January in Florida is prime planting season. While the rest of the country is buried in snow, we're out here growing food. But before you start throwing seeds in the ground, let's talk strategy.
Here's the thing - your garden should look like your grocery list. Walk through the produce aisle and pay attention to what you actually buy every week. Lettuce? Tomatoes? Fresh herbs? That's what you should be planting. Don't waste time and space on kale if you're never going to eat it. Grow what you'll actually use.
January is our best growing season because you can grow food without fighting the heat, humidity, and every pest imaginable. So let's get into what you should be planting this month, with actual varieties that work and real tips you can use.
Greens You Actually Eat
Lettuce: If you're buying those spring mix containers every week, stop. Plant Buttercrunch, Black Seeded Simpson, or Romaine. Direct seed them 1/4 inch deep, thin to 6-8 inches apart. You can start harvesting outer leaves in 3-4 weeks. Plant a new row every two weeks and you'll have fresh lettuce all season.
Spinach: Bloomsdale or Space are solid varieties. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, 2-3 inches apart. Thin to 4-6 inches. Harvest outer leaves or cut the whole plant. It bolts fast when it gets warm, so plant it now.
Arugula: Grows like a weed. Scatter seeds, barely cover them, thin to 4 inches. Spicy, peppery, ready in 3 weeks. If you're not eating it in salads, skip it.
Kale, Collards, Mustard Greens: Only if you actually cook with them. Lacinato kale, Georgia collards, Florida Broadleaf mustard - these are workhorses. Plant transplants 18-24 inches apart or direct seed and thin. Harvest outer leaves as needed.
What greens are you planting this January? Are you a lettuce person or do you go all-in on cooking greens?
Herbs That Save You Money
Cilantro: This is a must. Store cilantro is $3 for a tiny bunch that goes bad in three days. Plant Calypso or Slow Bolt varieties. Direct seed 1/4 inch deep, thin to 6 inches. It bolts when it gets hot, so plant it now and again in February.
Parsley: Italian flat-leaf is better for cooking, curly is prettier. Takes forever to germinate - soak seeds overnight first. Plant 1/4 inch deep, thin to 8 inches. One plant gives you parsley for months.
Dill: If you pickle anything or make fish, grow dill. Bouquet or Fernleaf varieties. Direct seed, thin to 8-10 inches. Self-seeds like crazy, so you'll have it forever.
Oregano, Thyme, Sage: Buy transplants, plant them once, harvest for years. Space 12-18 inches apart. These are perennials in Florida - they just keep going.
Basil (South Florida only): Genovese for Italian cooking, Thai basil for Asian dishes. North and Central Florida, wait until March. Basil hates cold.
Root Veggies Worth Your Time
Carrots: Danvers, Nantes, or Imperator varieties. Direct seed 1/4 inch deep in loose soil - they need it loose or they'll be deformed. Thin to 2-3 inches apart. Takes 60-75 days but they're worth it. Store carrots are nothing compared to homegrown.
Beets: Detroit Dark Red or Golden beets. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, 2 inches apart. You get two crops - the greens and the roots. Harvest greens young, roots at 2-3 inches diameter.
Radishes: Cherry Belle or French Breakfast. Ready in 25-30 days. Plant 1/2 inch deep, thin to 2 inches. These are your quick win crop - plant them to keep yourself motivated while everything else is growing.
Turnips: Purple Top White Globe. Plant 1/2 inch deep, thin to 4 inches. Harvest greens and roots. If you don't eat turnips, don't plant them just because you can.
Have you tried growing carrots in Florida? They can be tricky—share your tips or challenges below!
Beans and Peas
Peas (All Florida): Sugar Snap or Snow peas. Plant 1 inch deep, 2 inches apart. Give them something to climb - fence, trellis, whatever. They fix nitrogen, so they're actually improving your soil while they grow. Harvest when pods are full but still tender.
