What to sow outdoors in January

Sowing in January – be patient outdoors, get going indoors

In January it often feels like winter will never end. The days are still short, cold, foggy and bleak. It’s a time when many gardeners feel very impatient – they’re really missing the outdoor work, and contact with the soil. Yet this could be just the right time for sowing the last of your seeds that need cold to germinate, in pots.

If the weather allows, there are several plants you can already sow outdoors in January:

Winter vegetables: These include winter carrots, winter radishes and winter purslane. These plants can often be sown earlier, in late autumn, but another sowing in January is also possible if the ground isn’t frozen.
Leaf greens and lettuce:There are various kinds of lettuce and leaf greens you can sow outdoors in January if the weather is mild, including lamb’s lettuce, baby leaf lettuce and spinach, for example. It’s important to water the seeds well and ensure good drainage in order to avoid waterlogging.
Early-flowering perennials: Some herbaceous perennials can flower very early in the year. These plants should be sown in autumn or early winter so that they can flower early in the season.

When sowing seeds in January you need to take a few factors into account:

Weather conditions: Before sowing check the weather forecasts carefully. If frost or very cold temperatures are forecast it’s better to delay sowing as the seeds might freeze or fail to germinate.
Protecting your plants:Coverings like polytunnels, greenhouses and fleeces can be used to protect sensitive plants from frost or strong winds. They will help to regulate temperature levels and shelter the plants from extreme conditions.
Watering: With winter sowings it’s especially important to ensure your seeds are well watered. The ground often dries out faster than in summer so it’s important to check moisture levels regularly and water your seeds or seedlings when they need it.