Winter can feel like a dormant period where the garden is asleep and our hands stay out of the dirt. However, the online gardening community is buzzing with activity that suggests otherwise. A quick scroll through the gardening side of TikTok (endearingly known as “Gardentok”) reveals a thriving subculture of green thumbs who are already busy planning and planting for the season ahead. Many of these creators are showing us that January is not too early to start growing. It can actually be the perfect time to get certain seeds in the dirt, right in a sunny windowsill.
Inspiration From TikTok Gardeners
Social media has become a surprising hub for horticultural wisdom. Creators are sharing their tips and tricks for maximizing the growing season, and one popular video captures the excitement of getting an early jump on seed-starting. A creator known as “gardening with deea” (@gardening_with_deea), posted a clip that has garnered more than 16,000 likes, in which she flips through a handful of colorful seed packets to show exactly what she is starting in January.
Her selection shows that you don’t need to wait for the frost to thaw, to get moving. Deea showcases plans for Brussels sprouts, strawberries, broccoli, chives, lettuce, and parsley. Her enthusiasm is contagious and offers permission to anyone else itching to get their hands dirty.
What To Plant In The Dead Of Winter
While it might seem counterintuitive to plant when snow is on the ground, many crops require an especially long head start. This is especially true for gardeners living in colder regions like zone 5. The key is identifying plants that mature slowly and need many weeks of growing before they can be moved outside.
Peppers and eggplant are classic examples of heat-loving crops that benefit from an early start indoors. Celery and celeriac are also notoriously slow to germinate and grow, making them prime candidates for January sowing. Perennial herbs like thyme, oregano, and rosemary take their time establishing strong root systems, so getting them going now ensures you will have robust plants ready for harvest by early summer. Even flowers like pansies and snapdragons can be started now to ensure early blooms.
Perhaps the most critical family of vegetables to start in January includes onions, shallots, and leeks. These members of the allium family are unique because they require a significantly longer growing period to reach the right size for transplanting. If you wait until March or April to start your onions from seed, you might end up with disappointingly small bulbs at harvest time.
Starting alliums indoors during the depths of winter gives them months to develop strong root systems and substantial green tops. By the time the soil is workable in the spring, you will have sturdy transplants that can withstand the transition to the garden. This early effort directly translates to larger, more impressive onions and leeks later in the year.
Why Start Your Own Seeds
There are compelling reasons to start your own plants from seed rather than relying on nurseries in the spring. The most obvious benefit is variety. Garden centers typically carry a limited selection of popular varieties. When you buy seeds, you unlock thousands of unique heirloom and hybrid options that you would never find on a store shelf. You can choose vegetables bred specifically for flavor, color, or disease resistance.
Cost is another significant factor. A single packet of seeds often costs less than one transplant at a nursery, yet it yields dozens of plants. Over time, the savings are substantial. In addition, starting your own seeds gives you complete control over how your food is grown from day one. You know exactly what soil was used and can ensure no unwanted chemicals were applied.
The Joy Of Winter Growth
Beyond the practical benefits, there is a profound emotional reward to indoor gardening in January. Winter can be a drab and gray season. Having trays of vibrant green seedlings brings a tangible sense of life and hope into the home. It offers a daily reminder that spring is coming, and life continues.
Checking on your seedlings, misting them, and watching the first tiny leaves unfurl provides a meditative ritual during the cold months. It scratches the itch to nurture and grow, keeping the winter blues at bay. So go ahead and order those seeds! Let yourself set up a small growing station in a corner of your home. You might be amazed at how much joy a little bit of soil and a few seeds can bring to the start of your year.
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