The start of the year brings the beginning of seed sowing season! By starting seed favourites like tomatoes and sweet peas earlier, you’ll see their fruits and flowers sooner.

Here’s a list of top seeds to sow now.

January

Sweet peas - Sweet peas can be sown indoors or directly outdoors from January to April or September to November. They should flower throughout summer and into early autumn, depending on the variety.

Sweet peas like Sweet Pea America, Sweet Pea Knee High Mix, and Sweet Pea Royal Family mix are perfect for sowing now.

Dahlias – Many dahlia seeds are ideal for sowing indoors from January – February. Some can also be sown directly outdoors from May, once all threat of frost has passed. Dahlia Dandy mixed is a perfect seed for sowing in January.

Image: Sweet Pea America

Basil – Basil seeds can be sown indoors from March to April and directly outdoors from May to July, once all threat of frost has passed. Their leaves can then be harvested from July to October! Try Basil (Genovese) in your herb gardens this year for a tasty garnish or flavour enhancer.

Leeks – Leeks are ideal for sowing from January to March or outside from March to April for harvest from July to November. Varieties like Leek Musselburgh and Leek Bulgarian Giant are great for sowing in January.

Peppers – Peppers are great seeds to sow in January and February. They can be sown from January to February indoors. They need plenty of warmth to germinate, so keeping them in a heated propagator or greenhouse will help them do so. Hot peppers can be sown directly outside if there’s warm weather on the horizon.

Varieties like Pepper Damian, Pepper Bird Eye, and Pepper Cyklon are perfect for sowing in January.

February

Image: Tomato Cherry Baby

Tomatoes – Sow indoors from February to May or outdoors from May to June. Tomatoes are incredibly easy to grow from seed, ideal for beginners.

Varieties like Tomato Gardener’s Delight and Tomato Cherry Baby give you the best of both worlds: large crops perfect for slicing and small cherry tomatoes grown on the vine.

Kale – Kale is an interesting salad crop that can either be harvested from the root or by cutting off the leaves before the stem. Sow indoors from February to March or indoors from March to June. Opt for seeds of Kale Black Tuscan Cavolo and Kale Scarlet for a sublime crop. 

Aubergine – Aubergines are great for sowing in February! Sown indoors from February to March or outdoors from March to April, ready for harvesting from mid-summer and into early autumn.