Bush Beans (Central/South Florida): Contender or Provider varieties. Plant 1 inch deep, 3-4 inches apart. Ready in 50-55 days. Pick them regularly or they'll stop producing.
The Money Crops
Tomatoes: This is what you're really here for. Central Florida, late January you can plant. South Florida, go now. North Florida, wait until March. Celebrity, Better Boy, or Florida 91 for slicers. Sungold or Sweet 100 for cherry tomatoes. Plant transplants 24-36 inches apart, stake or cage them immediately. Mulch heavy, water consistent, and you'll be swimming in tomatoes.
Peppers: Same timing as tomatoes. California Wonder for bell peppers, Jalapeño for heat. Plant 18-24 inches apart. They're slow to start but once they get going, they produce for months.
Cucumbers (South Florida): Straight 8 or Marketmore. Plant 1 inch deep, 12 inches apart. Give them a trellis or let them sprawl. Pick them young - big cucumbers are bitter and seedy.
Squash (South Florida): Yellow Crookneck or Zucchini. Plant 1 inch deep, 24-36 inches apart. They take up space but they produce like crazy. Watch for squash vine borers.
What's your favorite tomato variety for Florida? I'd love to hear what works in your zone!
Cool-Season Staples
Broccoli: Waltham or Green Magic. Plant transplants 18-24 inches apart. Harvest the main head when it's tight, then let the side shoots keep producing.
Cabbage: Early Jersey Wakefield or Copenhagen Market. Plant transplants 12-18 inches apart. Takes 70-90 days but one head feeds you for a week.
Cauliflower: Snow Crown or Amazing. Trickier than broccoli - needs consistent water and cool temps. Plant transplants 18-24 inches apart.
Onions: Plant sets or transplants now. Texas Grano or Granex varieties for sweet onions. Space 4-6 inches apart. Harvest when tops fall over.
About Those Flowers
Don't just throw flowers in because they're pretty. If you want cut flowers for your house, plant snapdragons, zinnias, or sunflowers. If you need pollinators for your vegetables, plant alyssum, marigolds, or nasturtiums. But if you're just planting them to plant them? Skip it and focus on food.
Zone Quick Reference
North Florida (8b-9a): Greens, root veggies, peas, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, strawberries. Cool-season everything. Tomatoes and peppers wait until March.
Central Florida (9b-10a): Everything North Florida is doing, plus late January you can start tomatoes, peppers, eggplant. You're in the sweet spot - cool season crops are still going strong and you can sneak in some warm season stuff.
South Florida (10b-11b): Warm-season crops are good to go. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra, herbs. You're basically in spring already.
Which zone are you in and what's thriving in your January garden? Let me know in the comments!
Real Talk Tips
Water in the morning. Prevents fungal issues and you won't forget to do it. Evening watering leaves plants wet overnight - that's how you get powdery mildew and other problems.
Mulch heavy. 2-3 inches around your plants. Keeps moisture in, weeds down, soil temperature steady. Use pine straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves.
Watch for frost. North and Central Florida, keep an eye on the forecast. Have row covers or old sheets ready. One frost can wipe out everything tender.
Thin your seedlings. I know it feels wasteful, but crowded plants don't produce. Thin to the spacing I mentioned. Eat the thinnings in salads.
Plant what you eat. I can't say this enough. Your garden should look like your grocery list, not a Pinterest board. If you don't eat it, don't plant it.
Want More Details?
I've got a complete Florida Garden Calendar with variety recommendations and month-by-month breakdowns for every zone.
And if you're serious about growing your own food year-round, check out Grow Food Not Lawns or grab the Complete Florida Gardening Bundle. Everything you need to actually grow your grocery aisle in Florida.
Let's Grow Together
I want to hear from you! Drop a comment below and share:
- What are you planting in your January garden?
- What's been your biggest success (or failure) with winter gardening in Florida?
- What crops are you struggling with that you'd like help troubleshooting?
Your experience helps other Florida gardeners succeed. Let's build our community—comment below!
Now get out there and plant something you'll actually eat.
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