Planting Potatoes and Onions in January & February in Northeast Texas
While winter still lingers, January and February are exciting months on the homestead here in Northeast Texas. The garden may look quiet, but this is actually the perfect time to start planting two cold-hardy staples: potatoes and onions.
These early crops thrive in our mild winters and give us a head start on the growing season — and there’s something especially hopeful about planting while the rest of the landscape is still resting.
🥔 Planting Potatoes in Late Winter
In Northeast Texas, January through early February is ideal for planting seed potatoes. Potatoes prefer cool soil and will grow best before our spring heat sets in.
How to Plant Potatoes:
Choose certified seed potatoes (not grocery store potatoes)
Cut larger seed potatoes into pieces with 1–2 eyes each
Let cut pieces dry for a day before planting
Plant 3–4 inches deep, spaced about 12 inches apart
Cover lightly with soil and mulch well
As the plants grow, continue to mound soil or mulch around the stems to protect developing tubers from sunlight.
💡 Tip: Potatoes tolerate light frost, but if a hard freeze is forecast, add extra mulch for protection.
🧅 Planting Onions in January & February
Onions are one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to plant this time of year. For our area, short-day or intermediate-day onions are the best choice.
Best Options for Northeast Texas:
Onion sets
Onion transplants
Onion seedlings
How to Plant Onions:
Plant with the tip just above the soil surface
Space 4–6 inches apart
Water well after planting
Keep beds weed-free
Onions love cool weather early on and will begin bulbing as the days lengthen in spring.
🌱 Why Planting Early Matters
Starting potatoes and onions now:
Takes advantage of cool temperatures
Helps avoid pest pressure later in the season
Produces stronger, healthier plants
Gives you earlier harvests before summer heat
It’s one of the simplest ways to work with the seasons instead of against them.
❄️ Protecting Plants from Cold Snaps
Winter weather in Texas can be unpredictable. Keep an eye on the forecast and be ready to protect young plants with:
Straw or leaf mulch
Frost cloth or old sheets
Temporary low tunnels
Most of the time, potatoes and onions will bounce back just fine after light freezes.
🌾 A Gentle Reminder
Planting in January and February is a reminder that growth often begins long before we can see it. The garden teaches patience, hope, and trust — lessons we carry far beyond the soil.
If you’ve been itching to get your hands dirty, this is the perfect place to start. A few seed potatoes and onion sets now will reward you with a harvest that feels especially sweet come spring.
