For some plants, including tropical crops like chillies and aubergines, an early start is the best way you’ll get them to produce a worthwhile crop.
Discover 10 seeds to sow in January, below.



1.Pelargoniums
Flowers June to October/November.
Sow thinly in small seed trays using seed compost + 10 per cent grit; barely bury the seeds.
Temperature 24°C (75°F); germination takes 3-12 days.

2.Sweet peas
Flowers May/June to August.
Sow seeds 6cm deep in ‘tubes’ or 7cm pots using seed compost + 10 per cent grit.
Temperature 12°C (55°F), unheated greenhouse or cold frame; germination 10-14 days.

3.Dahlias
Flowers July to October/November.
Sow 1-2 seeds in cells or small pots using seed compost + 10 per cent vermiculite.
Temperature 18-21°C (65-70°F), germination takes approximately 5-20 days.

4.Delphinium
Flowers June and July.
Sow delphiniums thinly in trays of seed compost + 10 per cent vermiculite; barely cover with vermicul¬¬ite.
Temperature Keep in fridge for three weeks, then 15-21°C (59-70°F); germination takes 7-28 days.

5.Basil
Harvest May to October.
Sow thinly on the surface of pots or trays of seed compost; cover with vermiculite.
Temperature 15-25°C (59-77°F); germination takes 14-21 days depending on temperature.

6.Begonias, tuberous and bedding types
Flowers July to October/November.
Sow thinly on the surface in trays of seed compost with a thin layer of vermiculite.
Temperature 19-24°C (66-77°F); germination slow, 15-60 days, light essential.

7.Chillies and aubergines
Harvest July to October.
Sow 2-3 seeds thinly per small individual pot using seed compost + 10 per cent silver sand. Cover to own depth with vermiculite.
Temperature 21-27°C (70-80°F); germination 3-10 days.

8.Petunias
Flowers late June to September.
Sow thinly on the surface in small trays of seed compost + 10 per cent vermiculite and lightly dust with vermiculite to barely cover.
Temperature 24-27°C (75-80°F); germination 14 days, light essential.

9.Iceland poppies
Flowers June to October.
Sow 2-3 seeds on the surface of each small individual pot of seed compost + 20 per cent fine grit.
Temperature 12°C (55°F) in a cold frame; germination takes 14-21 days.

10.Coleus
Foliage display June onwards.
Sow thinly in pots or a tray using seed compost + 10 per cent vermiculite, covering to its own depth.
Temperature 19-24°C (65-75°F); germination 10-20 days depending on temperature.

Early sowing dos and don’ts
• Do clean everything that will come into contact with seeds or seedlings, including pots, dibbers and drip trays
• Do use new compost. It needs to drain freely yet hold just enough moisture – peat-free seed compost is ideal
• Do reserve a bright, warm windowsill for sowing, where the temperature stays fairly steady
• Do sow seeds even more thinly than usual, so that seedlings will have space to grow – overcrowding will encourage damping off
• Do give germinating seeds plenty of air by opening ventilators even if it seems a waste of heat
• Do wipe away condensation in propagators once or twice daily
• Do check seeds and seedlings daily, so that you can take remedial action before problems develop
• Don’t use too much heat – results are a bit slower but there’s less risk of legginess and more damping off