6 Plant Families You Can Grow in Northern California in January
January is a great time to start thinking about your garden goals for the coming year, but did you know that you don’t have to wait until the last frost to start your garden?
There are actually quite a few things you can plant in your Northern California garden right now in January.
Cauliflower is a cool-season plant that thrives in cold weather. In Northern California, cauliflower can be fall-planted and can withstand light frost.
As Californians, we are fortunate to live in a climate with mild winters, for a near-year-round growing season. One of the keys to success in the garden is getting the timing right – plant the wrong thing at the wrong time and it will not grow well, if at all.
The plant families that follow are cool-season plants, meaning they thrive in cool weather. Our cool season in Northern California goes into mid-March, which means, because we are so lucky to live in Northern California, it’s not too late to plant a winter garden in here January!
1. Amaranthaceae
This family includes beets, spinach & Swiss chard. These “Super Foods” are chock-full of vitamins A and K and have antioxidant & anti-inflammatory components. They are also great as microgreens
2. Amaryllidaceae
This family includes chives, garlic, leeks, onions & shallots and is grown from bulbs. Members of the Amaryllidaceae family can be grown in raised beds and containers.
3. Apiaceae
This family includes carrots, celery, cilantro, dill & parsley. These work well if planted in rows or blocks and require at least 12” of soil to grow in.
4. Asteraceae
This family includes lettuces, like buttercrunch, iceberg, red lettuces, romaine & spring mix. Lettuces can be harvested continuously until temperatures rise to above 80° F.
5. Brassicaceae
This family includes arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale & radishes. These plants are packed with vitamins and have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and fiber-rich properties that support heart health.
6. Fabaceae (Pea and Bean Family)
The cool season varieties in this family include fava beans, snow peas & sugar snap peas. They are super easy to grow. Snow peas and snap peas are vining and require trellising.
If you’d love to start your own winter garden, but don’t know where to start, I’ve created a FREE Cool Season Planting Guide. You can download it here.
And, if you want more guidance, you can schedule a Garden Consultation with me any time. Start here.
