What to plant in January in Florida

Worked out for 9 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in January in Florida, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Miami and Fort Myers): peas, onion, spinach, lettuce, radish and 40 more; frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F (Jacksonville, Tampa and 4 more): broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, radish and 35 more; frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Pensacola): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 40 more.

In Florida, January is winter.

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Miami and Fort Myers

In January, on average, these cities have highs of 74 to 75 °F and lows of 56 to 61 °F, 2.4 to 3.0 in of rain on 7 to 10 days; the day lasts 10 h 39 min to 10 h 42 min (on the 15th).

No frost in January in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Peas, beet, zucchini, green beans, pumpkin, sweet corn, parsley, cilantro, basil, arugula, bok choy, borage, chamomile, chayote, corn, dill, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, mustard greens, Napa cabbage, peanut, soybean	all
plant sets	Onion	Miami
sow direct	Spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi, turnip	Miami
set out transplants	Cauliflower	Miami
set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in March	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper	all
start indoors, plant out in February	Cucumber, melon	Fort Myers
sow direct	Watermelon, okra	Fort Myers
start indoors, plant out in February	Achocha	all
start indoors, plant out in April	Celeriac, celery	all
sow direct or start indoors, plant out in March	Moringa	all

Compared with December: no longer sown — broad bean, chickpea and shallot.

Ready to harvest in January in Fort Myers, if sown in the right month: zucchini (November), green beans (November), watermelon (October), pumpkin (September), sweet corn (October), basil (November), arugula (December) and bok choy (November).

Frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F: Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Tallahassee and 2 more

In January, on average, these cities have highs of 62 to 69 °F and lows of 44 to 55 °F, 2.4 to 4.6 in of rain on 7 to 9 days; the day lasts 10 h 23 min to 10 h 34 min (on the 15th).

January falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Jacksonville (January 23), Tampa (January 18), Orlando (January 18), Tallahassee (January 22), Gainesville (January 22) and St. Petersburg (January 18).

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, peas, radish, cabbage, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, dill, mustard greens	all
plant sets	Onion, shallot	all
sow direct	Lettuce, Swiss chard, kohlrabi	Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville and 1 more
sow direct	Carrot, broccoli, daikon, kale, parsnip	Tallahassee
start indoors, plant out in February	Cauliflower	Tallahassee
start indoors, plant out in March	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringa	all
start indoors, plant out in February	Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha, bok choy, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, peanut	all
start indoors, plant out in April	Celeriac, celery, chayote	all
start indoors, plant out in February	Okra	Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 2 more

Compared with December: new — zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha and 6 more; no longer sown — spinach and Brussels sprouts.

Not starting in January: green beans (February, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Gainesville.

Ready to harvest in January in Gainesville, if sown in the right month: peas (November), lettuce (November), radish (December), carrot (November), Swiss chard (November), beet (November), pumpkin (September) and parsley (November).

Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Pensacola

In January, on average, Pensacola has highs of 61 °F and lows of 46 °F, 5.0 in of rain on 11 days; the day lasts 10 h 23 min (on the 15th).

January falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Pensacola (January 26).

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, daikon, dill, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, parsnip	Pensacola
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Pensacola
start indoors, plant out in February	Cauliflower, zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha, bok choy, kiwano, Napa cabbage, peanut	Pensacola
start indoors, plant out in March	Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringa	Pensacola
start indoors, plant out in April	Celeriac, celery, chayote	Pensacola

Compared with December: new — zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha and 5 more; no longer sown — Brussels sprouts and turnip.

Not starting in January: green beans (March, sown direct) — dates for Pensacola.

Ready to harvest in January in Pensacola, if sown in the right month: broad bean (October), peas (November), lettuce (November), radish (December), carrot (November), Swiss chard (November), beet (November) and pumpkin (September).

Frost dates in Pensacola

How we work it out

For each city we use its average weather in January and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in January if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.

Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).

Miami follows the UF/IFAS planting months for South Florida crop by crop (fall is the main season there); the other Florida cities follow the general rule.

This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.