GreenlyWhat to plant in January in the Southwest
Worked out for 8 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in January in the Southwest, by zone: frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (Yuma): peas, lettuce, radish, Swiss chard, beet and 25 more; frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F (Phoenix and Tucson): broad bean, peas, onion, lettuce, radish and 19 more; frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Las Vegas and Las Cruces): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 24 more; frost possible, highs below 50 °F (Albuquerque, Santa Fe (United States) and 1 more): broad bean, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, parsley and 2 more.
In the Southwest, January is winter.
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: Yuma
In January, on average, Yuma has highs of 70 °F and lows of 47 °F, 0.5 in of rain on 3 days; the day lasts 10 h 14 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
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, lettuce, radish, Swiss chard, beet, sweet corn, parsley, cilantro, arugula, bok choy, borage, chamomile, chayote, corn, dill, Florence fennel, kohlrabi, mustard greens, Napa cabbage | Yuma |
| start indoors, plant out in February | Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, basil, achocha, kiwano, luffa, okra, peanut | Yuma |
Compared with December: new — radish, borage, chayote and corn; no longer sown — broad bean, onion, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, tomato, bell pepper, eggplant and 6 more.
Not starting in January: tomato (November, started indoors), bell pepper (November, started indoors), green beans (February, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Yuma.
Ready to harvest in January in Yuma, if sown in the right month: peas (November), beet (November), zucchini (November), green beans (November), watermelon (October), sweet corn (October), parsley (November) and cilantro (November).
Frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F: Phoenix and Tucson
In January, on average, these cities have highs of 64 to 65 °F and lows of 40 to 43 °F, 1.3 to 1.4 in of rain on 4 days; the day lasts 10 h 10 min to 10 h 16 min (on the 15th).
January falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, chickpea, dill, kohlrabi, mustard greens | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | all |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringa | all |
| sow direct | Daikon | Tucson |
Compared with December: new — tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel and moringa; no longer sown — spinach, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chayote, kale and 1 more.
Not starting in January: zucchini (February, started indoors), green beans (March, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Tucson.
Ready to harvest in January in Tucson, if sown in the right month: peas (November), radish (December), beet (November), pumpkin (September), parsley (November), cilantro (November), arugula (December) and chamomile (November).
Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Las Vegas and Las Cruces
In January, on average, these cities have highs of 56 to 58 °F and lows of 34 to 39 °F, 0.4 to 1.1 in of rain on 3 to 4 days; the day lasts 9 h 58 min to 10 h 15 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.
January falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, daikon, dill, kale, mustard greens, parsnip | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | all |
| start indoors, plant out in February | Cauliflower | Las Vegas |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel, moringa | all |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Parsley | Las Vegas |
| start indoors, plant out in February | Kohlrabi | all |
| sow direct | Turnip | Las Vegas |
Compared with December: new — tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, Florence fennel and moringa; no longer sown — garlic, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, celery and chayote.
Not starting in January: zucchini (February, started indoors) and green beans (April, sown direct) — dates for Las Vegas.
Ready to harvest in January in Las Vegas, if sown in the right month: peas (November), spinach (November), lettuce (November), radish (December), carrot (November), Swiss chard (November), beet (November) and pumpkin (September).
Frost possible, highs below 50 °F: Albuquerque, Santa Fe (United States) and Flagstaff
In January, on average, these cities have highs of 37 to 47 °F and lows of 20 to 26 °F, 0.7 to 1.5 in of rain on 4 to 6 days; the day lasts 10 h 00 min to 10 h 03 min (on the 15th).
January falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in February | Broad bean, spinach, kohlrabi | all |
| start indoors, plant out in February | Lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale | Albuquerque |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts | Santa Fe (United States) and Flagstaff |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Parsley | all |
Compared with December: new — lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile and kale; no longer sown — garlic, peas, radish, crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip.
Not starting in January: tomato (April, started indoors), bell pepper (April, started indoors), zucchini (May, started indoors), green beans (June, sown direct) and peas (March, sown direct) — dates for Flagstaff.
Ready to harvest in January in Flagstaff, if sown in the right month: broad bean (October), peas (November), spinach (November), cabbage (September), broccoli (October) and turnip (November).
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).
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.
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