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In January in zone 6, many of our gardens are either covered in snow or the ground is still frozen. This limits the options when it comes to sowing seeds directly outdoors. But, that doesn’t mean that indoor seed starting can’t begin for the 2025 growing season.
That’s right, gardening friends. If you’re itching to get started sowing some seeds, you’ve come to the right place. In today’s guide, we showcase several different vegetable, herb, and flower seeds you can sow indoors in January in zone 6.
We also give you a rough planting schedule for seeds you can start now in January in zone 6. This schedule is strictly meant as a guideline only. It offers different timelines of when you can start your seeds. It’s meant to help you plan out your January seed starting journey.
Before starting any seeds, consult your frost dates and local growing conditions. You may need to adjust the timelines a little bit for your local area.
Starting seeds in January in zone 6
Within zone 6, there are different microclimates. These are often designated by the letters A or B. The information in today’s guide is designed for zone 6 gardeners in a broad sense.
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 growing by seed 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 covers the basics of understanding growing zones, hardiness zones, and frost dates.
Best vegetable seeds to start in January in zone 6
When it comes to starting seeds in zone 6 in January, you will be limited to cooler weather crops and flowers. The air and ground temperatures are not warm enough yet for warm weather crops. Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, or cucumbers need much warmer temperatures than cooler weather crops. Be sure to check back later for all of our warm weather seed starting guides.
January is the perfect time to get started sowing cool weather crops. Vegetables like onions, leafy greens and microgreens all tolerate cooler temperatures of early spring.
These crops can be transplanted out into the garden in early March-April. Some will need the extra protection of row covers, cold frames or a greenhouse. These will act to insulate the crops until the warmer weather of springtime arrives.
January is also a great time to get started growing some herbs. This month you can also start seeds for cool weather flowers like pansies, violas, snapdragons, and sweet peas.
What vegetable seeds can you start in January in zone 6?
Surprisingly, there are several different vegetables that you can start seeds for in January in zone 6. Here are some of our favourites to start this time of year in zone 6.
Starting onions by seed in January in zone 6
Onions are a great crop to start in January in zone 6. Aim for the end of January to get a head start on the spring and summer garden. First determine whether you will plant short day, long day, or day-neutral onions.
Your choice of onion seeds depends on the amount of daylight hours in your area during the spring and summer. The daylight hours determine how the onions will form their bulbs.
Short day onions need about 10 hours of daylight. Long day onions need about 14-16 hours of daylight. Long day onions are what most gardeners in zone 6 will have success with in their gardens. Here, the days are long in the summer making these the ideal choice. For more information on starting onions by seed, be sure to visit our handy guide.
If you’re new to growing onions, we’ve put together a handy guide that walks you through the differences between planting onions by seed and sets. It also covers the differences between long-day, short-day, and day-neutral onions. Be sure to visit it over on our blog for more information.
Onions are one of the first crops that many northern gardeners are able to start. January is a great month to get started. Onions are a long grower. Start the process early to begin preparing for your summer garden.
Come March-April, you will transplant your onion seedlings to the garden. Onions are a cold weather crop. They will start to put on new growth once temperatures warm up in the spring.
Some of our favourite varieties of long day storage onions to start in zone 6 are:
- Walla walla
- White Sweet Spanish
- Yellow Sweet Spanish
- Cabernet Red
- Alsia Craig
- Patterson
If you are planning your own kitchen garden this year, you might start some bunching onions. These onions are easy to grow and taste great. Try them in different summer dishes like fresh homemade potato salad.
Some of our favourite varieties of bunching onions to start in January in zone 6 are:
- White Lisbon
- Ramrod
- Southport White Globe
- Evergreen
- Tokyo Long white
Starting leeks by seed in January in zone 6
Closely related to onions, leeks can be started indoors in January in zone 6. Start your leeks around the same time as your onions near the end of January. Since leeks are also a cold weather crop, they can be transplanted out into the garden in March-April in zone 6.
Leeks are a very versatile vegetable in the kitchen. They can be used in many dishes from soups to quiche. They are also very cold hardy. This makes leeks a great crop to grow for northern gardeners in zone 6.
Leeks can be grown in raised beds, larger in-ground gardens, and in containers. They are quite adaptable to different garden layouts and designs.
Some of our favourite varieties of leeks to grow by seed in January in zone 6 are:
- King Richard
- American Flag
- Winter Giant
- Malabar
Leeks also have many anti-inflammatory properties and a lot of health benefits. So, adding them to your 2025 summer garden should be on your list this year!
Starting spinach by seed in January in zone 6
One of the hardiest of the cold weather crops is spinach. Spinach is full of essential vitamins and nutrients.
Spinach does not always transplant well. Starting it in a 3 or 4 inch pot will allow you to gently transplant your seedlings into the garden. Ideal time to transplant is March-April.
When you transplant your spinach, you may need to use a cold frame, greenhouse, or row cover. These will help to add some protection from frost. These measures will be necessary until the weather warms up more and the danger of frost has passed.
If you’re new to growing spinach, it is one of the easier crops to start by seed. It also has a high germination rate, so chances of success at starting spinach indoors are high.
Some of our favourite varieties of spinach to start indoors in January in zone 6 are:
- Bloomsdale Long Standing
- Double Choice Hybrid
- Seaside Hybrid
- New Zealand
Starting lettuce by seed in January in zone 6
Finding ways to save on your grocery bill is probably on your list of resolutions this year. One way is to plant and harvest your own lettuce. Nothing tastes better than the mouthwatering goodness of freshly picked lettuce.
Lettuce is a great crop to get started growing in late January. It is a cold weather crop. Most varieties are fairly easy to grow for new gardeners.
