Vegetable Seeds to Sow in January

Posted on 08. Jan, 2011 by Tracey in How To Grow Veg

January is the month where we are itching to start the new year off with some new seed sowings. However it is usually very cold and wet outdoors and not the type of conditions for seed sowing or germinating.

Therefore all sowings need to be protected under cover in a mini or standard sized greenhouse or in pots with frost protection fleece. Sowings can also be started on windowsills or in porches.

Here’s a few vegetables you can start sowing now in January:

1. Onion Seeds

Onion Seed

Onions can be started from Seed in January to February or from Sets from March to April and overwinter October to December.

Onion seed is a cheaper way of starting onions. They will need more time in the ground but they tend to become stronger and can be stored for longer once harvested.

Sow: January to February
Plant Outdoors: March to April
Harvest: August to October

Popular Varieties: Bedfordshire Champion, Red Baron, Alisa Craig.
Other Varieties: Karman, Red Florence, Santero F1.

2. Micro Greens

Micro Greens

Micro greens are as the name suggests small seedlings. They are perfect for growing on your windowsills and provide plenty of nutritious green shoots within one to three weeks. Micro Seeds are very easy and quick to grow and get you started on your growing year. The green shoots can be cut with scissors and added to soups, salads, stirfries and sandwiches.

Sow: All Year Round
Harvest: All Year Round

Suttons Speedy Seed Range: Basil Dark Opal, Twinkle Pea Shoots, Broccoli Green Sprouting, Victoria Rocket, Curled Cress, Mustard.

Seeds of Italy Sprouting Seeds: Broccoli, Chicory, Rocket, Fennel, Lentil, Mustard, Radish, Red Cabbage, Swiss Chard.

Nicky’s Nursery Micro Greens Range: Kale, watercress, herbs, cabbage, broccoli, celery leaf, bulls blood beet, fennel and lots more.

Garden4Less Sprouting Seeds Range: Onion, pea, broccoli, snow peas, mustard, garlic chives, lentil, buckwheat, rocket, sunflower, salad sprouts.

3. Cauliflower

Cauliflower

Cauliflower seeds can be sown under glass in January and planted out in March to April. Cauliflower’s are a little tricky to grow as they require lots of frequent watering especially when the weather is hot as this helps the ‘curds’ form.

They also require manure or a similar fertiliser dug into the ground a few months before planting.

Cauliflower’s sown in the Spring and harvested in Summer are often called Summer Cauliflowers.

Popular Varieties: All Year Round, Candid Charm, Baby Veg – Igloo,
Other Varieties: Avalanche F1, Purple Graffiti, Trevi F1.
Sow: January to February
Plant Outdoors: March to April
Harvest: August to October

4. Chilli Pepper

Ring of Fire Chilli

Chilli Peppers need a long growing season so need to be started off in a greenhouse or a heated propagator in January. The are plenty of chilli varieties available to suit your taste buds from mild to extremely hot with a health warning!

For more information about Chilli Peppers,
please read my Chilli Facts.

Sow: January to March
Harvest: July to November

Popular Varieties to Grow: Scotch Bonnet, Cayenne Red, Jalapeno, Anaheim.

Other Varieties: Nigel’s Outdoors Chilli and Lemon Drop from Real Seeds and Trinidad Scorpion, Little Red Fire, The Naga King Chilli and The Devil’s Tongue from The Chilli Pepper Company.

5. Early Peas

Pea Pod

These peas are the overwintering varieties which can be sown from November to February. As I lost my pea seedlings that I sowed in November due to the harsh winter, this is a second chance to sow them now and still harvest them in June. Peas can be sown in pots or trays before planting out in the ground. Try to minimize the disturbance to their roots when sliding them into the ground.

If you want to sow direct into your outdoor beds, the soil cannot be too wet or frozen underneath the topsoil, as the peas won’t germinate in wet soil.

Popular Varieties to Grow: Douce Provence, Meteor, Kelvedon Wonder.
Sow: November to February
Harvest: June to July

For more Vegetables to Sow Now and Next, please see the following links:

• Vegetable Seeds to Sow in February & March Indoors,
• Vegetable Seeds to Sow in February & March Outdoors,
• Vegetable Seeds to Sow Now and Next – All Months

Other iGrowVeg Advice and Tips Pages:

Planning Your Vegetable Garden Series

A colourful seven part guide to help you plan your own vegetable garden and get sowing! Covers: crop rotation, easy to hard to grow rated vegetables, drawing a plan on paper or online, choosing seeds, putting your plan into action.

Free Resources Page

A Free downloads page of resources to accompany my Planning Your Vegetable Garden Series including plan and seed templates, pdf advice pages, all free for you to download, print and take away for your vegetable garden.

Image Source: Microgreens

Share

Tags: free vegetable plot plans, growing chilli peppers, growing early peas, growing micro greens on the windowsill, growing onions from seed, growing summer cauliflowers, growing vegetables in a raised bed, onion seed varieties, planning your own vegetable garden, sowing micro greens, sowing onion seeds, sowing vegetable seeds in January, sowing vegetables seeds in january, vegetable seeds to sow in january, what can I sow in January?