Up next in 10
This video explains which vegetables are best to sow early in the growing season and how to give them a strong start. It shows suitable crops for early planting and the conditions needed for successful germination.
The guide covers seed trays, compost choice, light levels, temperature and watering, along with tips to prevent weak or leggy seedlings. It also explains how protected growing spaces can help establish plants sooner and improve overall success.
If you want stronger plants and earlier harvests, this video provides practical beginner-friendly advice for sowing vegetables successfully.
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welcome to gardening with Ben your go-to
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podcast for all things green and growing
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in
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2025 whether you are a seasoned Gardener
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a budding Enthusiast or just curious
0:12
about cultivating your own slice of
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nature you're in the right place join me
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Ben as we explore practical tips
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inspiring stories and the latest trends
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in gardening to make your outdoor space
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Bloom with life from allotment
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Adventures to Wild life friendly
0:30
gardening I'm here to help you grow your
0:33
passion and reap the rewards so grab
0:35
your gloves roll up your sleeves and
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let's get started on this year's
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gardening
0:43
Journey hey everyone and welcome back to
0:46
gardening with Ben for another brand new
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episode for
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2025 well I do enjoy doing this episode
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because I learned something at the same
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time as you and in today's episode we're
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going to be talking about all the things
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that you can plant in January fingers
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crossed you've got chance to be able to
1:09
plant them if it's bad weather we'll
1:12
have to wait until later but most of
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these things we can get started in
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January now I talk about all the
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vegetables that we can plant this month
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all the fruit plants that we can plant
1:25
this month and all the flowers that you
1:27
can plant this month so if you've not
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got a pen and paper feel free to make
1:32
some notes go and grab a
1:34
notepad make some notes and why not try
1:38
growing some of these things yourself as
1:41
most of these things I will be growing
1:43
as well down at the
1:46
allotment now the first thing we talk
1:48
about is the vegetables what vegetables
1:51
can we plant this month obviously it all
1:54
depends on WEA on the weather whether
1:57
you can actually get down to the
1:58
allotment or in the Gard to be able to
2:00
fulfill these jobs and if I've seen the
2:02
forecast right we are going to get some
2:04
snow this weekend so possibly
2:08
not so the first thing on the list is
2:10
broad beans now broad beans can be sewn
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from the winter and these will be ready
2:17
to harvest before the black fly plate
2:20
appear so you won't get them covered in
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black fly like you do in the summer if
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you're grow through the summer period
2:25
they'll be ready to harvest before they
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appear now the variety that you would
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need to or aquul Claudia these are a
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winter hardy variety that can withstand
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the cold weather you can have plant them
2:37
straight in the ground or start sewing
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them in pots for transplanting
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later onions sets and seeds onions can
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be sewn from seed in January for late
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summer Harvest this method allows for a
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wider variety of onions compared to sets
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variety like Bedford Champion are ideal
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for over wintering start your seats
3:02
indoors in Trace all modules and
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Transplant into the garden when the
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weather improves now obviously if you're
3:09
growing them indoors make sure they get
3:10
enough light or they'll grow Ley and
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you'll just have to Chuck them away and
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start them again so make sure they get
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plenty of light so that they grow nice
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and strong next up is shots like onions
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shots can be started from seed in
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January they produce smaller bulbs with