Aim to start your seeds indoors towards the end of the month. That way, come early spring, you will be able to transplant your lettuce seedlings outdoors.
Like many early crops, lettuce will benefit from being grown under cover at first when you transplant it outside. Use a cold frame, row cover, or greenhouse for added protection.
Lettuce can be prone to bolting in the high heat of summer. Getting a head start on growing some lettuce transplants early will allow you to take advantage of the cooler weather.
Some varieties of lettuce that we recommend for growing in January in zone 6 are:
- Winter gem
- Winter density
- Grand Rapids
- Red Salad Bowl
- Parris Island Cos
Lettuce can be successfully grown in raised beds and containers. You can also harvest tender baby greens indoors throughout the winter.
There is a large variety of different types of lettuce to choose from. You can grow head lettuce or cut-and-come again varieties of leaf lettuce. No matter what you choose, you can’t go wrong with adding this leafy green to your list in January!
Starting Kale and Swiss chard by seed in January in zone 6
Speaking of leafy greens, kale and Swiss chard can be started too at the end of January in zone 6. These two leafy greens are cold hardy. They can even tolerate a light frost. Both plants produce quite a lot. Only a few plants go a long way.
If you are just trying kale or Swiss chard for the first time and not sure if you will like it, try planting a couple of seedlings.
If these two crops are your favourite summer vegetables, you can plant more seedlings. Always keep in mind what yourself or your family likes to eat and will be likely to use.
Both Swiss chard and kale do well in in-ground gardens. Or, if you’re tight on space, they are also very adaptable to growing in containers and raised beds.
Both crops are full of essential vitamins and nutrients. They also have very helpful antioxidants. They are versatile in many meals as a side dish, or in the case of kale, a great addition to your favourite smoothie.
Kale and Swiss chard will be ready to be transplanted into the garden in early spring around March-April. This will depend on your growing conditions and climate. At first, you may need to give the crops some protection like a cold frame, row cover, or greenhouse. But, both are tolerant of light to moderate frost.
Some of our favourite varieties of kale and Swiss chard to plant in January in zone 6 are:
- Dinosaur Kale
- Red Russian Kale
- White Russian Kale
- Bright Lights Swiss Chard
- Rainbow Chard
- Fordhook Giant Chard
- Ruby Red Swiss Chard
Starting mustard greens by seed in January in zone 6
Mustard greens are another versatile leafy green vegetable that you can start by seed indoors in January in zone 6.
Like many of the other greens mentioned in this guide, aim to start them indoors towards the end of the month.
Mustard greens are a cool weather vegetable. They can handle being grown indoors over winter. Come early spring, these greens can be transplanted out into the garden under protection of row covers, a greenhouse, or cold frames.
Mustard greens are full of essential health benefits. They can be used in a variety of different ways in the kitchen. They can also be eaten as microgreens over winter.
Some of our favourite varieties of mustard greens to grow in January in zone 6 are:
- Mizuna
- Green Wave
- Tendergreen
Best herb seeds to start in January in zone 6
January is a great month to get started sowing some herb seeds indoors. Many herbs can be slow to grow at first. Getting a head start this month will be well worth your while.
Try starting some oregano, parsley, chives, thyme, rosemary, lavender, or sage. When the weather warms up in the spring, you can move these outdoors.
To make the transition easier, try growing your herbs in containers. Just be sure to properly water and feed them once they have put on growth to keep them healthy and strong.
Some of our favourite varieties of herbs to grow in January in zone 6 are:
- Garlic chives
- Italian flat leaf parsley
- Curly parsley
- Munstead lavender
Best microgreen seeds to start in January in zone 6
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 vitamins to your diet.
Microgreens can be sown indoors anytime this month and throughout the winter. They are very easy to sprout. They can also be started in small containers.
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.
Microgreens can be eaten as tender baby shoots. Or, use them to help flavour soups or stews and add them to salads or your favourite 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 6 are:
- Radish shoots
- Pea shoots
- Broccoli shoots
- Mustard greens
- Baby beet greens
- Baby kale
Best flower seeds to start in January in zone 6
Vegetables do not have to be the only seeds that you start indoors in January in zone 6.
To help brighten your spirits on a cold’s winter’s day, why not start some flower seeds indoors? That’s right, there are several different types of flowers that you can easily start indoors in January in zone 6. Here is a list of our top four favourite flowers to start by seed in January in zone 6.
Pansies, violas, snapdragons, and sweet peas are some of the cool weather flowers that you can get a head start on sowing this month. These flowers take a little longer to grow. Starting them by seed in January will give you plenty of time to grow into healthy seedlings.
Once the weather starts to warm up in the spring, you can gently acclimate them outdoors. Although they are cold hardy, be sure to properly harden them off before planting outdoors. Do so, when the danger of frost has passed.
A lot of these flowers can also be used to create a pollinator-friendly garden. If creating a pollinator garden is on your list of resolutions this year, be sure to visit our handy guide over on our blog.
Some of our favourite varieties of cool weather flowers to start indoors in January in zone 6 are:
- Rocket series of snapdragons
- Chantilly series of snapdragons
- Majestic Giant Pansies
- Frizzle Sizzle Mix pansies
- Sweet Dreams Mix Sweet Peas
- Eckfords Finest Mix Sweet Peas
- Tiger Eye Mix Violas
- Sorbet Denim Jump up Violas
Frequently asked questions about starting seeds in January in zone 6
Do you need to grow lights to start seeds?
Most seeds will need some light to germinate. The exception is pansies which require darkness at first until germination begins.
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 you 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 6, 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 in January in zone 6. 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 and the continental U.S.A. 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 6? 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!
