January gets dismissed as a dead month in the garden. It is not. Under cover, the new growing year starts properly now — chillies, aubergines, and onions under lights, first-early potatoes chitting in the shed, and broad beans and peas ready for the first mild window in February. Outside, this is the last month for bare-root planting and the prime window for winter pruning. What you do in January sets the shape of everything that follows.
Here is what to plant, sow and do in January across the UK.
Vegetables to Sow and Plant in January
Indoor Sowing: Chillies, Aubergines, Peppers
If you did not sow chillies and aubergines in late December, early January is the next-best window. Both need five to six months to ripen fruit, and any later than mid-January risks running out of sun before the season ends.
Reliable RHS AGM chillies: ‘Apache’ (H1c) for compact container growing, ‘Hungarian Hot Wax’ (H1c) for medium heat and early ripening, ‘Fuego’ (H1c) for heavy cropping, and ‘Prairie Fire’ (H1c) for something ornamental on a sunny windowsill. For sweet peppers, ‘Gypsy’ is the old reliable (no longer on the current AGM list but still widely sold), and ‘Corno di Toro Rosso’ (RHS AGM, H1c) is excellent for long red fruits. Aubergines: ‘Bonica’ (RHS AGM, H1c) and ‘Galine’ (RHS AGM, H1c).
Sow into modules of seed compost, 1cm deep, and germinate at 20–25°C in a heated propagator. A bright windowsill works for germination but seedlings will need supplementary light once they emerge — grow lights on a timer for 14 hours a day produce sturdier plants than a south-facing windowsill alone.
Onions from Seed
Sow onion seed indoors in late January for transplanting out in April. This gives larger bulbs than sets. ‘Sturon’ (RHS AGM, H3) and ‘Hercules’ (RHS AGM, H3) are reliable yellow-skinned choices. ‘Red Baron’ (RHS AGM, H3) for red onions. Sow thinly into trays of seed compost, prick out into modules once seedlings are 5cm tall, and keep frost-free.
Broad Beans (Under Cloches)
In the south, January sowings of ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ (RHS AGM, H5) under cloches will catch up with autumn-sown plants by late spring. Sow 20cm apart, 5cm deep, with cloches in place for at least four weeks. Avoid waterlogged soil — seeds rot rather than germinate if soil temperature is below 5°C and wet.
Early Peas (Sheltered Sowing)
Mid-to-late January is the starting gun for early peas in mild southern gardens. ‘Kelvedon Wonder’ (RHS AGM, H2) is the traditional early variety and remains one of the best. Sow in modules of root trainers indoors or under cloches outside, three seeds per module, thinning to the strongest two.
Salads and Microgreens Under Cover
Quick crops sown in January in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame give the first fresh leaves of the year by mid-February. ‘Little Gem’ (RHS AGM, H2) lettuce sown now into modules will heart up by early April. Oriental greens (mizuna, mibuna, rocket) are faster still. Pea shoots sown in shallow trays of compost are ready to cut in three weeks and regrow once or twice.
Chitting Seed Potatoes
Seed potatoes arrive this month and should be chitted (pre-sprouted) before planting. Stand tubers in trays or empty egg boxes, with the end that has the most eyes (the rose end) pointing up, in a cool, bright, frost-free place. Six weeks of chitting produces stubby green shoots 2cm long — exactly what you want before planting in March.
First earlies to chit now: ‘Foremost’ (RHS AGM, H2), ‘Orla’ (RHS AGM, H2), ‘Winston’ (RHS AGM, H2), and ‘Casablanca’ (RHS AGM, H2 — bred specifically for container growing).
Fruit to Plant in January
Bare-root Trees and Bushes (Last Window)
January is the last full month of the bare-root season in most of the UK. Everything available in November and December is still available now, often at end-of-season prices. If you have been thinking about apple trees, gooseberries, or a rhubarb patch, buy now — bare-root stock from February onwards is rarely worth the money as the trees are breaking dormancy.
Priority picks: ‘Cambridge Favourite’ strawberries (RHS AGM, H6), ‘Invicta’ gooseberries (RHS AGM, H6), ‘Glen Ample’ raspberries (RHS AGM, H6), and ‘Timperley Early’ rhubarb (RHS AGM, H5).
Pruning
January is the peak month for winter pruning. Apples, pears, blackcurrants, gooseberries, and autumn-fruiting raspberries all get cut back now. Remove the three Ds first — dead, diseased, damaged wood — then thin to shape. Autumn raspberries should be cut to the ground; they fruit on canes grown in the same year.
