Zone 8 - What to Plant in January

Zone 8 - What to Plant in January

January is the time to start your garden in zone 8. To be ready for the last frost you should start all transplants inside in January so you're ready to go. 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!

The Bradley Tomato is one of the all time Southern favorites! This tomato variety is a reliable, productive plant that has fairly good cover, producing attractive, smooth pink fruit with a tasty mild flavor. Bradley is a disease resistant variety released in 1961 by Dr. Joe McFerran of the University of Arkansas. The seeds produce delicious, sweet tomatoes that are well balanced with just enough acidity to give you that old-fashioned big tomato flavor that you love so much. Bradley tomatoes ripen at the same time making it a great variety for canning and freezing. This variety is suitable for Southern regions, but can grow in most places.

The SunSugar Tomato is an early maturing cherry tomato with a high sugar content that is a customer favorite for a reason! These beautiful cherry sized orange tomatoes will be the first tomato to harvest in early summer. Every 1/2 oz. fruit has 3 times more vitamin A found in most other red tomatoes. Not only does this variety contain more nutrients but it is sweeter than candy and impossible to eat just one! SunSugar is crack resistant with very vigorous, heavy yields and no need for staking!

The Cubanelle Pepper is a great frying pepper. This 3 lobed pepper is tapered with a blunt end. Its slightly irregular and roughened, medium-thick waxy flesh matures from yellow-green to red, and it has a crispy distinct flavor.

Gypsy F1 pepper seeds produce a hybrid variety of sweet peppers known for their vibrant color and delicious taste. These peppers are typically thick-walled, with a crisp texture and a mild, sweet flavor that makes them perfect for both raw and cooked dishes. The plants are known for their high yield and early maturity, making them a popular choice among gardeners and commercial growers alike. Gypsy F1 peppers are often a mix of green, yellow, and red colors as they ripen, adding a beautiful visual appeal to any garden or meal. Their versatility, disease resistance, and consistent performance in various climates make them a top choice for pepper enthusiasts. An All American Selection Pepper, need we say more! Grows to about 2x4" in size. Excellent when used in salads, frying, or stews.

The Sweet Million has a delicious flavor with outstanding yields that keeps coming back! This hybrid produces large clusters of smooth, bright red fruits that come early and will produce all summer long. This variety is one of the most popular home garden tomatoes that always pleases. The disease resistant Sweet Million tomatoes are 1-1.5" long and produces high yields until the first frost if picked regularly.

The Delicious Tomato is a World Record giant, bright red beefsteak tomato that can grow to be at least one pound or more. This variety is not only large, but it is also fairly crack resistant. The Delicious tomato gets its name for being very delicious of course!

Black Cherry tomatoes are a sought-after heirloom variety known for their distinctive appearance and exceptional taste. Originating from a blend of traditional cherry tomato varieties, this cultivar has become popular for its rich, dark color and robust flavor. The tomatoes are small, typically about the size of a marble, with a deep, dusky purple to black hue that turns almost mahogany when fully ripe. Their flavor is renowned for its sweet, complex taste with subtle hints of smokiness, making them a delightful addition to salads, snacking, and gourmet dishes. Black Cherry tomatoes usually reach maturity in about 60 to 70 days, making them one of the quicker-maturing cherry varieties. The plants exhibit an indeterminate growth habit, producing fruit continuously throughout the growing season and requiring staking or caging to support their vigorous, sprawling vines. With their attractive color, rich flavor, and prolific yield, Black Cherry tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners and culinary enthusiasts seeking both beauty and taste.

Black Brandywine tomatoes are a unique and highly regarded heirloom variety known for their exceptional flavor and distinctive characteristics. With a rich history dating back to the 19th century, these tomatoes have earned a special place in the hearts of gardeners and tomato enthusiasts alike. The story of Black Brandywine begins with the original Brandywine tomato, which was developed in the late 1800s in the Brandywine Valley of Pennsylvania. Over time, a natural mutation led to the development of the black variant, which retained the outstanding flavor of the original while introducing a striking, dark coloration. The fruit of the Black Brandywine tomato is large and typically reaches sizes of 8 to 16 ounces (227 to 454 grams) or even larger under optimal conditions. Its shape is somewhat irregular, often with a beefsteak-like appearance, characterized by deep ridges and an uneven, slightly flattened globe shape. The skin of Black Brandywine tomatoes is a dark purplish-black or maroon color, adding to their visual appeal. The plants of Black Brandywine tomatoes are indeterminate, which means they continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. They can reach heights of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 meters) or more, so proper support is essential. These tomatoes thrive in warm and sunny climates, requiring full sun and well-drained soil. Adequate moisture and regular pruning are crucial to manage their vigorous growth and ensure good air circulation. Black Brandywine tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners who appreciate their rich, complex flavor, making them a must-grow variety for anyone looking to savor the taste of history in their garden.

