What to sow and grow in in January.

January is not a time for planting anything direct into your soil. If you missed the window with Garlic or Broad Beans, don't panic, just wait until the end of February making sure the soil isn't frozen or waterlogged. You could of course plant them in modules or pots and put them in a greenhouse or cold frame, but if that's not possible waiting a few weeks won't hurt.

Now can be a good time to get a head start with your Herbs. All that's required is a south facing window, some pots or seed trays, some multipurpose compost and a bit of warmth. My favourites to grow are Basil, Chives and Thyme, but there are lots you can choose from to start growing indoors.

If you're really serious about sowing early with things like Aubergines, Peppers or Chillies, then you will need some form of heat and light sources. The above veg need a long growing season and because here in the Northern hemisphere we don't have enough light or warmth at this time of year, we have to use heat mats, or a propagator with lights. Being able to start them off early with artificial heat and light we have a much better chance of getting a harvest later in the year.

For my experience on the pros and cons of buying heat mats and lights you can read my little article from last year HERE

If you do have space and warmth you could start things off like Lettuce, Cauliflower, Spinach, Spring Onions, Kale and Turnips. But unless you've got the space to pot up your seedlings when they have outgrown their seed trays or plug pots, it would again be best to leave it a few weeks.

Last years results.

For the past four years or I think it maybe even five, I've painstakingly weighed and recorded the weight of everything I've harvested. At the end of the year I've added it all up to see how much better and more efficient I'd been from the previous year.

Now we all know that this past growing season has not been the best. A really cold and wet start going right through to almost June. And the slugs! My goodness, the slugs had an absolute field day didn't they!

With this in mind I wasn't expecting to do as well as last year. There was one good thing though. I'd become a member of the Capital Growth Network which is London's largest food growing network. When you join, you get access to a Harvestometer which records everything you've grown after weighing it and not only adds it up for you, but it tells you how much money you've saved if you had bought the equivalent in the shops. It also tells you how much Co2 you have saved, how amazing is that!

So, in 2024 I managed to grow 186.58 kilos of fruit and veg, that's 411.34 pounds. This was 107 kilos down from the previous year's total of 293 kilos, a third less than 2023.

What I was really amazed with though, after the initial disappointment, was that I had saved £1,125.87p by growing my own. Yes, I did buy compost and some other bits and pieces for the Lottie, but I think I saved a good grand, which is brilliant don't you think?

Learn to grow from seed.

Have you ever said, “Anything I grow always dies or gets eaten by pests!”? If the answer is YES! Then this is the course for you.

I’ve been meaning to start this course for a while. I’d like to show you how it is possible to grow a substantial amount of organic food from seed for little money.

We will cover basic subjects like sowing, potting up, growing on, how to deal with pests, and I’ll cover 25 different types of vegetables on where, how and when to grow them. All the tips and tricks I have learnt from my almost 20 years experience of growing my own food.

It’s just £5 a month to cover my costs. Click HERE to book your place, or EMAIL me for more info.