Do NOT prune plums, cherries, peaches, apricots, or other stone fruit in January. They need summer pruning to avoid silver leaf disease.
Bulbs and Ornamentals
Snowdrops and Winter Aconites
Snowdrops and winter aconites are best planted “in the green” (just after flowering) rather than as dry bulbs. January is too early for this — wait until March. But if you have clumps that are overcrowded in borders, this is the month to plan where you will divide and move them in early spring.
Dahlia and Lily Orders
Dahlia tubers and lily bulbs arrive in garden centres from January. Dahlias are safer bought in person so you can check for firmness — soft or mouldy tubers will not recover. Store somewhere frost-free until starting into growth in March.
Sweet Peas
Sweet pea seeds can be sown now under glass for flowers from June onwards. An autumn sowing produces the earliest flowers, but a January sowing catches up quickly. Sow three seeds per root trainer, germinate at 15°C, and grow on cool.
Tasks for January
Plan and Order
- Seed catalogues are at their most tempting in January. Order seeds for spring and summer sowing now — popular varieties sell out by February.
- Plan crop rotation for the coming year. Brassicas, legumes, roots, and solanums should not follow themselves in the same bed year on year.
- Book in bare-root deliveries for late January if you have not already.
Maintenance
- Wash greenhouse glass inside and out for maximum light transmission before seed sowing ramps up. A weak solution of Citrox or horticultural soap removes algae.
- Check stored fruit (apples in trays) and stored vegetables (onions, garlic, squash) for rot and remove any affected quickly.
- Service or sharpen mower blades before spring — it is a job you will not have time for once the lawn starts growing.
- Clean pots, seed trays, and propagator lids with hot soapy water.
Soil and Composting
- Turn the compost heap if it is not frozen. Turning introduces oxygen and speeds decomposition.
- Spread any remaining compost or well-rotted manure over empty beds.
- Test soil pH if you have not in the last three years. Kits cost under £5 and guide liming and acidifying decisions.
Wildlife
- Top up bird feeders and provide fresh water daily when temperatures are low.
- Hang bird nest boxes before the end of January — great tits, blue tits, and robins start prospecting from February.
- Leave stems, seedheads, and leaf litter in borders for insect shelter until March.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it too early to sow seeds in January?
Outdoors, yes — January sowings in open ground rarely succeed. But under glass or on a warm windowsill, this is the correct month to start chillies, aubergines, onions from seed, and sweet peas. Indoor sowing in January gives you a three-month head start on crops that need a long season.
When should I plant my first-early potatoes?
Mid-March in most of the UK, late March further north. Chit the tubers from January onwards so they are ready to plant with short green shoots. Container-grown earlies can go in two to three weeks earlier under a cold frame or fleece.
Can I prune apple trees in January?
Yes — January is the ideal month for winter pruning of apples and pears. The tree is fully dormant, structure is easy to see without leaves, and pruning now encourages strong spring growth. Avoid pruning on days below freezing as wood is brittle.
What vegetables can I harvest in January?
Brussels sprouts, leeks, parsnips, swede, winter cabbage, kale, and Jerusalem artichokes are all in season. Stored crops from autumn (onions, garlic, squash, maincrop potatoes) bridge the gap. Parsnips and leeks are at their sweetest after several frosts.
Do I need grow lights for chilli seedlings?
Not to germinate, but yes for best results once seedlings emerge. UK daylight in January is short and weak. Without supplementary light, seedlings stretch towards the window and grow leggy. A basic LED grow light on a timer for 14 hours a day prevents this and produces stockier, healthier plants.
When should I start off my dahlia tubers?
Late February to early March is standard — any earlier and the shoots get too large before it is safe to plant out in May. Pot tubers into barely moist compost, keep at 10–15°C, and water sparingly until shoots are 5cm tall.
What Next?
Pick one job from this month’s list and actually get it done this week — bare-root stock waits for no one, and tulip bulbs still sitting in the shed will not flower next spring. If you are planning a bigger overhaul, work out your crop rotation before ordering seeds in January, and start a notebook for what worked and what flopped this season. Future-you will thank present-you.
Have a question about something on this list, or want to share what you are planting this month? Drop a comment below — we read every one and answer as many as we can.
For the most up-to-date AGM listings and cultivar advice, the Royal Horticultural Society publishes annual reviews.
Related Guides
- What to Plant in December UK — the previous month, with full indoor-sowing and bare-root detail.
- What to Plant in April UK — when most seedlings from January sowings go outside.
- Best LED Grow Lights for Seedlings — essential for chillies, aubergines, and onions sown now.
- Seasonal Gardening Hub — full UK planting calendar by month.
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