It’s Not Too Soon to Start These 9 Vegetable Seeds in January for Super Early Harvests

Someone once told me that gardening would teach me patience. And it has – to a certain degree. You can’t hurry nature, yet there are a few long months between the first frost in fall and the last frost in spring. Those of us who still have a hard time waiting for our spring crops to grow need ways to speed things up. Luckily, there are plenty of vegetable seeds to sow in January to get the jump on harvests.

There is a way to cheat the calendar. One tried and true trick to jump-start a spring veggie garden is to start the seeds indoors during winter. By shifting your growing season indoors and seed starting under glass while the ground is still frozen, you aren’t just passing the time, you’re ensuring you’ll be the first person on the block harvesting fresh, crisp greens while everyone else is still buying seeds. You won’t be able to set out the plants when they first germinate, but you can let them sprout and grow inside from January through March, then set them out in April.

Not every seed can be started in winter, but for those that can, the rewards are immense. Here’s a shortlist of my favorite seeds to start indoors in winter. I hope that many of your favorites make the list.

9 Veg Seeds to Sow in January

Success in this January sowing window isn't just about enthusiasm; it’s about choosing the right candidates for your windowsill or light setup. Luckily, because you’ll be starting indoors, you won’t have to worry too much (yet) about hardiness zones or local climates. Deciding what seeds to sow in January is about choosing the right varieties. When we start seeds this early, we are looking for varieties that are either slow to mature, giving them a long runway, or those that thrive in the cool, fickle temperatures of early spring (when they will be going outdoors).

Before you reach for your seed packets, consider your setup. Since natural light is still weak this time of year, a south-facing windowsill or a simple LED grow light will be your best friend to prevent leggy seedling stems. Choose a model with an adjustable height option for tier-based and vertical tray growing, such as the Barrina T10 Full Spectrum Standing Grow Light from Amazon. These lights are easy to install and to move around, offering flexibility around the home for multiple veg starts.

You’ll also want to ensure your compost is at room temperature to encourage quick germination. By starting now, you're effectively building a reserve of strong, resilient plants that are ready to hit the ground running the moment the soil warms up. Here are the best vegetable seeds to sow in January for satisfying early crops.

1. Leeks

​​I learned to love leeks during my time in France, where they are a staple for everyday meals. If you’ve ever enjoyed a buttery leek tart in a Parisian café, you know the delicate, onion-adjacent sweetness that makes these long-legged alliums so essential. The secret many gardeners miss? The art of growing leeks is a marathon, not a sprint.

Many varieties require 120-150 days to reach full size. If you wait until May to sow them outdoors, you could be waiting until fall (or even the first snow) for harvests. Starting them indoors in January allows you to transplant robust pencil-thick seedlings the moment the soil is workable. Look for early season or summer leeks. 'King Richard' is a favorite for US gardeners because it grows rapidly and can be harvested as baby leeks. 'Lancelot' is another fantastic, bolt-resistant choice that thrives when started early. You can buy ‘American Flag’ Leek Seeds from Amazon.

Leeks are heavy feeders but hate wet feet. Use a seed-starting mix with excellent drainage. Once the seedlings reach 3 inches (8 cm) tall, trim the tops to 1 inch (2.5 cm). This haircut prevents them becoming top-heavy and encourages the plant to direct its energy into building a thick, strong root system and base. When you transplant them in spring, place them in a 6-inch (15 cm) deep trench. As they grow taller, pull the surrounding soil inward. This keeps the lower portion of the stem white and tender. Plant in USDA zones 3-11.

2. Onions

Onions are the undisputed workhorses of the veg garden. Whether they are the base of a winter stew or the star of a summer salsa, you can never have too many. However, onions are photo-periodic plants, meaning they decide when to form a bulb based on how many hours of daylight they get. As a rule, you need to grow onions for between 100-150 days in the soil before harvest.

Starting seeds in January is the ultimate pro-move as it gives onions time to develop a massive root system and plenty of lush tops before the summer solstice. The more leaves you have by June, the bigger your bulbs will be! Plant seeds in well-draining soil in late January for transplanting out in March. Onions need sun, indoors and out.

As they grow to 6 inches (15 cm), cut them back by half to let that energy channel into the root growth. Keep the soil moist but never wet. Onion seedlings are prone to damping off (a fungal disease). To prevent this, you can sprinkle a little cinnamon or vermiculite on the planting surface, which acts as a natural fungicide.

Aim to transplant your onions outdoors once they are about the thickness of a pencil. In many US zones, this will be late March or early April, just as the soil becomes workable. These veggies thrive in USDA zones 3-9. Buy ‘Walla Walla’ Sweet Spanish Onion Seeds from Amazon.

3. Cabbage

Cabbage is the royalty of the hardy brassicas. While these tough plants can survive temperatures dipping as low as 15°F, they take a long time to head up in the unpredictable weather of early spring. Starting them indoors in January is the secret to harvesting crisp, homegrown coleslaw in June rather than August.

For a January start, look for early varieties such as ‘Golden Acre’ and ‘Red Express’ onions. You can buy ‘Golden Acre’ Cabbage Seeds from Amazon. These are bred to grow quickly and form smaller, tender heads before the heat of summer arrives. Unlike the giant storage cabbages planted later in the year, these early stars are all about quick gratification.

Sow tiny cabbage seeds in seed trays. Use a compost intended for seed sowing and place them in a spot where the temperature doesn’t dip below 60°F. As seedlings develop, prick them out and pot them up, keeping soil moist as they develop. When it’s time to transplant, harden them off first for 7 days. Transplant to a site with full sun and rich, well-drained soil. These veggies are happy in USDA zones 1-10.

