Zone 7 - What to Plant in January

Zone 7 - What to Plant in January

January is go time for zone 7 gardeners. January is your first window to start your indoor sowings and order your seeds for the spring season. The next two months are the most important for starting your vegetables on time. Start your tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables to be ready for spring transplant!

Aspabroc broccoli seeds grow into a unique hybrid vegetable developed in the early 1990s by crossing standard broccoli with a Chinese kale-gai lan variety, resulting in what’s often called “broccolini.” This plant produces slender, tender stems topped with small, loose florets that resemble asparagus in shape, hence the name. Aspabroc is prized for its sweet, mild flavor with subtle peppery notes, making it delicious whether steamed, sautéed, stir-fried, or grilled. It thrives in cool-season conditions, preferring full sun and fertile, well-drained soil, with harvests ready in about 50–60 days after transplanting. Known for its extended harvest period, plants continue producing side shoots after the main head is cut, giving gardeners a steady supply. Its unique history, high nutritional value, and gourmet quality make Aspabroc a popular choice for home growers and chefs alike.

The Romaine Trio Blend is a mixture of three of our specialty romaine lettuces. This tri-colored blend is very popular for not only its beautiful color variation and vigorous growth, but also for its delicious taste.

This productive heirloom pepper is well suited to short-season gardens and has long been valued for canning and pickling. Originating from Hungary, it produces light yellow, medium-to-hot peppers with a classic flavor that works beautifully for stuffing, roasting, pizza toppings, and traditional Eastern European dishes. Plants set fruit steadily over an extended harvest window, delivering high yields with quick production. The 5-inch fruits begin a bright yellow and mature to red, adding visual appeal as well as versatility in the kitchen, and they are especially popular as pickled peppers. This heat-loving variety thrives in full sun, reaching maturity in about 70 days With a Scoville heat rating of 5,000 to 15,000, Hungarian Hot Wax peppers provide a nice kick without overwhelming heat, making them versatile for various culinary uses.

The Lemon Drop is an excellent seasoning pepper from Peru with some heat! When mature it will ripen to be a bright yellow that occasionally turns a purple blush depending on maturity. The Lemon Drop's crisp and clean, uncomplicated flavor is hot with some citrus notes. Its Scovilles top out at 35,000 units.

The Best Tasting Collection has the most popular and best tasting home garden tomatoes we have! These six varieties have been chosen by the people at Urban Farmer as the tastiest tomatoes for home gardens. We have grown all of these varieties and several others and these had the best taste and juiciest flesh we could find. Enjoy! Golden Jubilee - Meaty, thick, golden-orange walls that have an excellent flavor. Cherokee Purple - Plump, juicy, purple tomatoes that are probably the best tasting of all tomatoes. Brandywine - Looking for a nice beefsteak tomato that can be sliced for sandwiches, burgers and more! SunSugar - A golden cherry variety that is just mouth watering. A high sugar content makes you coming back for more. Black Krim - A dark purple-black skin and flesh that holds a juicy, mouth watering flavor. Roma - Roma is a very popular and flavorful Italian tomato. It is an old fashion heirloom that makes great salsa and tomato paste.

Bull's Blood beet, scientifically known as Beta vulgaris, is a striking and versatile variety of beetroot that has gained popularity for its unique characteristics. This heirloom variety has a fascinating history, dating back centuries to Europe, where it was initially cultivated for its edible leaves rather than the root. Its name, "Bull's Blood," is derived from the deep burgundy-red color of its leaves, which resemble the color of ox blood. Over time, its sweet and earthy flavor profile has made it a favorite among chefs and home gardeners alike. In terms of appearance, Bull's Blood beets typically grow to a medium size, roughly 2-3 inches in diameter, and have a round to slightly flattened shape. The seeds of this variety are easy to come by and can be sown directly in the garden or started indoors. Bull's Blood beets are relatively quick to mature, taking about 50-60 days from seed to harvest. The leaves are a deep red, while the root itself is a dark purplish-red, making it visually appealing on the plate. Bull's Blood beets exhibit some resistance to common beet diseases like Cercospora leaf spot and Downy Mildew, although specific resistance levels may vary depending on growing conditions. When properly cared for, they can yield a plentiful harvest. To ensure optimal growth, it's recommended to space the beet plants about 2-4 inches apart in well-drained soil with full sun exposure. Adequate moisture and consistent watering are essential for healthy growth. Whether you're looking to add a pop of color to your garden or enhance your culinary creations, Bull's Blood beets are a delightful choice with a rich history and vibrant character.

