January in the garden.

What to plant in January

• Leek Allium ampeloprasum · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 8

  Leeks take their time, so start them under lights in midwinter. By the time the soil is workable you will have pencil thick seedlings ready to drop into deep holes.

• Bell Pepper Capsicum annuum · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Peppers need the longest run of any fruiting crop. Sow now on a heat mat and the plants will be setting flowers by the time the nights turn mild.

• Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus · flower · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Snapdragons sown in the darkest weeks flower far earlier than spring sown ones. Press the seed onto damp compost and leave it uncovered, because it needs light to wake up.

• Alfalfa Medicago sativa · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 13

  A jar on the kitchen counter turns alfalfa seed into crisp sprouts in about five days. Rinse twice a day and you have fresh greens whatever the weather is doing.

• Christmas rose Helleborus niger · flower · plant out · zones 3 to 8

  Hellebores are one of the few things in flower right now, so buy them in bloom and you can see exactly what you are getting. Set the crown level with the soil, never below it.

• Salsify Tragopogon porrifolius · vegetable · sow direct · zones 6 to 10

  Salsify needs a long cool run and a deep bed, so sow it into mild ground as early as you can work it. The roots taste faintly of oysters once frost has sweetened them.

• Papaya Carica papaya · fruit · sow direct · zones 10 to 13

  The dry season is the right time to get papaya going. Sow into deep pots so the taproot is never disturbed, and give the seedlings full sun from day one.

• Okra Abelmoschus esculentus · vegetable · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

  Okra loves heat and hates wet feet, so the dry season suits it perfectly. Soak the seed overnight and sow into free draining soil in the sunniest spot you have.

• Cape Gooseberry Physalis peruviana · fruit · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Cape gooseberry needs almost as long a season as a pepper, so start it indoors now. Each papery lantern holds one sweet golden berry, and one plant gives you hundreds.

• Paperwhite Narcissus Narcissus papyraceus · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 1 to 13

  Sit the bulbs on gravel with water just touching their bases and they flower indoors in about four weeks. No cold treatment needed, which is what sets them apart from other daffodils.

• Winter Heath Erica carnea · shrub · plant out · zones 5 to 8

  Winter heath flowers through frost and snow, and unlike most heathers it tolerates a little lime. Plant a group of three or five for a low carpet of color when nothing else is trying.

• Celery Apium graveolens · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Celery seed is tiny and slow, so give it warmth and light now and do not cover it. Keep the seedlings damp at every stage, because a dry check makes the stems stringy later.

• Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox · shrub · plant out · zones 6 to 9

  Wintersweet carries small waxy flowers on bare stems and the scent carries right across a garden. Give it a warm wall and be patient, as it can take a few years to settle in.

• Lisianthus Eustoma russellianum · flower · start indoors · zones 1 to 10

  Lisianthus is the slowest cut flower most people grow, so a start now is not too early. Surface sow the dust fine seed and keep it under cover until the rosettes are the size of a coin.

• Macadamia nut Macadamia integrifolia · tree · plant out · zones 9 to 13

  Plant a grafted macadamia now while the weather is dry and it can settle its roots before the rains. Grafted trees crop in about five years, while seedlings can take twelve.

• Winged Bean Psophocarpus tetragonolobus · vegetable · sow direct · zones 10 to 13

  Every part of the winged bean is edible, from the frilly pods to the tubers underneath. Give it a tall support, because the vines run to three meters in a single season.

• Winter Jasmine Jasminum nudiflorum · climber · plant out · zones 6 to 10

  Bright yellow flowers open on bare green stems in the coldest weeks. It is not a true climber, so tie the shoots to a wall or let it tumble over a low wall instead.

• Chinese witch hazel Hamamelis mollis · shrub · plant out · zones 4 to 8

  Spidery yellow flowers open on bare branches and smell of warm honey on a still day. Plant it where you walk past often, and give it soil that never dries out completely.

• Bougainvillea Bougainvillea glabra · climber · plant out · zones 9 to 13

  Plant bougainvillea while the weather is dry and keep it a little hungry. Rich soil and heavy watering give you leaves, while lean soil and full sun give you sheets of color.

