rainbow Mix lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Red Leaf Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 19
Red Romaine lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Apr 3
Red Russian Kale lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Red Vein Sorrel lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Perennial — see plant page
Red-Stem Malabar Spinach lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 19 – Apr 3
Romaine Lettuce lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 29 – Apr 8
Ruby Red lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 19 – Mar 24
Salad Bowl Green lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 13 – Mar 14
Siberian Dwarf lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 19
Summer Bibb lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 19 – Mar 24
Swiss Chard lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 24
Tango lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Feb 24 – Mar 4
Tatsoi lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Feb 17 – Mar 9
Tendergreen lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Tom Thumb lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Apr 3
Tuscany Black lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Apr 8
Vates Collard lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 24 – Apr 8
Vates Kale lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 14 – Mar 19
Verona Red lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Apr 18 – Apr 25
White Boston lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 4 – Mar 14
Winner Kohlrabi brassica Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 14
Winter Density lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 18 – Mar 24
Winter Giant lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 Mar 9 – Mar 14
Witloof White lettuce Direct Sow Jan 23 May 9 – Jun 1

Harvest in January

Nothing to harvest in January for Zone 9A.
Next window: February — 6 varieties, including Astro Arugula, Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan), Mesclun Mix.

Key Tasks for January in Zone 9A

  1. 1 Start 24 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 Direct sow seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. Keep the seedbed consistently moist until germination is complete.
  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 9A planting calendar
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