January Planting in the PNW
January is not about planting outdoors in the Pacific Northwest. It’s about buying time.
Our springs are cool, wet, and slow to warm, so seeds started too late often stall.
Seeds started thoughtfully now have time to develop strong roots and steady growth before ever touching cold, wet soil. When spring finally shows up, those plants are well established and thriving. January is the season where gardeners who understand this region gain an advantage by starting early.
Think of January as the foundation season. You’re not chasing fast results. You’re setting the stage for healthier plants, steadier growth, and more abundant harvests later on, with far less stress along the way.
Top 10 Plants to Start in January
1. Onions (from seed)
Difficulty: Easy, but slow
Best start: Indoors in shallow trays
Why January: Onions need a long runway to form proper bulbs
Next step: Transplant outside in early spring
They look like grass for weeks but for most, this is one of the best January investments you can make.
2. Leeks
Difficulty: Easy, patient-required
Best start: Indoors
Why January: Very long growth cycle
Next step: Transplant deeply once pencil-thick
Leeks love the PNW climate and reward early starts with thick, sweet stalks later in the year.
3. Kale
Difficulty: Very easy
Best start: Indoors
Why January: Cold-tolerant and forgiving
Next step: Harden off and transplant early
Kale thrives in cool weather and keeps producing even when other plants sulk.
4. Cabbage
Difficulty: Moderate
Best start: Indoors
Why January: Early planting avoids summer pests
Next step: Transplant once sturdy
Cabbage likes consistency. January starts mean spring harvests before the real slug chaos begins.
5. Broccoli
Difficulty: Moderate
Best start: Indoors
Why January: Long maturity time
Important note: Needs hardening off
PNW broccoli does best when it matures before heat stress. Early starts help immensely with this.
6. Lettuce
Difficulty: Easy
Best start: Indoors or cold frame
Why January: Cool-season favorite
Next step: Succession sowing
Lettuce is a confidence booster and an excellent way to practice seed starting without pressure.
7. Spinach
Difficulty: Easy
Best start: Indoors or cold frame
Why January: Thrives in cool temps
Important note: Bolts once it heats up
Spinach prefers the moody weather we’re famous for. Give it an early start and enjoy it before summer arrives.
8. Parsley
Difficulty: Moderate
Best start: Indoors
Why January: Very slow germination
Tip: Be patient — it can take weeks
Parsley pretends nothing is happening, then suddenly explodes with growth later. Totally normal.
9. Medicinal Herbs
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Best start: Indoors
Includes: Chamomile, Calendula, Yarrow, Lemon Balm
Why January: Slow growers with big payoff
These plants are resilient, useful, and well-suited to PNW conditions. They’re not just pretty — they’re practical.
10. Lavender
Difficulty: Moderate
Best start: Indoors with cold treatment
Why January: Benefits from early or cold stratification Important note: Needs excellent drainage
Lavender takes its time but becomes a long-lived, low-maintenance staple once established.
What Not to Start in January (PNW Reality Check)
Even though the internet loves to suggest otherwise, most PNW gardeners should wait on:
Tomatoes
Peppers
Squash
Beans
Keep Your Garden Growing Strong
Starting seeds in January sets a strong foundation for the year. By choosing the right plants and giving them proper care, you’ll enjoy earlier harvests, stronger plants, and a more relaxed growing season overall.
Gardening in January requires patience, but the rewards are real. Whether you’re working with a windowsill or a full garden, these plants offer a practical way to begin the season with intention and abundance.
Growing Together in the Pacific Northwest
One of the beautiful things about growing in Southwest Washington is that you don’t have to do it alone!
Urban Abundance exists to help neighbors build food resilience together, share knowledge, and transform ordinary yards into thriving ecosystems that feed people, pollinators, and the soil itself. Whether you’re starting your very first seeds or dreaming up your next garden project, you’re already part of something bigger by showing up in January and planting with intention.
Through our Resiliency Gardens program, households and community groups can connect with mentors, resources, and a network of gardeners who believe that abundance grows best when it’s shared.
If you’d like to learn more about how Urban Abundance supports local gardeners and communities, visit:https://www.urbanabundance.org/resiliency-gardens
Article Written by Destiny McLaren for Urban Abundance