In flower in January

• Beach naupaka Scaevola taccada

  Year round in tropical climates · white

• Beggarticks Bidens alba

  Year round in warm climates · white, yellow

• Florist's cyclamen Cyclamen persicum

  Late autumn to early spring · pink, white, red, purple

• Papaya Carica papaya

  Year round in tropical climates · white, yellow

• Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima

  Late autumn to winter · yellow, red

• Quiver Tree Aloidendron dichotomum

  Mid winter · yellow

• Trumpet tree Cecropia peltata

  Year round · green, white

• Acai palm Euterpe oleracea

  Year round in tropical climates · white, cream

• African oil palm Elaeis guineensis

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, cream

• African Violet Streptocarpus ionanthus

  Year round with proper care · purple, violet, white, pink

• Anthurium Anthurium andraeanum

  Year round under ideal conditions · red, pink, white, salmon

• Banana Musa × paradisiaca

  Year round in tropical climates · purple, yellow

• Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, green

• Cacao Theobroma cacao

  Year round in optimal conditions · white, pink

• Camellia

  Late autumn to early spring · white, pink, red

• Cannonball tree Couroupita guianensis

  Year round in tropical climates · pink, red, yellow

• Cape Aloe Aloe ferox

  Mid winter to early spring · orange, red, yellow

• Cape honeysuckle Tecoma capensis

  Late summer to winter · orange, red, yellow

• Chinese witch hazel Hamamelis mollis

  Late winter to early spring · yellow

• Climbing Aloe Aloiampelos ciliaris

  Late winter to early spring · orange, red

• Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia

  Throughout the year, peaking in autumn and winter. · pale yellow

• Coconut Palm Cocos nucifera

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, cream

• Common groundsel Senecio vulgaris

  Year round in mild climates · yellow

• Crown of Thorns Euphorbia milii

  Year round in warm climates · red, pink, yellow, white

• Cupuacu Theobroma grandiflorum

  Mainly in the dry season (about July to December in the native range) · dark red, maroon

