What Seeds To Sow In January

It might still be very cold outside, and very wet too this year, but spring isn't too far off now. And that means we can start sowing again!

I know you have all been itching to get going again and spread some fresh new life into the garden. So, with that in mind, here are some veggies you can sow in January!

In January, I recommend sowing indoors, giving them a head start and ensuring robust plants are ready to thrive when transplanted outdoors.

Tomatoes

January is actually a little early for sowing tomato seeds for most people. But if you have the room to grow your plants quite large indoors before moving them out, then it works well.

This will also give you a massive headstart, and you will be harvesting tomatoes very early in the season.

Chillies

Chilies need a long growing season, so starting them early in the year is perfect. I make sure they're kept in a warm spot and have plenty of light to stimulate strong growth.

You will need a propagator, heated mat and artificial light to ensure your chillis get off to the best possible start.

Hotter chillis often require an even longer growing season than sweet ones, so I always start my extra spicy ones first.

Aubergines/Eggplant

Eggplants, also known as aubergines, require similar conditions to tomatoes and chilies. Planting them now means I'll enjoy a more extended harvesting period come summer.

Onions

Sowing onion seeds indoors in January paves the way for lovely, full-sized bulbs later in the year. I use seed trays and keep the soil moist to ensure good germination.

I use the Charles Dowding module sowing method, sowing them in big batches of 6-10 seeds per module.

I then separate them come planting time - onion seedlings are very easy to separate. Or you can just plant the whole block together. These will grow smaller, but you will get many more onions for your space.

Leeks

For leeks, January is the ideal time to sow. They take a while to develop, so I start them early to get sturdy plants ready for the autumn and winter harvest.

Cauliflower

Cauliflower seeds can also be sown now. I prefer to sow them in modules to easily transplant them later without disturbing the roots too much.

Carrots

While it's a bit early for outdoor sowing, I start carrot seeds in deep containers under cover. This method avoids the worst of the carrot fly season and can yield an early crop.

Broad Beans

Broad beans are tough plants. If I sow them in January under cover, they'll be prepared for an early spring planting and provide one of the first pickings.

Kale

Hardy kale seeds are perfect for a January start indoors. I'll transplant them out after a few weeks to give them plenty of time to establish before the cold weather returns.

Lettuce

Finally, I love to get a jump on lettuce. Several varieties can be sown now under glass for an early spring harvest. It's essential to keep the soil just moist and in a spot that's light but cool.