Chengdu in January: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, January in Chengdu has run 3.7–11.4°C with about 16 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather Chengdu is actually having, today.
Grow one in Chengdu's weather right now →❄️ In 4 of the last 5 years, Chengdu saw at least one night at or below 0°C in January (record low -3.2°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month still falls inside the frost season. Average last spring frost around Feb 7, first autumn frost around Dec 16 — roughly 313 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 4.8 h of sunshine a day this month. Within the month it cools by about 1.4°C from the first ten days to the last — the window for autumn sowings is opening.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-January, then adding up the warmth Chengdu usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Rocket | 62 | Mar 17 |
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Jan 22 |
| 🌿 Spinach | 72 | Mar 27 |
| 🍒 Cherry Radish | 61 | Mar 16 |
| 🧄 Garlic | 90 | Apr 14 |
| 🌿 Coriander | 75 | Mar 30 |
| 🫘 Broad bean | 97 | Apr 21 |
| 🫛 Peas | 88 | Apr 12 |
| 🟣 Beetroot | 88 | Apr 12 |
| ⚪ Turnip | 79 | Apr 3 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Feb 13 |
| 🧅 Chives | 32 | Feb 15 |
Best crops to sow now
- 🌿 Rocket Ideal about 105 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌱 Microgreens Ideal about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Spinach Ideal about 122 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🍒 Cherry Radish Ideal about 119 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C is too cold (ideal 8–25°C)
- 🧄 Garlic Good about 153 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🌿 Coriander Good about 147 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
- 🫘 Broad bean Marginal about 210 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🫛 Peas Marginal about 198 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- 🟣 Beetroot Marginal about 198 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C — right in the sweet spot
- ⚪ Turnip Marginal about 190 days to harvest Recent mean 7.5°C is too cold (ideal 8–24°C)
- 🍃 Mint Ideal about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives Ideal about 32 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 7.5°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 7.5°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 7.5°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in Chengdu
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for Chengdu, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.