What can I sow now? We look at some easy seeds to sow in January for a successful start to your allotment year.
The new year is an exciting thing for gardeners. The moment the clock strikes midnight on the 31st of December, and the fireworks go off, we start to think about seeds to sow in January. Whilst others need a while to detox from all the cheese and chocolate, we are raring to go. We’re clearing out our greenhouses in sub-arctic conditions and trying to set up our sowing areas. If you’re new to allotmenting or a seasoned gardener, here’s a rundown of what you can sow and grow this month.
Seed Sowing in January
In January, it’s important to be mindful of your limitations. Light levels this time of year are so low that we will struggle with many crops, regardless of the weather. Seedlings can become etiolated or ‘leggy‘ when light levels are too low. This means that they will reach upwards towards the light, resulting in tall, spindly stems. Sometimes, this means that they are not strong enough to support a crop, and you may have to start over. Your seedlings will look tall and thin and may lean to one side if they are not getting enough light. The best thing to do is simply sow them later in the season when light levels are naturally higher.
Lower temperatures lead to a slower rate of photosynthesis. But if you’re sowing on a windowsill inside, the temperatures may far exceed the light levels required for growth. You can add grow lights if you want, or wait and sow them a little later.
You may be able to sow things like Chillies, Peppers and Aubergines if you have heated propagators and grow lights. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Waiting until February for these crops could make your life easier. Of course, if you really can’t wait, go ahead and sow. Here in Devon, we can sow chillis, peppers and aubergines but I will still tend to wait until the end of the month.
Seeds to Sow in January
There are several seeds that we can start in January if you’re raring to go. Some plants are naturlly able to cope with lower light levels. Thier growth will be steady due to the reduced temperatures.
Anything sown in January will be slow-growing and will not require much looking after. Outdoor crops such as broad beans and brassicas will need a little extra protection this time of year. Broad beans can easily become damaged by strong winds. Brassicas can succumb to pigeons that eat the soft new growth from the tops. Adding a wind break near to your broad beans can help, or staking them individually. Netting over your brassicas is the only way to fully protect them. Ensure your nets are secure so they don’t trap any unsuspecting smaller birds.
Cauliflower
Early Cauliflower such as Early Igloo or Early Romanesco, are great varieties to sow this time of year. They are both heirloom plants. This means they have been grown over generations because of their excellent qualities. You can save the seeds for next year.
To sow cauliflower seeds, fill a tray with compost and lightly scatter your seeds over the surface, with around 2-4 seeds per square inch. Cover in about 1/2 inch of compost and water with a fine-watering rose (sprinkle rather than pour!). Place the tray somewhere in full sun and cover with a propagator lid to keep in the moisture.
Seedlings with their first set of leaves should be potted on into small pots or module trays, with one seedling per tray. Choose the healthiest-looking seedlings, the ones with the biggest leaves and no discolouration. These plants are frost-hardy but because growth will be slow early in the year, it’s better to wait until they are at least 4 inches tall before planting them out, and then offer them some protection in the form of a cloche or net.
Mizuna
Mizuna is a leafy green with a tangy mustard flavour. It is a great all-year-round crop that thrives in cooler weather. This makes it an excellent choice for winter sowing and growing. You can sow directly into rows around 6 inches apart and then cover with fleece or with a cold frame.
Alternatively, you can sow indoors and plant out. To sow indoors, sprinkle seeds thinly onto a tray of compost and cover with around 1/4 inch of seed compost. Prick them out when they have their second set of leaves and grow them on in modules or small pots. Plant them out in early March in a coldframe or under some fleece to help them grow and protect them from pests.
Radish
It’s still quite early to sow radish, but if you have a cold frame or some fleece, you can get a crop from an early sowing. It’s good to have crops like radish going to seed in your allotment, too, as they help to draw in beneficial insects.
Radishes should be sown directly into the ground, where they are going to grow. Make a drill by running a spade, stick or finger along the ground, creating a shallow trench of around 1-2cm deep. Sow the seeds a few centimetres apart along the length of the drill and cover them over with fleece.
Broad Beans
It’s not too late to sow Broad Beans, but if you sow in January, I recommend doing it undercover, in cloches or a cold frame. If you’re going to sow in a greenhouse, I recommend waiting until February as they can get quite large and take up a lot of precious sowing space! Broad beans make tall plants that aren’t particularly sturdy, so winter winds can be a big problem for young, unestablished plants.
Sow Broad Beans by making a small hole, around 1-2cm deep, and placing a seed in the bottom. cover the seed with compost and water in the well. sowing in rows will make it easier to cover with a cloche or with fleece, which will protect them from inclement weather.
Other crops to Sow in January
Not all crops are grown from seed, but they can still be sown, or planted in January. Here are some other crops to consider planting this month.
Garlic
Garlic is an easy crop to plant in January, providing the ground isn’t too hard. Spring garlic can be sown from January until February, and needs a period of low temperatures for the bulbs to split into cloves.
Garlic is grown by taking a clove and inserting it into the ground, usually where it is to be grown, though you can start them off in pots. The pointy top of the garlic should be just visible above the soil. Give the garlic a good mulch to improve soil structure and help it develop.
Onions and Shallots
Onions and Shallots are planted in the same way, simply by pushing them gently into the ground. This is easier if you have recently mulched. Leave them slightly proud of the soil, but dug in enough that they wont move.
Plant onions around 4-6 inches apart and shallots 6-8 inches apart for best results. They don’t need to be covered and are fully winter hardy.
Allotment jobs for January
Now that we have covered seeds to sow in January, what jobs can be be doing?
There isn’t much that needs doing urgently this time of year. Instead the trick is in practicing patience, and preparing for the year ahead.
Now is a great time to think about fruit on your allotment. We can winter prune apple and pear trees providing it isn’t too cold to give the a boost for the following year, and we can also plant bare-root fruit trees and bushes.
Make sure to look after your wildlife in winter by topping up bird feeders, hanging bird boxes, and making sure there is access to water on your allotment and in your garden. Leaving seed heads on your plants can also help to feed the birds, and if you’re feeling particularly generous, you might want to consider leaving a kale plant or two uncovered.
Sow in January and Plan Like a Pro
When the weather forces us indoors, we should spend our time sorting out our seeds, deciding what to sow and ensuring we have the seeds required. If you would like a list of all the allotment jobs you can be doing each month of the year, I have come up with this handy planner.
It has space to write down all the seeds you want to sow for the year, and has monthly lists of what to sow indoors and outdoors, what to plant out and what to harvest. It also has dotted paper to help you plan our allotment or beds. It’s big enough to write in and small enough to tuck into your pocket or bag and take up to the allotment.
Whatever you sow in January, remember there is no rush. Make sure you have a clear plan of what you want to grow, and remember that anything sown next month will certainly catch up!