4. Cauliflower

Cauliflower has a reputation for being a bit fussy, but its primary demand is simple: it wants to grow in the cool of spring and finish its work before the sweltering heat of summer. So starting your seeds in late January is the secret to success. It gives the plant the long runway it needs to develop a massive frame of leaves, which is the only way you'll get those giant, snowy-white heads (curds) you crave.

Start cauliflower seeds in individual pots in well-drained soil and keep moist. They do better individually planted than in cell trays, since they quickly develop a root system that can fill up small cells (and these plants don’t like having their roots disturbed). Germinate seeds in a spot with warmer temperatures, keep the soil moist, and transplant from March in USDA zones 3-12.

Good varieties for January sowing include ‘Early White Hybrid’ and ‘Graffiti’ cauliflowers, as well as ‘Snow Ball’ Seeds, available from Amazon.

5. Peas

While peas are famously cold-hardy, gardeners in northern zones often struggle with damping off, where seeds rot in the cold, wet mud of March. Starting your peas indoors in January (specifically in USDA zones 6 and below) bypasses this problem entirely. By the time the ground thaws, you’ll be transplanting established plants with deep roots, giving you a 3-week jump on your neighbors.

Before planting pea seeds, nick them slightly to speed up germination. Don’t pack down your seed-starting mix too much. Light and airy is the way to help peas grow. Stick a finger into each cell or pot, making an indentation about an inch (2.5 cm)deep. Put a couple of pea seeds in each dent, then cover them lightly. Keep the soil moist but not wet by spraying it with water. Keep the temperature above 60°F through germination, then move the pea trays into a sunny site.

Peas have delicate taproots, so to avoid transplant shock, you can also sow your seeds in biodegradable pots or hollowed-out toilet paper rolls. When it’s time to go outside, you can plant the entire pot directly into the ground. The container will decompose, and the roots will be safe. Try ‘Sugar Ann’ or ‘Oregon Sugar Pod II’ varieties for early sweet harvests. You can buy ‘Little Marvel’ Pea Seeds from Amazon.

6. Broccoli

Broccoli is a cool-season superstar, and it hates the heat. If your broccoli is still maturing when the first heatwave of June hits, there is a risk the heads will bolt (open into yellow flowers) and turn bitter overnight. Starting your broccoli seeds indoors in January is the best way to ensure your crop matures during the cool, breezy days of spring, exactly when broccoli tastes its sweetest. The colder your climate, the longer it will take for the crops to mature, and some take 100 days in the soil before harvest.

For a January start, choose early-maturing calabrese varieties. These are bred to produce one large central head quickly, followed by delicious side shoots that you can harvest for weeks afterward. Good options for January sowing include ‘De Cicco’ and ‘Belstar’, as well as ‘Waltham 29’ Seeds from Amazon.

Broccoli seedlings need temps of 70°F to germinate, but prefer it cooler (around 60°F) once they sprout. Move them to the coolest room (as long as there is bright light) after the first leaves appear to grow stocky, tough plants. Use a well-draining soil mix and keep it moist but not wet. When the outside soil is warm enough to be worked, transplant the broccoli seedlings to rich, amended soil in zones 2-11.

7. Artichokes

Globe artichokes are undisputed showstoppers. While these perennial edible thistles are famous for their silver-green foliage and delicious, buttery hearts, they need a long, cool youth to produce those prized flower buds in their first year. Starting in January is an absolute requirement if you live outside the mild climates of California or the deep south. By sowing now, you give the plants the 8-12 weeks of indoor growth they need to be hardened off just as the cool spring rains arrive.

Sow seeds a quarter of an inch (6 mm) deep in well-draining soil in trays or pots. Make sure you use a warm location. Your artichokes will need sunlight, so look for a sunny windowsill, or use grow lights if the sun is limited. The soil must be kept moist at all times until they are ready to be transplanted. Outdoors, they need the same: a sunny location and moist soil in USDA zones 7-11. Great artichoke varieties to try include ‘Violetta’ and ‘Imperial Star’ as well as ‘Green Globe’ Seeds, available from Walmart.

8. Brussels Sprouts

If there is one vegetable that rewards the patient gardener, it’s the Brussels sprout. These plants are like miniature palm trees, producing a towering stalk of golf-ball sized treasures. But because many varieties require 100-180 days to mature, a January start is your big ticket to success. By sowing now, you allow the plants to reach their full height during the long days of summer, so they are ready to begin setting sprouts just as the autumn air turns crisp. Best of all, a light frost actually triggers the plant to convert its starches into sugars, making homegrown sprouts remarkably sweet.

Start seeds 8-10 weeks before transplanting in USDA zones 2-11. Plant in rich, well-amended soil with full sun and consistent moisture. Space plants 24 inches (60cm) apart and provide support as they grow tall. Great varieties for January sowing include ‘Red Bull’ and ‘Jade Cross’ sprouts. You can also buy ‘Long Island Improved’ Seeds from Amazon.

9. Kale

Curly, regular, dinosaur kale varieties – all are nutritious and delicious. Kale is highly touted by nutritionists, but it’s more than a health food trend. Famously cold-hardy and loaded with vitamins, kale is one of the most cold-hardy plants on the planet, often surviving under a blanket of snow. Excellent varieties to start now include ‘Winterbor’ and ‘Red Russian’, as well as ‘Lacinato’ Seeds, available from Walmart.

The best way to grow indoors is to use cell trays filled with a top-quality well-draining potting mix. Plant seeds a quarter of an inch (6 mm) deep and give the tray a warm site with direct sunshine. Keep the soil moist and the seeds will germinate in 12 days or so. As they grow indoors, thin them out by snipping every other seedling at the base. These early microgreen seedlings are superfoods packed with flavor and make a gourmet addition to January sandwiches and salads. Transplant out in zones 3-10 when outdoor soil temperatures reach 50–60°F.

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