What to Plant in January — Zone 6

January ends about 10 weeks before zone 6's average last frost (Apr 10) — prime seed-starting territory.

Start seeds indoors — Counted back from the last frost so transplants are ready on time.

🧅 Onions Jan 30 – Feb 13 90–110 days to maturity
🧅 Leeks Jan 30 – Feb 13 100–120 days to maturity
🥬 Celery Jan 30 – Feb 13 100–120 days to maturity
🫑 Peppers Jan 30 – Feb 13 60–90 days to maturity
🍆 Eggplant Jan 30 – Feb 13 65–80 days to maturity
🌿 Parsley Jan 30 – Feb 13 70–90 days to maturity
🌿 Thyme Jan 30 – Feb 13 90–120 days to maturity

Windows use zone 6's typical frost dates (Apr 10 / Oct 22). For your own city's dates, run the frost lookup — the planting calendar then localizes everything automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What can I plant outside in January in zone 6?

Nothing goes outside yet in zone 6 — January is for starting seeds indoors (onions, leeks, celery, peppers, eggplant, parsley, thyme). Outdoor planting opens closer to the Apr 10 average last frost.

What seeds should I start indoors in January in zone 6?

Onions, leeks, celery, peppers, eggplant, parsley, thyme — each is counted back from zone 6's average last frost around Apr 10, so transplants are ready exactly when the garden is.

Is January the right time for tomatoes in zone 6?

Not yet — zone 6 tomatoes start indoors roughly 8–6 weeks before the Apr 10 last frost and transplant just after it.