The arrival of the new year brings with it the opportunity to sow seeds indoors for the year ahead.
For some plants, including tropical crops like chillies and aubergines, sowing as early as January means you’re more likely to get a good crop.
However, early seed sowing will require some patience. Low light levels and high indoor temperatures can lead to weak seedlings, prone to ‘damping off’. Prevent issues by thoroughly cleaning everything that will come into contact with seeds or seedlings. Use good peat-free seed compost, a heated propagator (ideally with adjustable heat settings) and a grow light.
You will need:
It’s exciting to be able to start sowing a variety of different seeds at this time of year, and to give them the best chance you might find that it’s worth investing in additional kit, which we’ve suggested below.
- Heated propagator:available in a range of shapes and sizes, we’ve suggested the best heated propagators, which provide the perfect growing conditions for seedlings.
- Grow light:Âgrow lights are invaluable for increasing light levels early in the year, when conditions are often cloudy and day length is short.
- Cold frame:if you’re prepared to add a bit of extra insulation, a cold frame offers protection against wintry weather and can help hardy seeds get off to a flying start too – check out our pick of the best garden cold frames.
- Greenhouse:for those of you who have been toying with the idea of a greenhouse, we’ve got handy guides packed with information about how to choose the best greenhouse, as well as 12 of the most useful greenhouse accessories. No outside space? No problem – our round-up of the best indoor greenhouses is just for you.
- Tools, pots and supports:once your seedlings are ready to plant out later in the year, you’ll find that a hand trowel is a great tool for the job. Our expert testers have put a range of styles through their paces to find the best garden hand trowels, so you can buy in confidence. If you’re looking to create eye-catching containers with your homegrown plants, we’ve also selected the best eco friendly plant pots, while our pick of decorative garden obelisks and plant supports will help keep your sweet peas looking in tip top condition.
Vegetables to grow in January
Chillies
When to harvest: July to October.
How to grow: sow 2-3 seeds thinly per small individual pot using peat-free seed compost. Cover seeds to their own depth with vermiculite and keep in a heated propagator (if you can control its heat setting, set it to 21°C). Once seedlings have germinated, remove the lid of the propagator and – if you can – turn the heat down to 16-18ºC. Consider using a grow light to stop the seedlings from becoming leggy.
When seedlings are 2–3cm tall, take them off the propagator and pot them on into individual pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost, moving them somewhere warm – chillies do best with a night-time temperature no lower than 15ºC, so room temperature is fine. Bear in mind that windowsill temperatures may drop below 15ºC at night.
If light levels are still low, continue using the grow light until day length increases. Pot on into a slightly larger pot when roots begin to show through the drainage holes. They will be ready to grow in a greenhouse or conservatory when night-time temperatures have reached 15ºC.
- How to grow chillies
- Buy chilli seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Aubergines
When to harvest: July to October.
How to grow: like chillies, aubergines should be sown thinly per small individual pot of peat-free seed compost, and covered to their own depth with vermiculite. Keep in a heated propagator set it to 21°C, then remove the cover and turn down the heat to 16-18ºC once seeds have germinated. Consider using a grow light to stop the seedlings from becoming leggy.
When seedlings are 2–3cm tall, pot them on into individual pots of peat-free, multi-purpose compost, keeping them somewhere warm like a sunny windowsill, but you may need to move them away from the window at night if temperatures dip below 15ºC. Continue using the grow light if necessary.
Pot on into a slightly larger pot when roots begin to show through the drainage holes. They will be ready to grow in a greenhouse or conservatory when night-time temperatures have reached 15ºC.
- How to grow aubergines
- Buy aubergine seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Basil
When to harvest: May to October.
How to grow:sow basil thinly on the surface of pots or trays of seed compost, cover with vermiculite. Keep temperatures at around 20°C, ideally in a heated propagator. Consider using a grow light to stop the seedlings from becoming leggy.
When seedlings are big enough to handle, pot them on into individual pots filled with a peat-free, soil-based compost mixed with multi-purpose compost. Pinch out tips to encourage bushy plants. Keep warm indoors or plant outside from June to August.
- How to grow basil
- Buy basil seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Onions
When to harvest: July to October.
