{"id":43361,"date":"2025-01-07T14:13:43","date_gmt":"2025-01-07T13:13:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/0ef5a372-150e-4137-8799-a1540f5ed738"},"modified":"2025-01-07T16:31:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T15:31:22","slug":"seeds-to-sow-and-plants-to-get-in-the-earth-in-january-to-make-sure-youve-a-thriving-garden-in-spring","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/gardensillustrated\/rss_feed\/seeds-to-sow-and-plants-to-get-in-the-earth-in-january-to-make-sure-youve-a-thriving-garden-in-spring\/","title":{"rendered":"Seeds to sow and plants to get in the earth in January to make sure you’ve a thriving garden in spring"},"content":{"rendered":"

Head gardener Benjamin Pope is keeping busy this month in preparation for spring. Here are his suggestions of what you could be planting through the month of January <\/p>

By Benjamin Pope\n <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 07 January 2025 at 13:13 PM<\/p>

\n\n

Head gardener Benjamin Pope and vegetable gardener and cook Aaron Bertelsen are here to make sure your garden looks great all year round. Subscribe to Gardens Illustrated<\/em> magazine<\/a> for more tips on how to keep your garden looking perfect.<\/p>

Don’t miss our suggestions of the best winter-flowering plants<\/a>, the gardening jobs for January<\/a> and the top winter walks in gardens.<\/a><\/p>

What to plant in the garden in January<\/h2>
Onions, broad beans and sweet peas<\/h3>

Lathyrus odoratus ‘Nimbus’ sweet pea \u00a9 Jason Ingram <\/figcaption> <\/figure>
In terms of seed sowing, January is still a dark month, and outside is often too cold and wet. However, by the end of the month I generally find that I can\u2019t wait any longer and start off onions, broad beans and sweet peas<\/a> in modules, first in the greenhouse<\/a> but then quickly moving them somewhere cool (but frost free) to grow on.<\/p>
Sweet peas<\/h4>
I find starting off sweet peas<\/a> now easier than looking after them through all of winter, though these early module sowings usually require potting on and supporting with split canes or twigs, before planting out in spring.<\/p>

<\/div> <\/figure> <p>Here’s more on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/sweet-peas-how-to-grow\">how to grow sweet peas<\/a><\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-don-t-plant-perennials-plant-trees-and-shrubs\">Don’t plant perennials, plant trees and shrubs<\/h3> <p>As January is usually one of the coldest months, I would avoid planting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/tips-for-combining-perennials-and-roses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">perennials<\/a> (which I\u2019ve found generally do better if they can get growing straight away). Instead, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/how-to\/planting-tree-maintenance-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">plant trees<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/the-best-winter-stems-for-late-season-colour\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">shrubs<\/a>. Bareroot season is in full swing and planting a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/hedging-plants-30-best\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hedge<\/a> is a great way to add structure to the garden and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/garden-advice\/how-to\/attract-wildlife-garden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">provide habitat for wildlife.<\/a><\/p> <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1357\" height=\"1018\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/11\/GILLTreePlantingCard-001785_1-edited.jpg\" alt=\"How to plant a tree\" class=\"wp-image-180944\"\/> <figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Planting a tree \u00a9 Andrew Montgomery <\/figcaption> <\/figure> <p>This year I am going to plant the seldom-seen <em>Sorbus torminalis<\/em> (known commonly as both the checker tree and the wild service tree), where its flowers, leaves and fruit will provide a good source of food for a range of wildlife.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Growing greens inside<\/h3> <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/01\/GettyImages-1463869553-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Herbs on a windowsill\" class=\"wp-image-181960\"\/> <figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Herbs on a windowsill \u00a9 Liudmila Chernetska\/Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure> <p>Don\u2019t let the low temperatures or the lack of a garden stop you growing. Even if it\u2019s too cold to venture outside \u2013 indeed, even if you don\u2019t have a space to venture out to \u2013 there\u2019s no reason why you should be deprived of fresh greens. As long as you have a windowsill, you can take advantage of the micro-climate indoors to sow some quick-growing herbs and salads. Try parsley, coriander, peppery rockets and mustards, radishes or one of the winter salad mixes designed specifically to do well during the shorter days.<\/p> <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fruit and veg in pots<\/h3> <figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/40\/2024\/01\/GettyImages-579186886-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Fresh blueberries\" class=\"wp-image-181962\"\/> <figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> Fresh blueberries \u00a9\u00a0 Cath\u00e9rine\/Getty <\/figcaption> <\/figure> <p>One of the joys of growing fruit and vegetables in pots is that you can choose the soil to suit the plant. Blueberries, for example \u2013 as members of the <em>Ericaceae<\/em> family, they need acidic soil in order to thrive. Few of us have this in our gardens, but a large pot filled with good-quality ericaceous compost will provide the perfect micro-environment.<\/p> <p>If you\u2019re going to be growing in a pot, choose a dwarf cultivar. I\u2019ve had good results from \u2018Top Hat\u2019 (<em>Vaccinium corymbosum<\/em>), which has medium-sized fruit with an excellent flavour. Add a little grit to the compost when you\u2019re filling the pot to aid drainage. Blueberries are best watered with rainwater, as tap water contains lime, which will raise the pH of the soil over time. Make sure you use an ericaceous feed, too. In winter, remove any old or damaged wood and mulch around the base \u2013 a layer of pine needles is ideal, as it will add further acid to the soil \u2013 making sure to leave a clear margin around the stem.<\/p> <p>Don’t miss our round up of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardensillustrated.com\/plants\/perennial-plants-best\">best perennial plants<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Head gardener Benjamin Pope is keeping busy this month in preparation for spring. 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