What Seeds to Start in January
We’ve entered a new year: 2025. As January draws to a close, you might want to begin sowing seeds that take a long time to grow. There are many seeds you can cultivate during the winter months; you don’t have to stop or wait just because it’s cold outside! This year, I will experiment with cultivating seeds outdoors during the snowy winter. It’s so exciting for me! I can’t wait to see how quickly the plants grow, when they sprout, and how they look as they grow outside.
I plan to sow most of my seeds in the greenhouse—not directly in the cold frame, but in mobile seed trays. However, spinach might be sown directly on the ground (or, more accurately, on the ground since it’s winter).
I’ll also sow seeds indoors, as it’s necessary for more sensitive plants. Below, I’ve listed some of the seeds that you can start in late January. If you’ve tried other types of seeds and had success growing them in the middle of winter, let me know in the comments! I’d love to learn from you. After all, we’re here to learn from each other and enjoy the process.
Indoors: Seeds to Sow in Late January
- Artichoke
- Chili
- Leek
- Dill
- Tomatoes
- Sweet peppers
- Celery
Some plants will be more challenging than others. Some will grow slow and some will grow fast. My advice is to start sowing and experimenting. You’ll learn as you go. Don’t be discouraged if something doesn’t work out. In fact, expect some setbacks—they happen to all of us from time to time.
Think of your plants as little “babies” that need regular care and attention to survive and thrive. A little effort here and there will, over time, reveal how everything develops. You’ll eventually get the hang of it. During this time of year is also a good time to experiment. If something goes wrong you will have time to try again.
Indoor Sowing: How to Grow in January
- Prepare your pots – Ensure they’re clean and ready to use.
- Fill pots ¾ full with composted soil.
- Sow seeds – Place one or more seeds in each pot, depending on its size (though one per pot is preferable).
- Water gently.
- Cover seeds with soil.
- Water gently again.
- Place pots under an LED lamp or on a sunny windowsill.
January is an ideal time to sow as many seeds as you need and want. Home gardeners don’t have to worry about night-time temperatures indoors! This is a great time to plan and prepare.
Growing plants on a warm windowsill might not be enough during winter. This year, I’m trying LED lamps to help my plants grow sturdy and strong. In the past, I’ve struggled to provide adequate light, so I’m excited to try this setup. Beneath the LED light, I’ll place five plug trays. These trays, with drainage holes, are perfect for watering. I am planning to write a post about it, so stay tuned!
I’ll plant most of my indoor seeds—like tomatoes, sweet peppers, artichokes, and chili—in these trays. I am also planning to use my newspaper pots for indoor cultivation. You can read more about how to make newspaper pots here. My best harvests have always come from starting seeds early. Some plants, such as tomatoes, need a lot of time to grow. Sowing in January gives them a head start and ensures a bountiful harvest. Learn more about Raised Bed Gardening for Tomatoes here.
This year, I’ll try not to sow too many seeds of the same kind. I’ve done that before and ended up with more plants than I had space for in my vegetable garden (which is never big enough, haha!). If I do have too many, I can always share them with others—it’s a great way to spread the joy of gardening!
If you do not have an LED light, try to find a lamp that you can place over your plants. They will need good light once they emerge above the soil. If you don’t provide them with enough light, they will stretch excessively as they search for it, putting too much effort into growing tall. This has happened to me, and you can easily tell when they’ve been searching for light for a while.
With that being said, start by sowing your seeds in small pots. As the plants grow bigger and taller, you can transfer them into larger pots and provide them with more water and nutrients. I would simply add fresh soil to the old, which will give them more nutrients. You can always tell if the plant is thriving or not. Are the leaves green and fresh? If so, that means you’re doing great! If not, ask yourself if they are getting enough light, nutrients, and water. They might also be getting too much of these things, so you need to be careful to maintain a balance. By starting your cultivation in January you will have a long growing season!
Growing Food Outside
Sowing seeds outdoors provides more indoor space and results in sturdier plants. This winter, I’ll experiment with sowing seeds directly on the ground outside in late January or early February.
Seeds to Sow Outside in January
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
- Cabbage
To grow seeds outside:
- Sow them directly on frosty ground or in pots in an unheated greenhouse.
- If snow is present, clear it away before sowing.
- Cover the seeds with fresh soil.
- Add snow on top—the melting snow will water the seeds as they sprout.
The seeds won’t sprout until the right temperature arrives, so patience is key. Outdoor planting ensures the seeds grow at the perfect time, eliminating guesswork. This differs from indoor sowing, where timing and careful transplanting are crucial to avoid setbacks. That’s why sowing outside during winter is such exciting news for gardeners. You don’t need to worry about the last frost date or the precise timing of sowing. The great news is that by early spring, the seeds will begin to sprout, giving you an earlier harvest compared to sowing them later in the season.
Planning Ahead
The best gardening results come from planning ahead and starting early. In colder climates, an early start is essential because the growing season is short. Sowing seeds in January extends the growing season and makes gardening more enjoyable.
Gardening during winter also reduces the spring and summer workload. Many gardeners find April and May overwhelming, as everything in the garden demands attention at once. By starting earlier, you can ease the springtime rush and enjoy the process more.
When planning, I recommend sketching your garden layout to keep track of what you’ve planted and where. This also helps with crop rotation to minimize pests. Each year, we expand our cultivation—whether by planting more fruit trees, building greenhouses, or enlarging garden beds. While moving grow boxes can be tiring, placing them strategically makes future expansions easier.
Consider what vegetables your household enjoys most. Focus on those while experimenting with new varieties. For example, I’ve grown radishes before, but since my kids don’t like them, I’ll prioritize other vegetables this year. Growing easy crops first can boost your confidence, and as you gain experience, you can try more challenging plants.
We’ve also been increasingly focusing on cultivating and planting trees, bushes, and other fruit or vegetable plants that require less attention. Harvesting more with less effort is truly rewarding. Over the past few years, we’ve made it a goal to plant at least one new fruit tree each year. While planting trees isn’t something you can typically do at the end of January, this is the perfect time to plan. Think about what type of tree you’d like to plant and where you’d like it to grow.
Tips for Success
Starting early is the key to success. January is a great time to prepare your seeds, space, soil, and trays. Growing seeds is an exciting project, and I hope you enjoy the process as much as I do. Be aware that the back of seed packets does not always tell the whole story. You can generally start sowing earlier and sow outdoors earlier as well! I believe you can sow even earlier than January, but I personally enjoy taking a few months’ break from cultivation. It gives me a fresh start when the season begins again.
When you start your January planting, it won’t be as dramatic if something goes wrong during cultivation. Some of the vegetable seeds you sow may not grow at all. That is why you just have to give it a try and evaluate as you go. The best results don’t happen overnight. It takes time to learn, so give yourself that time. Remeber though, that you have time to sow more seeds is something goes wrong. Give it another try and do something dirrerently.
Since this is a homeschooling blog, I encourage you to involve your kids in the process. It may get messy, but it will be a fun and educational experience for them. Kids love to use their hands and hold on to things. I have also noticed that they especially enjoy playing with water. I used to have a spray bottle that they could use for watering the soil and the seeds when they sprouted. That has been a fun activity for them.
With that being said, I sincerely hope you have a wonderful time together as a family and as home gardeners. I hope you get to cultivate what you have always wanted to grow and enjoy a plentiful harvest. May you and your family thrive together and continue to expand your gardening skills!
Happy Gardening!
