|

Seed Starting in January & February: A Guide to Perfect Timing

It’s tempting to jump the gun and start all your seeds indoors in January and February. However, seed starting too early this time of year can lead to disappointment later in the growing season. Don’t worry; this article will guide you in planting what will thrive in your garden this year.

Last Frost Date: The Key to Seed Starting Success

Many gardeners mistakenly believe their garden zone dictates when to plant. While your zone (based on average winter low temperatures) offers some general guidance, it doesn’t directly determine spring planting times. There can be a correlation between zones that are close together, but the key factor for seed starting is your last frost date (for spring/summer planting) or your first frost date(for fall/winter planting). This date, based on when the season warms up and the hottest part of the year occurs, helps determine the optimal time to start seeds indoors—knowing how to adjust your seed starting schedule based on your specific climate. Find your last frost date on almanac.com

Seeds to Start Indoors for Early Spring Transplanting

Regardless of your exact planting dates, the following crops are among the first you’ll want to start indoors. While some are best started in January, others are better suited for February or March, depending on your local climate. All of these are intended to be planted indoors for transplanting later. If you are not interested in starting seeds indoors, you may enjoy our article about direct sowing with success.

Seed Starting in January:

The following list includes the plants that can be started indoors as early as January with success.

  1. Onions: Growing onions from seed can be challenging for beginners. Consider purchasing starts from Dixondale Farms if you’re new to this. Onions typically start about a month to six weeks before your last frost date. Remember to choose the right type: Southern gardeners should plant short-day onions, while Northern gardeners should opt for long-day varieties.
  2. Broccoli, Cabbage, and Cauliflower: Aim to transplant these in early March, roughly a month before your last frost date.
  3. Celery: Similar to onions, celery has a long growing season. Start it indoors around the same time as broccoli, but transplant it to the garden about two weeks before your last frost date. Celery dislikes intense heat, so it is essential to establish it before the hottest months.
  4. First Round of Lettuce: Start lettuce indoors for transplanting in February or early March, depending on your weather. Choose cold-tolerant varieties like ‘Winter Tango.’ Start a second round of seeds in February for a continuous harvest, then begin direct seeding in March when the soil temperature reaches 55-60°F.
  5. Parsley, Feverfew, Echinacea, Oregano, and Other Slow-Growing Cold-Hardy Herbs: These herbs can take a while to germinate and grow. They offer excellent value as perennials (except for parsley, which is a biennial).
  6. Greenhouse Tomatoes: While January is too early to start tomatoes and peppers for the outdoor garden, it’s a good time to start tomatoes specifically for a greenhouse. These can be grown in grow bags within the greenhouse and then transplanted after the last frost for an earlier harvest. A heat source in the greenhouse is crucial. You can also bring these plants indoors for protection and place them outside on sunny days.

Seed Starting in February:

The following list includes the plants that can be started indoors as early as February with success.

  1. Beets: Starting beets indoors and then transplanting them often results in a larger harvest. Simply sow seeds indoors, wait for them to sprout, and then transplant them. This jumpstarts their growth, allowing them to establish quickly and adjust to sunlight. Start in mid-February and transplant in early March.
  2. Cool-Season or Long-Season Warm-Season Flowers: Consider starting:
    • Sweet Peas These tolerate some frost but dislike heat. They thrive in April and May but struggle in July and August.
    • Alyssum: Very hardy and frost-tolerant, lasting through summer and fall.
    • Calendula: Can be transplanted after freezing temperatures but doesn’t enjoy extreme heat.
    • Cosmos: While you can start cosmos now, they grow quickly and may outgrow their containers. It’s often better to start them indoors in early March. The best time to start Cosmos will depend on your climate and average last frost date.
  3. Peppers and Eggplants: Peppers have a long growing season. Start them a few weeks after tomatoes. Both peppers and eggplants love heat and won’t be planted outdoors until early May. Start them indoors at the end of February. Peppers, especially, need a longer growing time before transplanting into the garden.
  4. Tomatoes (for outdoor planting): Start your main crop of tomatoes indoors at the end of February for transplanting in late April or early May, depending on your local temperatures.

These seeds are generally easy for beginners to start. Due to their sensitivity to transplanting time, onions, celery, herbs, and beets can be slightly trickier.

The Best Indoor Seed Starting Supplies

Seed Starting Essentials


Epic Reusable Seed Starter Tray

These trays are sturdy and reusable. Each cell tray consists of 16 cells. These medium cells are a great beginner option.

Seed Starting Trays

Place these trays under the seed starter trays. These trays are reusable and sturdy. They are easy to add water to and easy to clean.

LED Grow Lights

You don’t have to start with anything fancy for your indoor grow lights. These LED Grow Light strips are an excellent and budget-friendly way to get started.

The Biggest Seed-Staring Mistake: Starting Too Early

What can go wrong if you start too early?

  1. Lack of Grow Space: You may run out of space under grow lights or in seed starting trays. Overcrowding can stress plants, making them weaker and impacting their future harvest.
  2. Plants Outgrow Their Containers: You’ll need to “pot up” (transplant seedlings into larger containers) more frequently, which can be time-consuming.
  3. Garden Isn’t Ready: Even if your seedlings are ready, the weather might not cooperate. Plants need appropriate temperatures to thrive after transplanting.

Remember, losing a few plants is a normal part of gardening. Timing is key. Starting at the right time, not too early, is crucial for success.

Free Download: When to Plant Cheat Sheet!

To help you get the timing just right, we’ve created a free downloadable cheat sheet that outlines when to plant various cool and warm season crops. The list includes some of the most popular crops to grow in a home kitchen garden. Grow a successful garden this year!

Get our Planting Cheat Sheet

    We respect your privacy. You will receive the PDF download + be added to our email newsletter. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *