January is the month of suspense for vegetable gardeners.  The weather is often too cold to be outside in the garden, but we all know that full planting season is around the corner.  The seed catalogs start coming in the mail, making us dream about ripe tomatoes and delicious summer squash.

We are all looking forward to spring gardening, but there are quite a few things for a vegetable gardener to do in January and early February.  January is the time to plant onions.  Many local feed stores and nurseries have onion sets in stock, and they should be planted now for a harvest in late May.  Not long after onions, it will be time to plant potatoes in mid-February.

Beyond onions and potatoes, you can also start growing some vegetable transplants from seed in late January.  Tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers are great vegetables to start from seed, and they will be ready to plant in the garden in mid-March after the last freeze.

You can find seed from local nurseries or seed catalogs but start shopping now so you can find the varieties that you want.  Plant the seeds in a shallow tray that has good drainage holes.  Use a growing mix that is designed for starting seeds. This mixture will be fine-textured and will hold moisture, but it does allow excess moisture to drain away so the seeds do not stay too wet.

When you are ready to plant your seeds, moisten the growing media and mix it thoroughly before filling your tray.  Dry growing media will repel water and make it hard to get even moisture after your seeds are planted, so it’s easier to moisten the growing media first.

Plant your seeds according to the depth recommended on the seed package.  Small seeds like lettuce and carrots just need a light dusting of soil over the top.  Be sure your seeds have good soil contact.  Mist the trays with a spray bottle to ensure the seeds have adequate moisture to germinate.  Cover the tray with clear plastic to hold in moisture until germination, then remove the plastic.

Seeds generally like soil temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate, so keep the tray in a warm spot like the top of your refrigerator.  Provide plenty of light to keep the seedlings stocky and strong.  Low light will cause your seedlings to be tall and spindly.

Use a diluted fertilizer solution to lightly fertilize your seedlings after they develop their first true leaves.  You can start moving your seedlings outside for a few hours a few weeks before you plant them to “harden off” the plants before they go live outside full time.  Let them sit outside in a partly sunny location for a few hours, gradually extending the time until the can be planted outside in full sun.

Growing transplants from seed is a fun way to get your garden ready during the winter.  This is especially fun if you have kiddos in the house who can help plant the seeds and check on them every day.

For more information about growing plants from seed or other lawn and garden topics, contact Kate Whitney, Williamson County Horticulture Extension Agent, at 512-943-3300.