There is something rather wonderful about sowing flower seeds in January. When the days are still short and crisp, there is nothing I love more than finding time to cocoon myself in the workshop with some fresh compost, seed trays and a lovely selection of new seed packets.
It is not only a mindful and calming activity, but as someone who has grown flowers for pleasure and business for more than a decade, I also find it hugely hopeful and optimistic. Planning for an explosion of color and joy to experience in the year ahead is an uplifting thought.
When thinking of what to plant in January, many vegetables and herbs come to mind, but flowers are more than possible, too. Starting flower seeds in January will mean a flush of early flowers in your yard, though it does require certain conditions for seeds to germinate. Here, I detail what your seeds will need to flourish, and inspire you with seven of the most beautiful and interesting flowers you can sow in January.
How To Start Seeds Properly in January
Natural levels of daylight and outside temperatures are both low in January, so starting seeds may require a bit of extra help in the form of propagators, heat mats and possibly even a grow light.
No matter where you live and what your local climate is like, you will be starting seeds indoors in January. A sunny windowsill may be all you need, but it is amazing what a little bit of help from clever seed starting kit can do.
Grow lights are great for preventing leggy seedlings, which happens when seedlings do not get enough natural light, and is something I am guilty of every year, while heated propagators provide that essential warmth that seeds need to germinate. Once you have one you'll wonder how you ever coped without it.
Heat mats are wonderous pieces of kit for starting seeds, helping to maintain a consistent temperature for better and faster germination rates.
This LED grow light is more energy efficient than a fluorescent bulb, and the sleek, adjustable height design is less bulky than a lot of other grow lights on the market.
A self watering seed starting kit with a grow light is pretty much everything you need in one package. With 60 cells for your seeds, it would make growing practically effortless.
1. Verbena bonariensis
Architectural, airy and a designer-favourite, Verbena bonariensis is always on my must-grow list. I was even gifted a new packet of seeds for Christmas, and I am raring to sow them.
A modern classic for naturalistic gardens, January sowing gives these pollinator-friendly plants a vital head start, helping them flower earlier and more reliably in summer borders.
Sow indoors and cover seeds with a light layer of vermiculite, available from Amazon, to allow enough light to get to the seeds.
You can find inexpensive Verbena bonariensis seeds available from Walmart.
2. Nicotiana
Highly fragrant and a wonderful night scented plant, nicotiana or ornamental tobacco, is perfect for terraces and outdoor living spaces.
Early sowings can maximise flowering time to enjoy on those long summer evenings.
Pot up in seed compost, available from Amazon, as this has all the necessary nutrients seeds need to germinate and thrive.
You can find nicotiana seeds at True Leaf Market.
3. Cosmos
This will always and forever be on my must-sow list of flowers to sow in January. One word of caution, however, is to watch for leggy seedlings.
Cosmos seeds tend to germinate very quickly, and if they don't have adequate light they will shoot up on lanky stems before putting on any true leaves.
I have written about how to save leggy cosmos seedlings in the past, however, to avoid this happening I would advise using a grow light.
You can start cosmos seeds throughout the winter and spring to extend the growing season of this cutting-garden staple for as long as possible.
You can find beautiful cosmos seed mixes at Amazon.
4. Salvia farinacea
Salvia farinacea, or mealy sage, is in my humble opinion an underrated annual type of salvia that thrives when started early and has a long flowering season.
Sown in January, it produces elegant spires of blue, purple, or white that bring structure and long-season colour.
It is also drought-tolerant, so once established is ideal for long hot summers.
You can find Salvia farinacea seeds at Amazon.
5. Cleome
Cleome, or spider flower, was a new flower that I grew from seed last year. I would describe it as bold and fairly contemporary in style.
It is a statement annual with exotic-looking flowers on tall stems. Grown from seed it takes some time to establish, making January one of the best sowing windows.
While they are known for being some of the best plants to attract pollinators and hummingbirds, they do not have the best aroma. Indeed, they made it onto our list of the worst smelling plants to grow in a garden last year.
Some people describe them as having a musky, pungent smell; something to consider when thinking about where to place them in your yard.
You can find cleome seeds at Walmart.
6. Scabiosa
Scabiosa or pin cushion flower, as they are often more fondly known, are exquisitely romantic flowers to sow in January.
They are a stalwart of my cutting beds, as I love to use them in floral arrangements and hand-tied bouquets.
Started early, scabiosa produce long-stemmed blooms ideal for cutting, and with regular deadheading they flower for months.
You can find a selection of beautiful scabious seeds at True Leaf Market.
7. Coneflower
You might not have thought of sowing this perennial in January, preferring to buy an established coneflower plant later in the year, but sowing this early can and will produce healthy plants that will flower in their first year.
The prairie-style appeal of coneflower, or echinacea, never seems to ebb, and it's easy to see why. For low-maintenance, pollinator friendly plants that provide interest all year long in the garden, they are a must-grow for me.
You can find an abundance of beautiful coneflower seeds to sow from Amazon.
There is a lot more you can be thinking about doing in your garden this month. For instance, January is an ideal time to plant bare-root perennials and shrubs, plus there are plenty of vegetables you can plant in January, too, for early summer harvests.
