What to plant in the January edible garden

 

Saturday, January 16, 2021

In January, there are things you can plant if you have a hotbed outdoors.  January is the time to get started sowing seeds indoors to get a head start on spring and summer harvests.  

Hot beds have been around for hundreds of years.  Before there was electricity, hot beds were heated by 18" of fresh and dried horse manure, covered by 12" of soil.  A pit was dug down so that the manure and soil were below ground level to keep the heat in.  It was covered by a wooden box with a glass angled to the sun.  Today, the same can be done.  Folks also use a light bulb or heating pad to keep the temperature above freezing and below 55 degrees F.  

There are a few cole crops that can be placed in hot beds this time of year and seeds sown.

January outdoor hot beds
Winter hardy lettuce transplants

Cauliflower transplants

Strawberry transplants

Cold hardy lettuce seeds

Carrot seeds

Radish seeds

Spinach seeds

Austrian winter pea seeds

January yard, garden bed

Bare root fruit trees

There are many seeds that can be started indoors in January.  Take a look at your frost date and seed packet for the best time to plant.  Earlier is not better.  If left indoors too long, the seedlings just get spindly and weak.

January seeds indoors

12-16 weeks before last frost

Cabbage

Celery and Celeriac

Corn Salad (Mache)

Onions

12 weeks before last frost

Artichokes

Parsley

Peas

10-12 weeks before last frost

Endive

Escarole

Leeks

8-12 weeks before last frost

Eggplant

Kale

Kohlrabi

Mustard

Spinach

Sprouting broccoli

There are many flower seeds that can be started in January as well.  Butterfly weed, Chinese lanterns, Drumstick flower, Angel's trumpet, Delphinium, Sweet William, Foxglove, Eucalyptus, Blanket flower, Helianthus maximilliani, Hollyhock, Lisianthus, Lupine, Pansy, Petunia, Prince's feather, Black-eyed Susan, Snapdragon, Stock, Verbana, Yarrow are a few that can be started indoors in January.