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In many zone 5 gardens, there is a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Or, the ground is partially frozen. At this time of year, after the garden has largely gone to sleep, it might be hard to find inspiration to continue gardening.
But, fear not gardening friends. January is the perfect month to get planning your 2025 spring and summer garden.
If you’ve caught the seed starting fever, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s guide, we walk you through some vegetable, flower, and herb seeds you can start now in January in zone 5.
We also give you a planting schedule of seeds you can start in January in zone 5. This schedule is a rough guideline of when you can start your seeds this month. It’s meant to help you plan out your January seed starting journey. Be sure to consult your frost dates and local growing conditions before starting any seeds.
Starting seeds in January in zones 5a and 5b
Within zone 5, there are different microclimates. They are separated by the letters A or B. The information in today’s guide is designed for zone 5 gardeners in general. You may need to adjust the planting schedule for your specific growing conditions and climate. It is usually a couple of weeks here or there if you need to make any adjustments.
Are you new to starting seeds?
Maybe you are new to seed starting this year. If so, you may be wondering what the terms growing zone, hardiness zone, and frost dates mean. You may also be wondering about how to get started sowing seeds.
Don’t fret, we’ve put together a handy guide over on our blog that walks you through the basics of understanding growing zones, hardiness zones, and frost dates.
Best seeds to start in January in zone 5
When it comes to starting vegetable seeds indoors in January in zone 5, your options are a bit limited. But, there are still some things that you grow now and have success with indoors.
Cool weather crops and flowers will be your best friends this time of year when starting seeds in January in zone 5. Crops like microgreens, salad greens, and cool weather flowers like Icelandic poppies, pansies, and violas can all be successfully started indoors this month in zone 5.
The air and ground temperatures are not warm enough yet to sustain warmer weather crops.
Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are best started later on in the season.
If you are interested in starting warm weather crops, be sure to check back later. Until then, let’s take a deep dive into the top seeds that you can start now in January in zone 5!
Best vegetable seeds to start in January in zone 5
It is a little too early yet to start most vegetables for your spring and summer garden. But, there are a couple of fun indoor projects that you can begin this month. If growing your own food and maintaining a healthy diet are on your list of resolutions, you’re in luck!
January is the perfect month to start growing microgreens, baby salad greens, or starting your own herb garden indoors. That’s right gardening friends, all of these projects are fun and affordable options for this time of year in zone 5.
These projects can also help to chase the winter blues away. Nothing is more inspiring this time of year than having fresh, green plants to care for over winter!
Starting microgreens by seed in January in zone 5
Just because it might be cold and snowy outside, doesn’t mean you have to give up on growing food indoors. Growing microgreens is a great way to add essential nutrients and vitamins into your diet.
Microgreens can be sown indoors anytime this month Sow them in succession during the winter months for continuous harvests.
Microgreens are very easy to sprout. They can also be started in small, shallow containers.
Growing microgreens also makes a great winter activity to do with kids. They are fairly easy to grow and quite adaptable to growing indoors.
If you have a budding little gardener in your home, try growing some microgreens this year. You never know, it might just be the spark that fosters a lifelong love of gardening!
Microgreens do not take a lot of room to grow. They are a great way to get started growing indoors if you are limited on space. They are also quite an easy intro crop to start with if you have never started seeds before or are new to growing indoors.
Microgreens can be eaten as tender baby shoots. Or, use them to help flavour soups or stews. You can even add them to your favourite salads or smoothie blends. No matter how you choose to eat them, growing microgreens is sure to be a fun activity this winter!
Some of our favourite varieties of microgreens to grow indoors in January in zone 5 are:
- Radish shoots
- Pea shoots
- Broccoli shoots
- Cabbage shoots
- Mustard greens
- Alfalfa sprouting seeds
- Kohlrabi microgreens
Starting tender baby greens by seed in January in zone 5
If you’re looking for more ways to source fresh salad greens over winter, why not try planting an indoor salad bar? Growing your own tender baby greens is a great way to add in some vital nutrients. It is also an affordable and time-saving option for growing your own food right at home!
To grow your own salad greens indoors, choose a sunny location in your home. This could be a sunny windowsill or under grow lights.
Most baby greens are ready to harvest in about 20-30 days. They take roughly 7-10 days to spout. Choose cut-and-come-again varieties or sow in succession. This way, you can keep your indoor salad bar going strong throughout the winter.
Some of the easiest baby salad greens to grow indoors are kale, mustard greens, spinach, bib lettuce, and leaf lettuce. The seeds are usually inexpensive and easy to source locally.
Salad greens also require minimal care to grow and are easy to sprout. This makes them a great option for new gardeners who are just learning how to grow food indoors.
Growing an indoor salad bar is also a great gardening activity for kids. It doesn’t require a lot of space and the chances of success are high.
You can harvest the greens when they are small. Or, if you prefer them to grow out more, many varieties can also grow to full size indoors too!
