Growseed Blog Thoughts from growers at grow seed, hints and tips

A Guide to Growing Vegetables in January

January is often the time for contemplating, making plans, and in some cases planting seeds in your garden. Even though January is a winter month that doesn’t mean that you can’t grow some delicious vegetables and flowers at home!

Now, you might be thinking, what can you grow in January? And, is there any extra equipment you need when planting at this time of year?

Growing in the early months of a new year is different from spring or fall so you’ll need a guide to make sure you have success with your crop. Thankfully, this article is here to help you make the most of growing in January.

So, keep reading to find out more!

What to Grow in January

Before you can pick your bunch of seeds to plant you’ll need to organise a few things first. For example, as the weather is colder at this time of year you need to think about heating your plants once they’ve been planted.

That’s why you should source some heat propagators. You can find these machines at your local gardening shop or online so you won’t need to look too far. This is important if you have crops that need warm temperatures.

Next on the list is cold frames. If your environment is prone to windy and wet weather conditions. This structure provides extra insulation from the weather and will protect your seeds from any damage.

Perhaps the most obvious choice for January planting is a greenhouse. As long as you have the right amount of space then a greenhouse is ideal for growing vegetables in winter. It’s a guaranteed way to protect your plants and maintain temperature control.

Finally, like with any growing season, you need the tools and pots. Depending on the seeds and the quantity of your crop you’ll need to prepare containers in advance and make sure you have the essential tools like spades, rakes, gloves, and a watering can.

So, what exactly can you grow in January?

January Vegetables

Once you have adequate protection in place whether that be a greenhouse, cold frame, or several heat propagators then you’ll get to enjoy the fun part. Picking your seeds!

1.    Chillies

The cold weather can make you crave something warm to heat your body up. Luckily, chillies can be planted in January. This is ideal if you want to harvest something from July to October and you want to get excited about enjoying them later in the year.

Growing Requirements:

  • Sow 2-3 seeds thinly on individual pots or parts of soil
  • The temperature should be 21-27°C with assisted heat propagator
  • Germination in 3-10 days

2.    Aubergine

Aubergines go amazing with a nice piece of meat and some warm potatoes. It’s a great vegetable for a variety of meals and adds a healthy touch to your garden. You can also harvest them from July to October if you plant them in January.

Growing Requirements:

  • Sow 2-3 seeds thinly
  • Keep at a  temperature of 21-27°C
  • 3-10 days of germination

    3. Basil

Having a collection of herbs in your household is always useful when you’re cooking in the evening. If you’re looking to grow herbs in January then basil is the best choice.

When it comes to harvesting your basil will be ready from May to October.

Growing Requirements:

  • Sow the seeds thinly
  • 15-25°C for growing temperature and heat propagator
  • 14-21 days for germination

These are a few example of vegetables and herbs to grow in Janaury but there are also some other options you might want to consider. For instance, you can also grow potatoes, celery, cauliflower, spinach, and other salad seeds…

Even though growing vegetables is a fun way to spend the long days of January, you can also plant some beautiful flowers!

Planting Flowers in January

To combat the winter blues why not grow some colourful flowers? Surprisingly, flowers can grow very well at this time of year…

So, let’s take a look at what flowers you can grow at the beginning of the year.

Sweat Peas

When sweet peas bloom they produce a bright pink and purple colour that looks magical in your garden when the light hits them. The good news is, you can plant them in January!

You can expect the flowers to bloom from May/June to August.

Growing Requirements:

  • Sow sweet peas seeds 6cm deep
  • Temperature is 12°C
  • Grow in a greenhouse or protected by a cold frame

You can find two varieties of sweet pea flowers called “Mixed Sweet Peas” and “Little Sweetheart Mixed Sweet Peas”  so you have plenty to choose from when it comes to planting flowers in January!

Why January Is Ideal for Growing

When you start a new year you normally feel inspired to start a new hobby or challenge. Therefore, growing vegetables and flowers at this time of year can be freshing and give you a boost during the winter months.

Not only is it a good idea to plant at this time of year but it gives you time to complete other tasks around your garden. To begin, it’s the perfect occasion to look after the grass and surrounding area of your crops.

As frost and ice are common at this time of year you’ll want to clear the area for future crops. January is the best time of year to do some general maintenance of your garden while your vegetables and flowers are growing.

Plus, you can look out for local wildlife!

Caring for Wildlife in January

Even though birds are often quiet at the beginning of the year that doesn’t mean that you can’t feed them to keep them healthy. As they will have most likely eaten all the berries from the shrubs you can make sure they get enough nutrition via feeders.

In the meantime, you can experiment with indoor gardening and browsing the catalogues for the upcoming season and buying seeds in advance.

Now, the question everyone asks is, is winter gardening better than summer gardening?

Winter vs Summer Gardening?

Although the temperature is an obvious factor in growing in winter and summer, there are several other things to consider when deciding what time of the year you want to plant your crops. But, winter can also attract more pests as the temperatures drop.

In winter your crops will also grow slower, however, that could be a great thing! The longer days give you more time to look after your plants and enjoy the process of watching them grow.

In terms of positioning, winter gardening outside tends to be lower to the ground as well. Therefore, if you want to grow in January keep this in mind when you’re planning out your monthly growing calendar.

In contrast, summer crops are all about light and heat. So, some plants thrive better at this time of year. However, depending on where you live in the world a winter garden might be better for your needs.

Make the Most of January and Grow These Crops

The next time you’re thinking of a new year resolution then growing should be on the top of your list. As you can see there are a few options for growing vegetables in January such as chillies, aubergines, and basil.

Although there aren’t an abundance of January crops this is a good time to grow in your greenhouse and start a herb garden inside or outside. Plus, you can also plant some sweet pea flowers to brighten up the place during winter!

Take a look at the seeds on the Growseed website and pick your favourites to try in this month.