The longest day of the year has passed. Christmas is all over for another year. So you turn your attention back to the garden, which has been sitting there quietly over the back end of the year. Now is a good time to think about what you want to grow this year and, in particular, what seeds to start in January.
Obviously, whatever you plant in January needs to be either hardy or you need to think about planting using your greenhouse or cold frame. There may likely be several weeks of cold ground frosts, which will affect many plants, so you need to do your research and find out exactly what seeds to start in January and where you should plant them.
What To Plant in January
You may be surprised, but there are lots of things you can plant in January. It may not be the ideal weather for spending hours and hours outside, but if you get a head start on some of the early planters, you’ll be thankful that you did come later in the year.
January in the garden can feel like a long, cold pause between seasons. The soil is often too cold and wet for outdoor sowing, daylight is at its shortest, and yet it’s actually a great time to get a jump start on the year ahead. I’ve found that this quiet month actually presents an ideal time to start seeds that otherwise take way longer than you’d think.
Let’s look at what to sow in late January and how to give your seeds the best head start for a strong growing season later on.
Why Start Seeds in January?
You might be thinking, “It’s the middle of winter, why bother?” Well, here’s the gardening magic.
- Some crops have a long time to maturity and benefit from being started early indoors.
- A cold frame, greenhouse, or even indoors with artificial light can simulate spring conditions before it’s warm outside.
- Starting now gives slow growers a 6–8 week lead on their outdoor peers.
- Whether you live in a colder climate where frosts linger, or a warmer climate with a long growing season ahead, I’ll offer my tips for both.
Early Indoor Sowing: Warmth-Loving & Slow Growers
When it comes to warm-season crops, these plants benefit hugely from early sowing indoors, especially if you want fruit before late spring or summer.
Tomatoes & Sweet Bell Peppers
I always start these in the warmest spot I can find, ideally with bottom heat and grow lights. They’re slow growers and take months to develop before they’re ready to harden off. Try to time these about 6–8 weeks before your last frost date for best results. That means late January or early February if you’re in a cooler climate.
Chillies & Aubergines
If you are planning on growing hot peppers or aubergines, then sowing them earlier is better. January is an ideal time, as it will give them a really long growing window. You’ll need to grow them in pots in a greenhouse, cold frame or even on your kitchen windowsill, as it will be too cold for them to be planted outside until much later on in the year. There are so many varieties of chillies you can grow, but some of my favourites are Habanero, Padron and Jalapeno chillies. These are all ideal if you are considering what to plant in January.
When you start varieties like hot peppers early, you extend their season and get larger, more productive plants. A heated propagator or warm windowsill with good ventilation will keep these happy. I’d suggest sowing these in larger pots or containers so they aren’t root-bound before you put them outside.
Herbs that Need Extra Time
Although many herbs are technically frost-tolerant, slow growers like oregano, rosemary, and sage really relish being started early.
Hardy Greens for an Early Start
Not all seeds hate winter! In fact, some cool-weather vegetables thrive with an early indoor or under-cover start.
Winter Gem Lettuce
Even though it’s cold and wintery, we still eat tons of lettuce during the early part of the year, so when I found out there was a lettuce variety which could be grown over the winter, it sounded ideal. You’ll still need to grow this in your greenhouse or cold frame, but winter gem lettuce is a great one when you are considering what to plant in January. If you sow a new batch every two to three weeks, you should have a ready supply of winter gem lettuces in no time.
Swiss Chard & Kale Seeds
These leafy greens are surprisingly robust. I like to get Swiss chard started indoors because it can take a little bit longer than faster greens to sprout and grow. Kale, especially, is wonderful to begin now because you’re rewarding yourself with harvests as soon as the frost loosens its grip.
Early Carrots
Carrots are a curious one, technically better direct-sown outside later, but starting them in either under a cloche or in trays under cover helps me get a foot in the door before spring soil temps are ideal. You might be wondering how long does it take for carrots to germinate. This post can help.
Cauliflower
Generally speaking, you would start your cauliflower growing between March and May, but if you want to get a head start, there’s no reason why you couldn’t sow cauliflowers in January if you are using a greenhouse or cold frame. I’m sowing a variety called ‘All The Year Round’, which is a dwarf variety. It has a long sowing and harvesting window and is one of the easiest cauliflowers to grow.