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a sweeter flavor perfect for roasting or
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adding to your stews so in seed trays
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indoors ensuring that they have plenty
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of light and warmth to germinate that's
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the thing we've like obviously starting
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all the seeds at this time of year they
3:42
need the warmth so if you've not got
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heat Greenhouse your windo inside will
3:47
be pretty full from
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everything I've only got a small Windle
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so I can't start many things off I have
3:53
to wait until March to start a lot of my
3:55
seeds off but we have got a few seeds
3:57
growing at home already
4:00
next up is garlic garlic cloves can be
4:02
planted outdoors in January in well-
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draining soil hard neck varieties like
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carason white thve when exposed to the
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cold weather plant individual clothes
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with a pointed end facing upwards
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spacing them about 10 to 15 cm apart so
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that you can weed in between them and
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keep them weed free to help grow bigger
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bulbs next up is peas early variety
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like meteor can be cold tolerant and can
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be sewn in January for an early crop
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these dwarf peas are perfect for small
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spaces or container gardening now I
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won't be starting any peas off this
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early I usually start mine off around
4:44
March April time uh but obviously like
4:48
it says early varieties like meteor can
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be cold tolerant and can withstand the C
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weather sewing deep pots or guttering
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indoors and then transplant Outdoors
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when the weather warms up
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leaks leaks are a long season crop
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sewing in January ensures strong healthy
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plants ready for Harvest in late summer
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to Autumn varieties like muscle BR are
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Hardy and reliable St seeds indoors or
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in a heated Greenhouse to protect them
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from the frost so if you wanted some
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nice big leaks to have in your stew or
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in soup feel free to start your seats
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off now spinach winter varieties winter
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spinach varieties like giant winter are
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Hardy and can grow well in colder
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conditions sewing now provides a crop of
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tender leaves by early Springtime sewing
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trays indoors or under clutches Outdoors
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for the protection from
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frost next up is lettuce winter
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varieties Hardy winter lettuces like
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winter gem or Arctic King can be sewn in
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January for early spring Harvest these
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varieties thrive in cooler temperatures
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St seeds in modules indoors or in a Cold
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Frame Cabbage Spring varieties spring
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cabbages such as durum early and are
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ideal for sewing in January to harvest
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later in the year they produce tender
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flavorful leaves so indoors in in the
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greenhouse then transplant seedlings
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when they are large
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enough kale kale varieties like
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Nero Toscana or dwarf green C build are
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incredibly Hardy and can be started
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indoors in January for transplanting
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later sewing seed trayes or modules and
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keep them in bright cool place that's
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the thing like like I said a lot of
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these are obviously needing the warmth
6:44
and window souls to be planted on that's
