Seeds to plant in January
Amaranth
Arugula
Asian GreensAmaranth
Arugula
Basil
Beans
Beets
Broccoli Rabe (40 day)
Buckwheat
Carrots
Celery
Chard
CilantroCorn
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Fennel
Herbs
Kale
Leeks
Lemongrass - Culinary
Lettuce
Melons
Mesclun Greens
Mint
Mustard Greens
Onions - Bunching (white)
Peppers
Potatoes (early January)
RadishesSpinach (Matador)
Squash
Tomatoes - Cherry, Grape, 2 to 4 oz
Watermelon
Wheat
Zucchini
Tomatoes
January is a good month to plant cherry, grape, small plum and 2 to 4 oz tomatoes. The smaller tomatoes are less prone to cracking when ripening in the rising temps of spring. These tomatoes are the easiest to dry - just slice them in half, scoop out the seeds and put them in a dehydrator. The tomatoes above are Yellow Furry Boar, a delicious 4 oz tomato from Wild Boar Farms.
Cucurbits
Cucumbers, melons and zucchini are not as heat tolerant as most winter squash. I've found that melons and zucchini grow best when I plant the seeds from late December until early February. When planted in the early winter months they'll finish their growth cycles prior to the return of the melon fruit flies in mid-April and the pickleworms in May.I've had good results planting most varieties of cucumbers in January as they respond well to the increasing daylight and our cooler night-time temps.
Destructive Bugs, Larvae & Disease
See the October newsletter about the cabbageworm, the larvae of a white moth that's a problem during the winter months. Without protective measures, they can destroy the leafy green part of a garden in a short period of time.
