The quiet days of January might seem like a strange time to think about a garden overflowing with colorful blooms. With snow on the ground in many regions, spring can feel impossibly far away. However, for gardeners in the know, now is the perfect moment to get a head start on the growing season. By starting certain flower seeds indoors, you can cultivate a stunning summer garden, even if you live in a colder climate like growing zone 4 or 5.
Choosing the Right Seeds for a January Start
The key to successful January seed starting is selecting flower varieties that require an extra long growing period. Some plants are quick to mature, going from seed to flower in just 60 or 70 days. Those can wait.
The ones to focus on now are the slow and steady growers, the ones that need 110 days or even more to reach their full blooming potential. Some beloved cut flowers, like Lisianthus, can take 140-180 days before reaching maturity. These are the flowers you’re looking to start, even while there’s snow outside. By giving these long-season flowers an early start indoors, you ensure they are ready to thrive and blossom when the warmer weather finally arrives.
To figure this out, you just need to read the seed packet. Look for information labeled “days to maturity” or “days to bloom.” This number tells you how long it takes from germination until the plant produces flowers.
Simple Indoor Starting and Its Benefits
You don’t need a fancy greenhouse or expensive equipment to begin. A sunny window, some small pots or seed trays, and quality potting soil are all it takes to create a small nursery inside your home. The process of planting these tiny seeds and watching for the first green shoots is a powerful antidote to the winter blues. Tending to these small seedlings during the colder, darker months brings a piece of nature indoors. This act of nurturing life can provide a significant mental health boost, offering a sense of purpose and a hopeful glimpse of the vibrant season to come.
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.
Inspiration from Fellow Gardeners
Gardeners are finding inspiration and community online, especially on platforms like TikTok. In a popular video with over 91,000 likes, gardener Kara from the account @bloomingjoyflowerco guides viewers through a seed aisle, pointing out flowers perfect for a January start. She recommends varieties like snapdragons, poppies, rudbeckia, achillea, carnations, and larkspur. These are all beautiful flowers that benefit from the extra time to establish strong root systems before being transplanted outdoors in the spring.
The comments on her video show that many gardeners are already embracing this practice. One user shared their experience, noting, “I started my eucalyptus in the middle of January and I finally have the smallest seedling.” Other flowers that people in colder zones successfully start in January include lovely pansies, violas, and the famously slow-growing but gorgeous lisianthus.
@bloomingjoyflowerco♬ original sound – Kara | Cut Flower Growing 🌱
The Joy of a Winter Garden Project
Starting your summer flower garden in the middle of winter is a rewarding act of faith and patience. It connects you to the coming seasons and fills your home with life when the world outside is dormant. The joy of tending tiny seedlings on a frosty morning, while the ground is still white outside, is a tangible one. You are nurturing the promise of sunny days and the bright, beautiful flowers that will fill your garden, all because you started a little early, in the quiet heart of winter.