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why I start a lot of my stuff off in
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March because I haven't got much room to
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grow stuff on a window St and a lot of
6:54
stuff does actually catch up when you
6:56
start stuff off him at the end of March
6:58
beginning of April in
7:00
Greenhouse celery celery is a slow
7:03
growing crop that benefits from an early
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start varieties like golden self
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blanching are well suited for January
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sewing sew seeds in Trace indoors
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covering lightly with compost and keep
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in a warm bright place to
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germinate now these are the things that
7:20
I have started chilies and sweet
7:24
peppers although not frost hardy chilies
7:27
and sweet peppers need a long growing
7:29
season making January the perfect time
7:32
to start them indoors varieties like
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jalo or B boy are popular choices so SE
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in small pots indoors with a heated
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propagator or warm
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Windle Tomatoes now I don't start my
7:46
tomatoes off till March time uh
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obviously you can get more of a crop
7:50
from them if you start them now but I
7:52
don't start mine off till March time
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they soon catch up for an early tomato
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crop SE seeds indoors in January early
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Vari like Gardener Delight or alakan to
8:02
perform well in Greenhouse or
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undercover use a heated propagator to
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ensure good
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germination and transplant seedlings
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into larger pots as they
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grow radishes radishes like French
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breakfast are quick growing and can be
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sewn indoors or undercover in January
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for Rapid crop sew seeds in modules or
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directly in a C frame keeping the soil
8:28
moist for best result results so that is
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all the vegetables that you can actually
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plant this month like I said a lot of
8:36
them I don't actually start myself until
8:38
March time but if you're want in a head
8:41
start and you've got plenty of space or
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heated Greenhouse feel free to get
8:45
started with growing some of those
8:49
produce next up are your fruit what
8:53
fruit can be planted and grown at this
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time of year first up strawberries sweet
8:59
and versatile strawberries are perfect
9:00
for planting in January be root
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strawberry plants established quickly
9:05
leading to a strong harvest in summer
9:07
plant be root strawberries in a well-
9:09
drained soil or containers mulch with
9:12
straw or fleece to protect them from
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frost now I planted 200 strawberries but
9:17
I planted them around October time so
9:19
fingers crossed they've all taken and
9:21
they'll all grow well raspberries are
9:24
low maintenance fruit that FES in UK
9:26
Gardens January is ideal time for PL in
9:29
bare root canes especially Autumn
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fruiting varieties choose a sunny
9:34
location with well- drained soil space
9:36
canes 45 to 60 cm apart and pride with
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steaks or
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trellises now if you are going to be
9:44
planting raspberries make sure you plant
9:46
them somewhere where you don't mind them
9:48
getting invasive because Roots grow all
9:50
over the place and they start popping up
9:52
here and there and everywhere they're
9:54
worse than weeds can be raspberries so
9:57
just make sure they're in a place that
9:58
you don't mind them growing really out
10:00
of
10:01
control black bre black bre including
10:04
formless varieties are excellent for
10:06
planting in January they grow VI slate
10:08
and provide abundant summer fruits that
10:10
is correct now I have got a formless
10:12
black breit and wow it is absolutely
10:15
amazing plant be root blackberri canes
10:17
in nutrient rich soil ideally against a
10:20
wall or trelly for
10:23
support gooseberries gooseberries are
10:26
Hardy bushes that thrive in cooler
10:28
climates producing tart fruits perfect
10:31
for desserts and preserves all your
10:33
currents your red white and black again
10:36
now is the ideal time for planting your
10:38
fruit bushes and that goes the same for
10:41
blueberries and any fruit bushes because
10:44
it's good weather it's wet it's damp
10:46
they'll take root and they can
10:48
concentrate on growing The Roots at this
10:49
time here and then they will concentrate
10:53
on growing the fruit in the summertime
10:55
rhubarb while every it dant at this time
10:57
of year it's perfect time to get get it
10:59
planted and remember do not pick it in
11:03
its first year leave it to settle
11:06
however much rhubarb grows on it don't
11:07
be tempted to pick it it needs to
11:09
concentrate on growing the crown in the
11:11