The Jalapeno M Pepper is a high yielding middle of the road hot pepper. This pepper variety has an average hotness level that tastes great in many dishes. Jalapeno M has thick walls with a spicy pungent smell! Typically growing to about 3-5 inches in length, these peppers have a smooth, firm texture and a slightly curved shape. The heat level of Jalapeno M peppers typically ranges from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville Heat Units, providing a spicy kick that enhances a wide variety of dishes without being overpowering. Originating from Mexico, Jalapeno M peppers are widely used in salsas, sauces, and as toppings for nachos and other dishes. They have a fresh, grassy flavor that complements both cooked and raw preparations. Harvesting usually occurs around 70-80 days after planting, when the peppers are firm and glossy green, although they can also be left to ripen to red for a sweeter taste. These peppers thrive in warm climates and well-drained soil, making them a staple in many home gardens. Their combination of heat, flavor, and versatility has solidified Jalapeno M peppers as a beloved ingredient in kitchens around the world.

The Ashe County Pimento pepper is a cherished heirloom variety with roots deeply embedded in the Appalachian region of North Carolina. Originating from Ashe County, this pepper has been cultivated since the early 20th century, known for its unique attributes and exceptional flavor. Characterized by its heart-shaped pods, the Ashe County Pimento ripens to a vibrant red hue, distinguishing it from other peppers. Its flavor is renowned for its sweet, fruity notes and low heat, making it a versatile ingredient for both fresh consumption and culinary uses like pimento cheese and stuffed peppers. The plant exhibits a compact growth habit, typically reaching about 18 to 24 inches in height, which makes it suitable for garden beds and containers. It produces an abundance of peppers that are ready for harvest in late summer to early fall. With its rich history, distinctive color, and delightful taste, the Ashe County Pimento pepper continues to be a prized addition to gardens and kitchens alike.

The Yellow Petite Bell Pepper is a mini bell pepper with flavor explosion! This sweet mini pepper variety that is high yielding and ripens to a rich yellow when mature. The Yellow Petite Bell grows to 2-3 ounces which is the perfect snack sized pepper that is excellent for market selling or fresh eating in salads or sandwiches!

Ailsa Craig Exhibition is a large onion that has a unique mildly sweet flavor! This plant produces on the average a huge 5 lb. sweet white onion that has a delicious flavor in many dishes. Impress your neighbors and try growing this World Record sized onion.

The Pink Brandywine Tomato is our favorite heirloom beefsteak for home gardens and a customer favorite for its sweet taste! This large, beefsteak-shaped tomato fruit grows upright on large leaved plants. This favored tomato contains few seeds and meaty flesh! The indeterminate tomato will ripen later than most, but will produces 10-20 ounce tomatoes until the first frost of fall.

Red Acre cabbage is simply the best early maturing red cabbage! Red Acre is a fantastic cabbage that produces reddish-purple heads. Each cabbage head grows to 7 inches in diameter and weighs about 3 pounds. Red Acre is resistant to cabbage yellowing and is great for home gardens that have little space. Red Acre cabbage stores better than just about any other early cabbage variety. Great raw or for coleslaw use.

The super sweet Renegade Spinach is simply the best all-around Spinach! This very adaptable spinach variety is early maturing with heavy yields and is easy to grow. Its dark green, rounded leaves are resistant to mildew and arise profusely on compact plants. Renegade is perfect for beginning gardeners and those that have been let down by other varieties!

Among the world's hottest peppers! Use with caution, wrinkled  brown pepper. 125 times hotter than a Jalapeno pepper! Bhut Jolokia Chocolate is a rare, natural variant of Red Bhut Jolokia. Ghost pepper can reach over 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

The Purple Bhut Jolokia is a purple Ghost Pepper! This purple wrinkled pepper is 125 times hotter than a standard Jalapeno pepper! The Bhut Jolokia Purple is a rare, natural variant of Red Bhut Jolokia. Ghost peppers can reach over 1,000,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Use with caution!

The Ruby Queen is an excellent canning and fresh eating beet! A perfectly round beet that has a smooth buttery texture that is more tender than any other beet. An early maturing beet, 52 days, that grows well in any soil type throughout the country. Ruby Queen can be grown close because they hold their shape well. They can also be grown larger than most beets and still hold good flavor making it a great market beet. An All American Selection winner!

The Peter, aka Willy, Pepper gets it's name, well because of what it resembles! This variety is an old heirloom that is grown as much for its shock value as it is for for its culinary value. Peter is an excellent pepper for chili powder! Its pods are 4-6 inches long with blunt ends that resemble a mans private area, no joke!

The Giant Caesar Lettuce is an amazing bright green looseleaf romaine type that has a buttery sweet flavor similar to a butterhead. This variety's large leaves are easy to pick without any tearing or bruising. The Giant Caesar is heat resistant and will hold its color and flavor well.