What to plant in January in zone 5a

4 crops to start indoors, direct sow, or transplant in January in USDA hardiness zone 5a. Typical last spring frost around May 4, 2026, first fall frost around Oct 6, 2026 — exact dates vary by location within the zone.

Zone 5a covers a lot of ground. Enter your ZIP for January dates from your nearest weather station and a month-by-month calendar:

Start indoors

Sow these under lights or on a windowsill now for transplants later.

Bunching Onion
Leek
Onion
Shallot

Keep going

Full zone 5a planting calendar →
What to plant in January (all zones) →
Succession planting for a continuous harvest →

Timings use NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for a representative location (Mexico, ME) in zone 5a, computed with the same engine as GardenDraft’s in-app schedule. Guidance, not guarantees — your exact dates depend on your address.