The Pineapple Tomato is a large, rich yellow-gold beefsteak variety that has a wonderfu very sweet, almost fruity, flavor. This tomato variety contains very few seeds and more solids, giving you more for your money. The Pineapple tomato is a high yielding tomato plant. The Pineapple gets its name for have a flavor that is sweet and fruity with a tangy, meaty after-bite.

The Merveille Four Seasons is a French Bibb lettuce type that produces rich deep reddish leaves with bright cranberry red tips. This 12-16 inches lettuce has a wonderful butter taste and will hold its flavor in hot weather. The rich red leaves surround a small, 8-12 inches pale green, tight heart. Enjoy the Merveille Four Seasons chopped up in a salad for fresh flavor and a pop of beautiful color.

The Purple Beauty Pepper is a productive pepper plant that produces attractive deep purple colored peppers! This pepper is an open-pollinated variety with a sweet tasting 3x3" block shaped peppers. Pick when the pepper is purple or wait for it to turn deep red when its mature, which happens later in the season. The Purple Beauty is a great pepper for container gardening and can add that extra kick to your salads or meals.

The Dazzling Blue Kale is a beautiful, cold-tolerant lacinato-type that produces large blue-green leaves with deep purple veins. This kale is sure to add a delicious pop of color to any salad! This variety will survive freezing temperatures better than other lacinato types and will even intensify with cool temperatures.

The Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce is a very early and dependable lettuce. This large upright, compact leaf-type lettuce produces delicious light green, wide, curled leaves. The Black Seeded Simpson is a productive variety!

Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper seeds produce one of the hottest chili peppers in the world, known for its intense heat and distinctive fruity flavor. Originating from Trinidad, this pepper earned its spot in the Guinness World Records as the hottest pepper in 2011, with heat levels reaching over 1.4 million Scoville Heat Units (SHUs). The peppers grow on compact plants and mature into small, wrinkled, reddish-orange pods that pack a fiery punch. Despite their extreme heat, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T peppers are also prized for their complex flavor profile, offering a slightly sweet, citrus-like taste before the intense heat kicks in. Ideal for hot sauce production, spicy foods, or daring pepper enthusiasts, these seeds are best suited for experienced gardeners who are prepared to handle the intense heat and care required for growing this fiery pepper.

The Lacinato Kale is an old Italian heirloom kale that has very large tender leaves. This favorite is now available in organic seeds! The Lacinato, or also known as Dinosaur kale, Black Magic or Toscano, is popular for home gardening and fresh markets. Its scaly, bumpy leaves are large dark blue-green and very delicious. Pick young for the most tender leaves. The Lacinato produces high yields and can be harvested continually. Certified Organic. Learn more about our organic seeds.

Great field cabbage performance. A rugged hybrid that produces well in Southern winters and Northern summers. Produces large, blue-green heads with cream colored inside. Uniform cabbage that works great for markets.

Late Flat Dutch cabbage seeds produce one of the oldest and most reliable heirloom cabbage varieties, first introduced to American gardens in the mid-1800s and prized for its large, flat, broad heads. This late-season type matures slowly, typically in 100–110 days, forming dense, firm heads that can weigh 10–15 pounds, making it excellent for gardeners seeking high yields and long storage. Its flavor is mild, sweet, and crisp, improving after light frost exposure, which enhances its natural sugars. Historically valued for sauerkraut production, it remains a top choice for fermentation, coleslaw, boiling, and traditional cooking, while its long shelf life makes it a staple for winter kitchens and homestead food preservation.

The Imperial Star Globe Artichoke, scientifically known as Cynara scolymus 'Imperial Star,' is a remarkable and highly sought-after variety of artichoke. Originating in Italy, this artichoke has a rich history dating back centuries. It is believed to have been cultivated by the ancient Romans and Greeks for its culinary and medicinal properties. The Imperial Star Globe Artichoke is a testament to the enduring popularity of this unique vegetable. In terms of taste, the Imperial Star Globe Artichoke is renowned for its tender and flavorful heart, which is the edible part of the plant. Its taste is often described as nutty and slightly sweet, with a mild, earthy undertone. This makes it a favorite in gourmet dishes and appetizers, as well as a popular addition to salads and dips. The Imperial Star Globe Artichoke is a type of globe artichoke, characterized by its large, round, and spiky green flower heads. These artichokes can reach a size of 4-6 inches in diameter, making them an impressive addition to any garden or dinner table. They typically take around 85-100 days to reach maturity from seed, although this can vary depending on growing conditions. Each plant produces multiple flower heads, and they are known to be prolific producers. Seeds from the Imperial Star Globe Artichoke are readily available, and they thrive in well-drained soil with plenty of sunlight, making them a popular choice for home gardeners and culinary enthusiasts alike.