If you can’t wait to start planting bulbs and sowing seeds this January then you’re in luck! There are lots of flowers and vegetables you can get going indoors and out. One of the main tasks is to get any new fruit trees and dormant shrubs in before the sap starts to rise. Remember to warm any soil for a minimum of 2 weeks before planting outdoors in winter.

Fruit Trees and Dormant Shrubs

If you plan on growing any fruit this year which grows on trees or shrubs, (such as apples, pears, raspberries, and cherries) your best bet is to buy ready grown small trees available at most good garden centres. These should ideally be planted out in the autumn but can go out up until March; the idea is that this allows them time to establish their roots before the summer. Therefore the earlier you plant them out the better so plant out as soon as the ground becomes workable. To make sure that newly planted trees and shrubs aren’t brought up by the wind or frost, stake them to the ground and check them every few days for lifting.

Bulbs and Seeds You Received For Christmas

If you received any bulbs or seeds as gifts this Christmas, now’s the time to plant them. Hyacinths, Amaryllis, Crocuses, and Irises will all need to be planted indoors to start off and planted out when the spring comes. If you’ve received the gift of a forced plant, keep this inside too. Keep all bulbs well watered in a warm light spot to help them grow strong established roots before they are placed into the ground.

Vegetable Gardening

For many vegetable gardeners, January is a time to prepare ground and plan your crop rotation. However by sowing seeds indoors, especially if you live in cooler parts of the UK, you can give your vegetables an early boost and get them off to a good start. Vegetable seeds to sow indoors during January include all-year-round lettuce, tomatoes, and aubergines. Alliums, such as, garlic, onions, and leeks, can be planted straight into the vegetable patch as soon as the soil becomes workable. When planting out this early remember to cover with cloches or fleece to protect from snow and frost. Rhubarb can be forced during January by covering the crown with an upturned bucket.

Planting Forgotten Spring Bulbs

If you forgot to plant your tulip and daffodil bulbs back in the autumn, plant them indoors now. Planting bulbs indoors will make them grow faster so they will be ready to plant out in spring. You can use these potted flowers to fill in any gaps in your spring flower beds where flowers may have failed to grow or died off during the winter. As this method of planting bulbs will make your flowers grow faster, their stems may not be as strong and sturdy so give them support by surrounding them by bushy foliage.

Winter Flowering Plants

If you’re looking for a bit of instant winter colour, don’t be tempted to plant out winter flowering plants. Instead plant ivy and holly in hanging baskets and pots for now, ready to be planted in the ground during spring. This will give them chance to establish good roots by next winter.

So if you’re dying to get planting bulbs and sowing seeds, there is a lot to keep you going before the warm weather arrives. Be careful not to plant out too soon though, and when you do, make sure the ground has been warmed for as long as possible and protect from any late frost and snow.