What to Plant in January in Arizona

It’s a new year! Whether you have a garden or want to start gardening, I will show you what to plant in Arizona in January. I have a blog post like this for each month of the year. You can do this, I’ll help!

If you want to plant in January in the low desert of Arizona, we’re reaching the end of the window so that cool-season crops have enough time to grow and produce. But there are still plenty of things we can plant this month.

Tip: If you’re looking for the garden tasks to do this month, see the Arizona Garden in January blog post and printable checklist.

Article Outline:

• January YouTube videos
• Garden Harvests in January
• Should you plant now… or wait?
• Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in January
• Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during January
• Flowers to plant in the low desert in January
• Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in January

January YouTube Videos

Garden Harvests in January

Enjoy this month’s harvests of cool-season vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers.

• Kale is a superstar in the Arizona garden in January. Keep harvesting for a continuous supply. Frosty nights will sweeten the taste of kale. Grow several varieties of kale in your garden. Don’t forget to try my favorite kale salad with all that delicious kale.
• Broccoli harvests begin in earnest this month. Hopefully, you succession planted to have a continuous harvest all month. Plant transplants through the end of January. Learn more about succession planting in this guide.
• Carrots planted in September and October might be ready to harvest. Plant carrots through the end of March. Be sure to thin carrots for large, delicious carrots.

Should you plant now… or wait?

January is often the time we need to make some choices about space. Look around and think where you will need spots to plant warm-season crops. Will the crops there be finished when you’re ready to plant?

With one short season after another here in the low desert, finding space for everything can be a juggling act. Do your best, and remember to prioritize space for your favorite crops. Get more tips on garden planning in this guide.

• If you aren’t growing asparagus, consider dedicating a 4-foot by 4-foot raised bed. January is a great time to plant asparagus. 
• This is the last month to plant strawberries. Space strawberries 12 inches apart. Plant strawberries with a crown of the plant above the soil line. Mulch and water strawberries well.
• January is the best time to plant deciduous fruit trees. Learn which fruit trees grow well in the low desert in this guide.

If you didn’t start seeds indoors for tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers in December, get them started this month. The seedlings will be ready to be planted by February or March. Read this post for more information about how to start seeds indoors. Here is a link to my favorite seed-starting supplies. 

If one of your goals this year is to meet and connect with other gardeners, consider joining a gardening club. Use this guide to find a gardening club near you and learn more about the benefits of joining.

Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in January

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant

Perpetual Vegetable, Fruit & Herb Calendar shows you when to plant vegetables in the low desert of Arizona and whether to plant seeds or transplants. See it in my shop.

Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during January

(Click the link for seed sources)

Flowers to plant in the low desert in January

• Plant spring flowering annuals this month. (See list below)

January is the ideal month to plant roses in Arizona. Choose carefully. A bargain rose may not be a bargain. You may be bringing disease into your garden. I get all of my roses from Heirloom Roses. I love that they are own-root roses (no grafts!) and have the highest standards for diseases. You know you are getting robust, disease-free roses with strong roots when you get them from Heirloom Roses. Use Code GARDENAZ20 for 20% off any rose order through December 31, 2025.

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

Flower seeds to start indoors in the low desert in January

(Click the link for seed sources)

Vegetable, Herb, and Fruit Planting Guide for the Low Desert of Arizona

The ultimate resource for gardeners in arid regions with hot summers and mild winters—designed specifically for the low desert of Arizona.
It features information on how and when to start seeds indoors and when to transplant them outside for nearly 100 different fruits, vegetables, and herbs.

See it in my shop

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