The cold month of January is near and a lot of new gardeners are often confused about what plants they can start in January.
If you’re one of these confused gardeners, you’ve come to the right place for guidance!
This article will walk you through a list of plants that are perfect for the month of January. (P.S. It’s a mix of herbs, fruits, vegetables, and some flowers)
What Plants To Start In January? 7 Top Choices!
Let’s jump straight into it, shall we?
7 – Tomatoes
Tomato seeds can be started in January 5-8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Ideally, you would start them indoors as it allows you to control factors like light, temperature, and humidity.
If you manage to transplant the tomato seedlings early and at the right time, you may be able to benefit from a longer fruiting period.
6 – Basil
Starting basil in January can be a good idea for two main reasons.
Firstly, if you give basil an early start, the seedlings should be ready to transplant by the time outdoor conditions become more favorable. The second reason is that planting basil indoors during January (which is a head start) allows you the opportunity to enjoy fresh basil all year round.
5 – Pansies
Pansies are a great choice for starting indoors during January. They are winter-season flowers that surprisingly do quite well in frost.
By starting pansies earlier you can give them a head start, ensuring earlier blooming and a chance for the plants to fully develop foliage and strong roots.
4 – Onions
Onions are another solid option for January plantings. Seeds of this bulbous vegetable can be started 7-10 weeks before the last frost date.
The good thing is that onions aren’t limited to seeds only, and can be grown from seedlings, using water propagation, and even through onion bulbs.
3 – Petunias
It’s a good idea to start petunia seeds in January because they typically have extended growing periods, taking up to 10-12 whole weeks to decently mature. If you start the seeds earlier in the year, it allows you to enjoy fully grown and blooming petunias by early summer.
2 – Strawberries
Like the petunias, strawberries need ample time to develop solid plants and establish their root system before they can start producing any meaningful fruit.
Starting the seeds in January means you’re giving them a head start and allowing for solid development in the strawberry plant before fruiting conditions come around.
Earlier planting can also potentially result in earlier fruit growth and harvesting, especially if they’re indoor strawberry varieties.
1 – Verbenas
It can be advantageous to start verbenas early in January because they require a long growing period to establish strong roots and foliage. Early starting ensures they’re going to be welcomed by a favorable growing season that could potentially lead to early blooming.
It is also believed that plants started earlier in the year build a lot more resiliency compared to those that are started just before the growing season.
Final Words
So, there you go, 7 top choices for plants that can be started in January! Now, it all comes down to what you want to see in your garden and the growing conditions your garden, region, and soil have to offer.
Don’t make the mistake of planting something unsuitable for your particular environment! Only start seeds that you know will go on to become mature plants and have bountiful yields and blooms.