Fava Beans & Broad Beans
You’ll be surprised how well broad beans and fava beans handle a January sow in your cold frame. They tolerate cold far better than most seeds, and with a bit of protection, you can even harvest them early.
Flowers
January isn’t just about vegetables; it’s also the perfect time to look forward to your summer garden.
Sweet Peas
Sowing sweet peas now gives them time to develop strong roots. This means more blooms later in the season. If you are looking to start your sweet peas off in January, you’ll need to either sow them in a greenhouse or inside. It’s too cold for them to be planted directly outside until around April/May time.
Most varieties of Sweet Peas are good climbers, so you’ll want to think about where they will go once you can put them outside. You may want to invest in a trellis or obelisk to train their growth.
Sweet peas are beautiful plants, and some varieties have gorgeous scents to them, so they will make a fantastic addition to your garden. It’s also great that you can start them off in January, as you’ll be able to enjoy many months of beautiful, scented flowers during the summer.
This year, I’m planting a fusion of varieties which are renowned for their scent. These include Albutt Blue, April in Paris, Cathy, Fire & Ice, Heathcliff, Juliet and Memories. These varieties can grow up to around 6 feet (1.8 metres), so I’ve bought a trellis to train and support their growth.
Herbs Indoors
Even if you can’t plant outdoors yet, you can have basil, dill, parsley, and coriander (cilantro) growing on your windowsill for fresh kitchen greens. The indoors equals fresh harvests long before your garden wakes up.
Blueberries
Blueberries are a great start if you are looking for something to plant in January, rather than something to sow. Take the opportunity to set yourself up with a couple of blueberry bushes, as two plants will produce a lot more fruit than just one on its own. You can plant these directly in the ground, mulch well (as long as it’s not frozen) or in pots between November and March, and they should start to produce fruit in the summer, usually between June and September.
This year I’ll be planting the Grover and Northland varieties. Grover blueberries will flower in the spring, and then you can harvest the fruit from early August. The Northland variety should produce fruit a bit earlier, in July.
If you are thinking of growing blueberries, it’s worth noting that blueberries need acidic soil, so it’s worth testing your soil before you start, and if it’s not suitable, like mine isn’t, you can grow them in pots.
Tools & Tricks for January Success – What Seeds To Start In January
Artificial Light Or A Sunny Window
Light is the limiting factor in winter. If you don’t have a greenhouse, a bright windowsill or grow lights with a dark period which mimics natural daylight will keep seedlings sturdy and happy.
Bottom Heat
A heated seed mat or heated propagator dramatically improves germination for warm-season seeds like peppers and tomatoes.
Seed Trays & Soil Blocks
Using trays with good drainage or soil blocks gives roots room and promotes healthier growth.
Cold Frame
A cold frame gives that little bit of protection against frost and chill, while still exposing plants to cool outdoor conditions, which is a great way to harden them off gradually.
A Quick January Sowing Guide – What Seeds To Start In January
Here’s a snapshot of what I usually tackle in January:
Indoors (with warmth and light)
Tomatoes
Hot peppers & sweet peppers
Aubergines
Herbs like oregano, thyme, and rosemary
Indoors
Swiss chard
Kale seeds
Winter gem lettuce
Early carrots
Cauliflower
Broad beans
Outdoors
Blueberries
Flowers
Sweet peas
Lobelia
Begonias & dianthus
I hope your growing season gets off to a good start. There are plenty of garden tasks to be getting on with in January to ensure that you have a colourful and fruitful year. January might feel like nothing’s happening in the garden, but that’s just the quiet before the spring kicks in. By starting seeds now, you set yourself up for a much stronger and earlier season than if you waited until spring.
Other posts to read –
Do Strawberry Plants Come Back Every Year?
Red Lentil Pasta vs Regular Pasta
Morning Shade Afternoon Sun Perennials
You can also take advantage of the extra time this month, as there isn’t as much work to do in the garden. You can browse through the seed catalogues, order seed packets, clean and reorganise your seed trays, and plan your layouts. There’s still lots to be getting on with.
Before you know it, those little seedlings you’ve nurtured through the colder months will be heading out into your garden.