base so pick it the year
11:14
after all your fruit trees apples pears
11:17
plums cherries apricots peaches nectarin
11:20
quins figs grapes mulberries Logan
11:23
berries kiway all can be planted at this
11:26
time of year any fruit plant is the best
11:28
time to it at this time of year if the
11:31
ground's rock hard wait until it's a
11:33
decent time when it's damp wet plant
11:36
them as I say now is a perfect time to
11:39
plant your fruit don't plant fruit in
11:40
summer because it needs to concentrate
11:43
on growing The Roots while the tree is
11:45
dormant and then it can concentrate on
11:48
growing the fruit in the
11:50
summertime flowers what flowers can be
11:52
planted at this time of year now these
11:54
are the ones that I'm going to be
11:55
listening to because I'm going to be
11:56
trying so many flowers this year and yes
11:59
I love my flowers now sweet peas known
12:02
for fragrant blooms and wide range of
12:04
colors sweet peas are a classic choice
12:05
for UK Gardens sewing in January gives
12:08
them a head start for summer flowering
12:10
sew seeds in pots indoors or in a hunt
12:12
unheated Greenhouse use deep pots to
12:15
accommodate their long roots now I've
12:17
got absolutely loads of sweet peas gr
12:19
and I'm going to be ordering a load more
12:22
delphiniums these tall striking flowers
12:24
are ideal for back borders producing
12:27
dramatic spikes of blue purple and white
12:30
blooms so seeds indoors in seed tray
12:33
provide a bright cool spot to encourage
12:35
germination loins are popular for the
12:38
tall colorful flower spikes and their
12:41
ability to attract pollinators so seeds
12:43
indoors in pot soaking them in water
12:46
overnight to speed up germination now
12:48
I've got a lot of loopings growing as
12:50
well so I'm looking forward to all them
12:51
growing daers now I need to start trying
12:54
some daers I've never grown daers daers
12:57
are Gardener favorite for the all shy
12:59
blooms in a variety of shapes and colors
13:03
January is perfect for starting tubers
13:08
indoors Holly Hawks Holly Hawks add
13:11
cotton G Cottage Garden charm with their
13:14
tall spikes of color saucer shaped
13:16
flowers sew seeds indoors in seed trayes
13:19
using compost rich soil place them in a
13:21
warm sunny spot aqueles I've got plenty
13:25
of those growing and now is again the
13:26
perfect time to grow them Fox gloves
13:29
bonias snapdragons Cosmos patunas are
13:34
all perfect for starting now next up is
13:38
geraniums now I absolutely love
13:41
geraniums and I'm going to be growing a
13:43
load more again this year and obviously
13:46
starting them off now means that they'll
13:47
flower earlier but obviously it needs
13:50
somewhere warm for them to germinate so
13:52
I probably won't be able to start mine
13:54
off till March because I've not got room
13:55
at home to start them off at home so
13:58
geraniums a staple of UK Gardens
14:00
producing colorful blooms perfect for
14:02
pots and borders and hanging baskets so
14:05
and as well with geraniums is that at
14:07
the end of the year before the frost
14:09
comes dig them up move them to somewhere
14:11
warm like a greenhouse or poly tunnel
14:14
keep them watered in pots and then you
14:17
can replant them again next year and
14:19
they'll flower the year
14:21
after Mar gos kunda nerian Carn are all
14:27
perfect to be planted at this time of
14:30
year aliums now I've got absolutely
14:33
loads of aliums in I've planted loads of
14:35
alium bulbs so I'm looking forward to
14:36
them and aliums will attract the bees
14:39
the bees absolutely love aliums so if
14:42
you're wanted to attract the bees to
14:43
your garden have a look around and see
14:45
if you can still get some aliums it
14:47
might be a bit too late to be able to
14:48
purchase them but you might be able to
14:49
purchase them online so have a look
14:51
around and zenas zenas are a heat loving
14:54
flower with bold vibrant blooms that
14:57
last throughout the summer so seeds
14:59
indoors in trays with compost and keep
15:02
in a warm bright
15:04
area so that is all the flowers that can
15:07
be planted at this time of year if you
15:10
can hear banging it's a firework in the
15:12
background but yeah um that is all the
15:16
flowers that you can plant this month so
15:17
there's plenty to be sewing and like I
15:20
said I won't be sewing many of them uh
15:22
I'll be holding off till March April
15:24
time till I can sew them in my
15:25
Greenhouse which is unheated so I'll
15:28
hope hopefully sometimes we get a little
15:30
heat wave in March April time which
15:33
tends to start the seeds off and then
15:35
they seem to look after themselves and
15:37
then we plant them out when the frost is
15:39
gone after May time
15:41
outside
15:43
so make sure you stay tuned for what I'm
15:46
growing feel free to follow my Instagram
15:48
and my Facebook and my YouTube channel
15:50
where I share all my videos like I said
15:52
the only seeds that I've started off
15:54
this week are my Peppers my chilies and
15:58
my my onions that's the seeds that I've
16:01
started off so far I'm going to be
16:03
starting some orene off as well uh which
16:05
weren't actually on that list but I'm
16:07
going to be starting some orene off as
16:08
well this week so stay tuned for that so
16:11
tomorrow's episode we'll be talking
16:13
about all the jobs which you need doing
16:15
in the garden and the allotment in
16:17
January so stay tuned for that episode
16:19
if you're new to this podcast make sure
16:21
you give us a follow and feel free to
16:23
keep up to date so until tomorrow's
16:25
episode everyone remember keep smiling
16:28
keep shining
16:30
thanks for tuning in to today's episode
16:33
of gardening with Ben I hope you've
16:36
enjoyed our chat and picked up some tips
16:38
to help your garden and alotment Thrive
16:41
don't forget to stay connected with me
16:43
on all social media for even more
16:46
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16:49
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lovers until next time everyone remember
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