Eager to start cultivating for the upcoming season? Start now!
With the arrival of the new year comes new varieties to plant in January. The first month of the year is characterized by preparatory work for the coming spring; it's time to start thinking about harvesting our last winter seedlings to begin replacing them with the spring species that will accompany us in the coming months.
January may not seem like the most productive month, but if you start cultivating during this period, you're already getting ahead for spring!
It's better to be proactive; you'll see how lush your balcony will be in a few weeks.
Sowing in January: the starter kit you need
The cold of winter slows down sprouting and weakens the plants a bit, but we won't be intimidated by the weather!
If you're part of the team of impatient gardeners eager to challenge the inevitable cold spells of January and February, all you need to do is choose a setup inside seed trays or small greenhouses, and you're good to go!
Thanks to the optimal microclimate created in these systems, where temperature and humidity are controlled, starting cultivation will be a breeze!
When you see the cotyledons, the first embryonic heart-shaped leaves, popping up, you'll be able to uncover the greenhouse, provided you keep the plants exposed to light and protected from the cold and inclement weather.
With the arrival of spring, around March, the seedlings will already be well-formed, and the roots will be strong enough for transplanting. You can proceed with the transfer directly into pots on the balcony.
Ready to start?
With our growing kits you can start growing even in the dead of winter! Inside, you'll find all the resources you need: from the mini greenhouse for germination to substrate cubes, all the way to the essential seasonal seed mixes. Everything will come with instructions to guide you through this growing phase.
What to sow in January
Of course, the kit wouldn't be complete without seeds!
The types of seeds offered for this season have been specially selected by our agronomists. Among the organic seed mixes you can find in the growing kit are: the winter salad mix, which contains a packet for each variety of Winter Lettuce, Swiss Chard, and Borage; the spicy mix, which contains Habanero Chili, Jalapeno Chili, and Bundled Hot Chili seeds; or the aromatic mix, which contains Wild Fennel, Winter Savory, and Basil seeds.
For more winter growing tips, read our article: Tips for winter gardening, even in the city.
What to transplant in January: the complete list
For transplanting vegetables in January/February, we find various categories of vegetables.
Transplanting during this period means starting with an advantage because you'll see results sooner than starting from seed! On the other hand, you'll need to ensure you protect the seedlings from the cold, using a cover or simply placing your garden in a sheltered spot, even indoors.
In our catalog, you'll find various winter vegetables ready for transplanting. Let's dive into some of them!
Leafy vegetables
Salads
The lettuce group is very diverse: from soft butterhead lettuce to robust red lettuce, there's something for every taste. Lettuces vary in color, shape, and crispness.
Our favorites?
- Gentle red lettuce characterized by a voluminous head with fringed green-red leaves. It's a very robust variety that prefers full sun! However, it can also produce well in suboptimal conditions and resist attacks from numerous pests.
- Four Seasons Lettuce presents itself at harvest with a large cap of green-reddish bronze color. As the name suggests, it's a variety that can be grown and enjoyed almost all year round because it has good cold resistance and doesn't require full sun, being content with partial shade.
Cabbages
Within this category, there are many varieties, each with a distinct shape and characteristic. Among them are Italian species, some that characterize regional recipes, and others that come from distant lands. For example:
- Red-pointed cabbage characterized by bright purple leaves, heart-shaped and pointed. It's a spring variety that grows best when transplanted in a pot. It has a particularly sweet taste and is great both cooked and raw.
- Tuscan cabbage or curly kale, a classic of popular cuisine, is distinguished by its large, wrinkled dark green leaves. Unlike other cabbages, it doesn't form a central ball but raises an erect stem with feathery leaves.
Bulb vegetables
Essential vegetables for cooking that should not be missing in your garden are onions. They have a soft and fleshy texture and a sweet and delicate flavor. They are often used raw, stuffed, grilled, and even for jams!
We've thought of something different from the classic white onion:
- Flat red onion typical of the Sicilian area, it's a variety with a reddish color that is very large and flattened at the poles. It has a soft and fleshy texture and a sweet and delicate flavor. It's easy to grow! Plant it in full sun or partial shade, just make sure not to have excessively wet soil.
- Spring onion is a variety of onion that is not yet mature, harvested before the familiar bulb forms. It is characterized by an elongated shape and tender, sweet, and very flavorful flesh. It loves the sun! You can plant it in full sun or partial shade, here too, make sure the substrate is not excessively wet.
Aromatic herbs
Our team of aromatic herbs is versatile and rich in flavor: a bit of taste is simply a must in anyone's kitchen. Each herb has its personality and flavor, but they all have a common history: it was believed that they all had medicinal properties and have been used in traditional medicine for years. From the most classic:
- Chives are recognizable by their tubular leaves, with a pungent scent of garlic and onion. Its lighter and delicate taste compared to garlic and onion makes it an excellent ally in the kitchen. It doesn't need good sun exposure, preferably partial shade, to avoid the hottest hours of the day.
- Borage, characterized by oval, dark green leaves covered in white hairs and provided with delicate blue flowers. According to the Ligurian tradition, it's excellent for fresh stuffed pasta and savory pies. It doesn't need special attention or excessive watering: just remember to place it in full sun!
And what about the more exotic ones?
Lemon Thyme differs from classic thyme in its slightly smaller, yellow leaves with an intense citrus aroma. Like thyme, this species is a perennial plant resistant to both cold and heat. Its flavor is a mix between classic thyme and the citrusy taste of lemon: it's perfect with fish but can also be used in desserts or for hot infusions.
Small Fruits:
There are many types of strawberries, each with distinct characteristics and needs. Some can be grown all year round, while others only in certain seasons.
In our catalog, you'll find the species most suitable for balcony growth, easy to grow and quick to mature. Wild strawberry is a wild plant that grows in Italian woodlands and is cultivated for its fruits: small strawberries with a very intense aroma. It stands out from hybrid varieties because the fruits are small and soft but very tasty. It's a hardy plant, not afraid of either cold or heat: position it in shaded areas as direct
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