How to grow:Âsow seed into modular cells of moist, peat-free seed compost, ideally one seed per module but two to three seeds is fine – you’ll just get smaller onions. Keep warm at 10-16ºC, in a heated propagator or warm windowsill. Once seeds have germinated, keep in a bright spot at room temperature, and keep compost moist. Pot the plants on if you need to, taking care not to split up the clumps of two to three growing together. Then harden them off in spring before planting into well-prepared ground, spacing them 5–10cm apart, in rows 25–30cm apart.
- How to grow onions from seed
- Buy onion seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Broad beans
When to harvest: May to August.
How to grow:(if you live in a mild area only, otherwise hold off until March) sow seed individually into modular cells or small pots of moist, peat-free seed compost. There’s no need to provide heat as they will germinate within three weeks in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame – protect from mice if necessary. Keep well watered. After a further three weeks, pinch out the tips of each plant to encourage bushy growth, and harden off to acclimatise them to outside conditions. Then plant out into well-prepared ground, spacing them in single rows 45cm apart or double rows 20cm apart, with 60cm between rows. If frost is forecast, cover with a cloche or horticultural fleece.
- How to grow broad beans
- Buy broad bean seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Fruit to grow in January
Strawberries
When to harvest:ÂMay onwards
How to grow:plant strawberry runners and bare root plants under cloches for an earlier crop – typically from May. Plant in pots or bare soil, 30cm apart, with any long roots splayed outwards so they are only just buried. Water well. They should put on growth a few weeks before those growing outside.
- Buy bareroot strawberries from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Raspberries
When to harvest:
How to grow:plant raspberry canes in soil that isn’t frozen or waterlogged. Choose a sunny sites with free-draining soil. Prepare the soil well and plant the canes at the same depth they were growing in the field – there should be a ‘tide mark’ on the stem to guide you. Space plants 45–60cm, with 1.8m between rows.
- Buy raspberry canes from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Loganberries
Fruits: July to August
How to grow:like trees and shrubs, loganberries are available to buy as bare-root or container-grown plants. Whichever you buy, plant them at the same depth they were grown in the field. Prepare the soil thoroughly and dig a square hole that’s no deeper than the roots but is three times as wide. Place the roots in the hole and check it sits at the correct depth before backfilling with soil and firming gently. Water thoroughly.
- Buy loganberries from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
For fruit trees and other bare-root fruit you can plant in January, see trees and shrubs.
Flowers to grow in January
Geraniums (pelargoniums)
Flowers: May to October/November.
How to grow:Sow geraniums thinly in small seed trays using good quality, peat-free seed compost mixed with 10 per cent horticultural grit. Water the compost and allow to drain before sowing, then sow on the surface, spacing the seeds so they have room to grow. Barely bury the seeds so they are only just covered, or cover with a layer of vermiculite instead, which lets light penetrate the seeds while keeping them moist. Keep in a covered, heated propagator set to a steady temperature of 21-24°C. Ensure the compost stays moist but not wet. Germination takes 3-12 days. Once seedlings emerge, remove the cover and reduce the temperature of the propagator, then plant into individual pots when they’re large enough to handle.
- Buy geranium seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Sweet peas
When it flowers: May/June to August.
How to grow:Sow sweet peas 6cm deep in 7cm pots using good quality, peat-free seed compost mixed with 10 per cent grit. there’s no need to keep the pots in a heated propagator as seeds will germinate at a temperature of 12°C – a windowsill indoors is ideal. keep compost moist but not wet. Once seeds have germinated, keep them in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame. When seedlings are 10cm tall, pinch out the tips to encourage bushy growth. Plant out into their final growing positions from mid-spring.
- Buy sweet pea seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Dahlias
Flowers: July to October/November.
How to grow:Sow 1-2 dahlia seeds in cells or small pots using good quality, peat-free seed compost mixed with 10 per cent vermiculite. Water lightly with a watering can with the rose turned upwards to minimise flow. Keep in a heated propagator set to 18-21°C, and ensure the compost remains moist but does not become wet. Germination takes approximately 5-20 days. Transplant the seedlings into individual pots once two pairs of true leaves have grown.
- Buy dahlia seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Delphinium
Flowers: June and July.