Some of our favourite varieties of tender baby greens to grow indoors in January in zone 5 are:
- Bib lettuce
- Loose leaf lettuce
- Spinach
- Arugula
- Cos lettuce
- Baby beet greens
- Baby kale
Best herb seeds to start in January in zone 5
If you’re looking for another fun and interesting winter gardening project, why not try planting an indoor herb garden? There are many herbs that can be successfully grown in January in zone 5 completely indoors! That’s right, gardening friends.
Herbs like basil, parsley, chives, sage, thyme, oregano, etc. can all be started now indoors in January in zone 5. You can use these as your go-to countertop herbs Or, if you want to trim and dehydrate them for future use, that’s a great option too!
No matter which way you choose to use your herbs in the kitchen, many are very easy to sprout indoors this time of year. As an added bonus, you can enjoy watching them grow.
Some herbs like cilantro and basil can bolt in extreme heat during the summer. Growing them indoors over winter helps to prevent this from happening. It also gives you a chance to try some of these herbs without the frustration of your harvest being ruined from bolting.
Some of our favourite herb varieties to grow indoors over winter are:
- Lemon or Lime Basil
- Greek or Italian Oregano
- Lemon Balm
- Thai Basil
- Chocolate Mint
- Pineapple Sage
- Cilantro
Best flower seeds to start in January in zone 5
Just because your outdoor flower garden has gone to rest doesn’t mean you have to give up on growing flowers. January is the perfect month to get started growing flowers that take a little longer to grow.
Flowers like pansies, snapdragons, lisianthus, geraniums, petunias, and violas are slow growers at first. The time from initial germination until they are ready for the garden can take anywhere from 10-15 weeks.
Aim to start your flower seeds indoors mid-to-late January in zone 5. You may need to adjust your schedule for your local growing conditions. Check your frost dates and make adjustments as necessary.
Getting started growing these flowers in January in zone 5 will give you plenty of time for them to grow into healthy and vibrant seedlings. Later, when the weather warms up in spring, you will be able to transplant into the garden. Your seedlings will need to be hardened off first.
A lot of these flowers can also be used when creating a pollinator-friendly garden. If creating a pollinator garden is on your list of resolutions this year, be sure to visit our handy guide available on our blog.
Some of our favourite flower seeds to start in January in zone 5 are:
- Frizzle Sizzle pansies
- Chantilly snapdragons
- Maverick series geraniums
- Rocket Mixed snapdragons
- Double Cascade Burgundy petunias
Frequently asked questions about starting seeds in January in zone 5
Do seeds need light to germinate?
Most seeds will need some light to germinate. The exception is pansies which require darkness at first until germination begins.
Do you need grow lights to start seeds indoors?
You do not necessarily need to grow lights to grow indoors over winter. They do help if they are in your budget and you have available space for them.
You can also use a sunny kitchen window or south facing windowsill to germinate your seeds. As they sprout, you will need to turn them as the sun moves during the day.
How many hours a day should your grow lights be on for seedlings?
Usually 14-16 hours a day is sufficient for most seedlings. Some power bars come with a timer or you can buy a separate timer attachment. This will help you to set it for a certain amount of hours per day after which they will automatically shut off.
Should you leave grow lights on 24/7?
No, you should avoid leaving your grow lights on 24/7. Most seedlings once they emerge will require about 14-16 hours of light per day.
The idea is to mimic the daylight that they would receive outdoors. So, only having them on for a certain amount of hours per day will get your seedlings ready for their outdoor transition.
What to do after seeds sprout indoors?
After your seedlings emerge, you will need to actively monitor their progress. This means ensuring that they have the right balance of temperature, light, and water.
If the soil is dry to the touch, it’s time to gently water them. Avoid having your seedlings sitting in too much standing water. This will cause stress which you want to avoid.
How long can seedlings stay in seed trays?
Young seedlings can typically stay in their seed trays for 4-6 weeks. After this, you will need to consider re-potting them into larger containers.
Or, if you are at the point where they can go outdoors, you can slowly acclimate them for later transplant.
How often do you water seedlings?
Seedlings will need water while they are actively growing. Keep an eye on their water levels. Do not let them dry out too much.
Since you are most likely starting your seeds indoors this time of year in zone 5, the tendency to dry out is higher. Keeping a close watch over your seedlings each day will help you to monitor their progress.
Avoid over or under watering and inconsistent watering schedules. This can add undue stress to your seedlings.
Final thoughts
If you’ve caught the gardening fever and are eager to get started, there are several seeds you can start now in January in zone 5. Whether it’s vegetables, herbs, or flowers, let today’s guide be the inspiration you need to get started.
If you’re new to starting seeds, be sure to follow along with us all month long over on our socials. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Don’t miss out on any of our how-to tutorials and seed starting guides that will be posted soon.
Also, while you’re here on the blog, consider subscribing to our newsletter. Don’t miss out on any of the fun and interesting updates to come as we begin the seed starting season! You will also want to visit our online store with easy shipping options throughout Canada. Here you will find a large variety of our handmade items with the quality craftsmanship you can trust from Canadian-made products.
Until next time gardening friends, have some favourite seeds that you are starting in January in zone 5? Drop a comment below or share a photo over on our socials. We love to hear from you and share in the seed starting journey together!
