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What to Plant in Scotland Each Month: Veg, Fruits, Herbs & Edible Flowers. Planting in January
Vegetable Seeds To Start Indoors In January
Only sow if you have a bright windowsill, grow lights or greenhouse.
Onions (from seed): long season, ideal to start now
Leeks: slow growers, benefit from early sowing
Celery / Celeriac: needs a long growing season
Aubergine: only if you can provide warmth (18–21°C)
Chillies & Peppers: need heat and light
Early tomatoes: optional; many wait until Feb, but possible with grow lights
TIPS
Use seed trays with a clear lid or a propagator to maintain steady warmth and humidity while seeds germinate.
Providing bottom heat, such as a heated propagator or heat mat, can significantly improve germination rates during cold, low light months. Read more in this blog: The Importance of Seed Starting with Heat Mats and Grow Lights
Take care not to overwater, when light levels are low and temperatures are cool, excess moisture greatly increases the risk of damping off, which can quickly kill young seedlings.
Herb Seeds To Start Indoors In January
Herbs are ideal for indoor sowing and windowsills.
Basil: must be indoors, warm and bright
Parsley: slow to germinate, good to start early
Chives & Garlic Chives: easy and reliable
Coriander: indoors only at this time
Dill: compact varieties do well inside
Thyme: slow but fine indoors
Lemon balm: Can take 2–3 weeks to germinate
Fennel: Start in deep pots doesn’t like root disturbance
Oregano / Marjoram
TIPS
When planting herb seeds indoors in January, success depends on managing light, warmth, and moisture carefully.
Choose a bright windowsill or use grow lights, as Winter daylight in Scotland is limited and weak. Most herbs germinate best at 15–21°C, so a heated propagator or heat mat can make a big difference. Use fine, free draining compost and sow seeds thinly to reduce competition and improve airflow.
Keep the compost just moist, not wet, overwatering in low light is the main cause of failure at this time of year. Many herb seeds are small, so do not bury them deeply; lightly press them onto the surface and cover only if the packet advises.
Once seedlings appear, remove lids or vents gradually to prevent fungal problems and encourage strong growth.
Edible Flower Seeds To Start Indoors In January
Viola / Pansy: Cold hardy perennial
Calendula (Pot marigold): technically a short lived perennial
Bergamot / Bee balm: Good candidate for early indoor sowing
Echinacea (Coneflower): Needs cold stratification → sow now and place outside for a few weeks or refrigerate
Poppies: Needs cold stratification → sow now and place outside for a few weeks or refrigerate
TIPS
When growing edible flowers indoors, place seeds in a very bright window or under grow lights to ensure enough light for healthy growth.
Avoid overwatering, as seedlings are prone to rot in cold, low light conditions. Many edible flowers require light to germinate, so sow seeds on the surface unless the packet says otherwise.
Always label your pots, since germination can take several weeks.
Fruit & Nut Trees To Plant Outside In January
January is actually excellent for planting bare root fruit & nut trees while plants are dormant (as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged).
Apple trees: very hardy – ideal for Scotland
Pear trees
Plum trees
Cherry trees: choose cold hardy varieties
Hazel: great time to get some hazelnut trees into the ground
TIPS
When planting fruit trees or bushes, avoid working the ground if the soil is frozen or waterlogged, as this can damage roots and soil structure.
After planting, mulch well with compost, bark, leaves or well rotted manure to retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect roots from cold.
Young trees should be staked securely to prevent rock and wind rock during Winter gales, helping them establish strong root systems in their first year, make sure they are removed to allow them to form a stable trunk.
Fruit Bushes To Plant Outside In January
Raspberries: Summer or Autumn fruiting
Blackcurrants, Redcurrants & Whitecurrants
Gooseberries
Blueberries: needs acidic soil or ericaceous compost so take extra care when planting
Other options
Rhubarb crowns: great time to divide bigger ones you have or plant new crowns
TIPS
When planting fruit bushes, choose a site with good drainage and plenty of light, as most soft fruit dislikes sitting in wet soil. Plant during the dormant season whenever possible, setting bushes at the same depth they were grown previously and firming the soil gently around the roots to remove air pockets.
Water well after planting, even in cool weather, then apply a generous mulch or compost or well rotted manure to conserve moisture and improve soil structure.
Space bushes adequately to allow airflow, which helps reduce disease and prune according to the type of fruit to encourage strong, productive growth from the start. Take a look at: Raspberries: Monitoring, Recording, Pruning & Planting
Happy Gardening!
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Katrina & Clayton and family live in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on instagram. They practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The 2 Grow and Learn Courses with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. He is Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated since 2018. Katrina & Peter hold their PDC & PDC PRO Permaculture Design Course from Oregon State University.
They featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens Ep23 2022 and returned in 2023 for an update, Katrina & Clayton are also columnists for ScotlandGrows Magazine, Guest Blog for Caledonian Horticulture as well as working with Gardeners’ World Magazine and many other brands.
They are also Author of the new Children’s Book Series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Topics on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing & Composting and 108 Page Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle.
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