How to grow:Sow delphiniums thinly in trays of good quality, peat-free seed compost mixed with 10 per cent vermiculite. Then barely cover the seed with vermiculite as the seeds need light to germinate. Before germination, delphinium seeds can benefit from a period of stratification, so keep the trays in the fridge for three weeks, then place in a heated propagator set to 15-21°C. Germination takes 7-28 days. Pot into individual pots when seedlings are large enough to handle.
- Buy delphinium seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Crocus
Begonias
Flowers: July to October/November.
How to grow:Sow begonias thinly on the surface in trays of good quality, peat-free seed compost, topped with a thin layer of vermiculite so light can reach the seeds. Water with the rose of the watering can turned up to reduce flow, and allow to drain. Place in a covered, heated propagator set to 19-24°C, in a well-lit spot. Germination is slow, if nothing has happened within a month, move to a brighter spot or consider using a grow lamp to help things along.
- Buy begonia seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Petunias
Flowers: late June to September.
How to grow:Sow petunias thinly on the surface in small trays of good quality, peat-free seed compost mixed with 10 per cent vermiculite, and top with a thin layer of vermiculite so light can reach the seeds. Water with the rose of the watering can turned up to reduce flow, and allow to drain. Place in a covered, heated propagator set to 24-27°C. Germination takes 14 days – if seeds still haven’t germinated after two weeks move the propagator to a spot with more natural light, or consider using a grow lamp to help things along.
- Buy petunia seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Iceland poppies
Flowers: June to October.
How to grow:Fill small pots with good quality, peat-free seed compost mixed with 20 per cent fine horticultural grit. Water and allow to drain. Sow two to three Icelandic poppy seeds on the surface of the compost and firm the compost gently so the seeds are in contact with the compost. There’s no need to use a heated propagator as the minimum temperature required for germination is 12°C, so a windowsill is fine. Germination takes 14-21 days. After seedlings emerge, keep in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame to grow on.
- Buy Icelandic poppy seeds from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Trees and shrubs to plant in January
Bare-root planting season takes place from November to March, when trees and shrubs are dormant and can be dug up from the field without their roots and sold far more cheaply than those sold in pots. Pretty much any bare-root tree or shrub can be planted in January as long as the plant is hardy (such as a native tree) and if planting conditions are agreeable. Never plant into frozen or waterlogged ground. If you need to you can plant your tree or shrub temporarily in a pot, until soil conditions improve.
Hawthorn
Flowers: May
How to grow:Âplant bare-root standard trees or hedging whips at the same depth they were grown in the field (look for a soil ‘tide mark’ on the stem to guide you). For a hedge, plant a double row, spacing the whips 30cm apart. For a standard tree, dig a square hole that’s no deeper than the roots but is three times as wide. Place the roots in the hole and check it sits at the correct depth before backfilling with soil and firming gently. Water thoroughly.
- Buy hawthorn from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Apple
Fruits: August to November
How to grow:Âplant bare-root and pot-grown apples at the same depth they were grown in the field (look for a soil ‘tide mark’ on the stem to guide you). Dig a square hole that’s no deeper than the roots but is three times as wide. Place the roots in the hole and check it sits at the correct depth before backfilling with soil and firming gently. Water thoroughly.
- Buy hawthorn from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Gooseberries
Fruits: June to August
How to grow:Âplant bare-root and pot-grown gooseberries at the same depth they were grown in the field (look for a soil ‘tide mark’ on the stem to guide you). Prepare the soil thoroughly and dig a square hole that’s no deeper than the roots but is three times as wide. Place the roots in the hole and check it sits at the correct depth before backfilling with soil and firming gently. Water thoroughly.
- Buy gooseberries from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
Blackcurrant
Fruits: July to August
How to grow:Âplant bare-root and pot-grown blackcurrants at the same depth they were grown in the field (look for a soil ‘tide mark’ on the stem to guide you). Prepare the soil thoroughly and dig a square hole that’s no deeper than the roots but is three times as wide. Place the roots in the hole and check it sits at the correct depth before backfilling with soil and firming gently. Water thoroughly.
- Buy blackcurrants from Thompson & Morgan and Suttons
* This article was originally published here
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