What to Plant in January – Garden-Review Seasonal Guide

January may feel like a quiet month for gardening, but with the right approach you can get a head start on the growing season. Even in cold weather, there are plenty of opportunities - from sowing hardy seeds indoors to planting bare-root shrubs, fruit bushes and early veg outdoors if the ground is workable. This guide covers what to plant in January in the UK climate, whether you’re in a garden, allotment, greenhouse or on a windowsill.

Vegetables to Sow or Plant in January

January is ideal for sowing a few hardy crops indoors or under cover and getting other plants ready for spring. Many of these benefit from a head start in a propagator, cold frame, or bright windowsill. 

• Broad Beans – Sow early varieties in pots now for an early spring harvest.
• Onions & Shallots – Start seeds or sets indoors to grow strong bulbs.
• Garlic – Plant cloves directly outdoors if soil is workable.
• Early Peas – Get going with hardy varieties in pots or under cloches. 
• Leeks – Sow in trays indoors or in a heated greenhouse. 
• Winter Spinach & Salad Leaves – Sow under protection for winter/spring harvest. 

Pro Tip for January

Use grow lights and heated propagators to boost germination and prevent seedlings becoming leggy in low light. Stick to varieties suited to cool conditions. 

Flowers to Sow or Plant in January

While many flowers wait until spring, a number of hardy species and bulbs brighten up winter gardens or can be started indoors now.

Snowdrops & Hellebores – Plant outdoors for winter and early spring colour. 

• Winter Aconites & Cyclamen coum – Naturalise well and emerge in cold soil. 
• Hardy Annuals (indoors): Calendula, Cornflowers, Nigella, Sweet Peas. 
• Perennials from Seed (indoors): Delphiniums, Lupins, Echinacea. 
• Pansies & Sarcococca – Hardy winter blooms for beds and containers. 

Indoor Bulb Forcing

Bulbs like hyacinths, tulips and crocus can be forced in pots on a cool windowsill to enjoy early blooms indoors. 

Shrubs, Fruit & Bare-Root Planting

January is still within the season for planting bare-root plants — bushes, shrubs and some fruit trees - as long as the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged. 

• Bare-root Hedges – Hawthorn, Hornbeam and other deciduous hedge plants. 
• Fruit Bushes – Currants, Gooseberries, Blackberries. 
• Bare-root Fruit Trees – Apples, Pears (plant if soil conditions allow). 

January Garden Jobs to Boost Success

Planting isn’t just about seeds - January is ideal for planning and prepping: 

• Order seeds early to secure popular varieties.
• Plan crop rotation and bed layouts for the year ahead.
• Maintain tools, clean pots and prepare compost.
• Avoid walking on waterlogged soil to prevent compaction.

With a little planning and the right environment, January can be an incredibly productive gardening month. Whether you’re sowing seeds under cover, planting bare-root stock or focusing on garden prep, you’re setting yourself up for a thriving season ahead. Get started now and enjoy the benefits through spring and summer!