• Dwarf banana Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

  Year round in tropical climates · purple, yellow

• Fish poison tree Barringtonia asiatica

  Year round with peaks in spring and summer · white, pink

• Flamingo Flower Anthurium

  Year round under ideal conditions · red, pink, white, green

• Fukien Tea Carmona retusa

  Intermittent throughout the year · white

• Heath Erica

  Late winter to early spring · pink, white, purple

• Hot lips Palicourea elata

  Winter to spring · white, yellow

• Jungle Geranium Ixora coccinea

  Year round in warm climates · red, orange, yellow

• Kalanchoe

  Late winter to spring · red, pink, orange, yellow, white

• Laurustinus Viburnum tinus

  Late winter to mid spring · white, pink

• Lemon Citrus limon

  Intermittent throughout the year · white, purple

• Lemon scented gum Corymbia citriodora

  Winter to spring · white, cream

• Monkey face orchid Dracula simia

  Year round · brown, orange, yellow

• Moth orchid Phalaenopsis amabilis

  Winter to spring · white, yellow

• Mountain Aloe Aloe marlothii

  Mid winter to early spring · orange, red, yellow

• Nipa palm Nypa fruticans

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, brown

• Paperwhite Narcissus Narcissus papyraceus

  Mid winter to early spring · white

• Portia tree Thespesia populnea

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, maroon

• Red mangrove Rhizophora mangle

  Throughout the year · pale yellow, white

• Sandalwood Santalum album

  Throughout the year · yellow, red, purple

• Sea hibiscus Talipariti tiliaceum

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, red

• Shiny bush Peperomia pellucida

  Year round in tropical conditions · white, green

• Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis

  Late winter to early spring · white

• Sodom Apple Calotropis procera

  Year round in warm climates · white, purple

• Soursop Annona muricata

  Throughout the year · yellow, green

• Starfruit Averrhoa carambola

  Intermittent throughout the year · pink, lavender

• Tamanu Calophyllum inophyllum

  Intermittent throughout the year · white

• Turk's cap Malvaviscus arboreus

  Year round in warm climates · red

• Turkey berry Solanum torvum

  Year round in tropical climates · white

• Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox

  Mid winter to early spring · yellow, red

In fruit in January

• American holly Ilex opaca

  Late autumn to winter

• Brazil nut Bertholletia excelsa

  Year round, peaking in rainy season

• English Ivy Hedera helix

  Late winter

• Heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica

  Autumn to winter

• Papaya Carica papaya

  Year round · culinary fruit

• Tamarind Tamarindus indica

  Winter · culinary flavoring

• Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia

  Late autumn to winter

• Trumpet tree Cecropia peltata

  Year round

• Winterberry Ilex verticillata

  Autumn to winter

• Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens

  Autumn to winter

• Acai palm Euterpe oleracea

  Year round · culinary fruit pulp

• Acerola Malpighia emarginata

  Year round in warm climates · fruit production

• African oil palm Elaeis guineensis

  Year round

• Banana Musa × paradisiaca

  Year round · culinary

• Beach naupaka Scaevola taccada

  Year round

• Beggarticks Bidens alba

  year round

• Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis

  Year round · culinary staple

• Cacao Theobroma cacao

  Year round · culinary

• Cannonball tree Couroupita guianensis

  Year round

• Coco de mer Lodoicea maldivica

  Year round

• Coconut Palm Cocos nucifera

  Year round

• Dwarf banana Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

  Year round · culinary

• Key lime Citrus aurantiifolia

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary flavoring

• Lemon Citrus limon

  Year round · culinary flavoring

• Nipa palm Nypa fruticans

  Year round

• Nutmeg Myristica fragrans

  Year round · culinary spice

• Portia tree Thespesia populnea

  Year round

• Red mangrove Rhizophora mangle

  Year round

• Screw pine Pandanus tectorius

  Year round · edible fruit

• Sea almond Terminalia catappa

  Year round in tropics · edible nuts

• Snake fruit Salacca zalacca

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary fruit

• Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus

  Late summer to winter

• Soursop Annona muricata

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary fruit

• Starfruit Averrhoa carambola

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary fruit

• Tamanu Calophyllum inophyllum

  Year round

• Turkey berry Solanum torvum

  Year round · culinary

• Velvet tree Miconia calvescens

  Year round

January south of the equator

The same month, six months on in the seasons: what to plant in January in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the southern half of South America.

• Corn Salad Valerianella locusta · vegetable · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  One of the hardiest salads there is, and it germinates better in cooling soil than in high heat. Sow it now and you will still be picking it under snow.

• Common Purslane Portulaca oleracea · vegetable · sow direct · zones 3 to 10

  A succulent green that actually enjoys the heat that flattens lettuce. Sow it on the surface of warm soil and start picking the fleshy shoot tips in about a month.

• Field Poppy Papaver rhoeas · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 7

  Scatter the seed now on bare soil, just as poppies shed their own seed in midsummer. It lies waiting and sprouts when cool, moist weather returns, in autumn where winters are mild or next spring where they are cold.

• Perilla Perilla frutescens · herb · sow direct · zones 1 to 11

  Surface sow it, because the seed needs light, and give it warmth. Pinch out the flower spikes as they appear or the leaves turn tough and the plant seeds everywhere.

• Blackberry Rubus fruticosus · fruit · plant out · zones 4 to 9

  Choose a thornless variety unless you enjoy bleeding, and give it a strong wire frame. Tie this year canes to one side and next year canes to the other to keep it manageable.

• Edamame Glycine max · vegetable · sow direct · zones 8 to 13

  Sow into warm soil and expect the whole crop to come at once, so stagger your sowings. Pick the pods while they are still bright green and plump.

• Dragon Fruit Selenicereus undatus · fruit · plant out · zones 10 to 13

  A climbing cactus, so it needs a stout post and very free draining soil. The flowers open for a single night, and most varieties need a partner to set fruit.

• Water Spinach Ipomoea aquatica · vegetable · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

  It will grow in a wet ditch or a flooded container and it grows fast. Cut the shoots back to a few centimeters and they regrow within a fortnight.

• Alpine delphinium Delphinium elatum · flower · sow direct · zones 2 to 8

  Fresh seed germinates far better than old, so sow as soon as you can get it. Stake the spires early, because a summer storm will snap them the day before they open.

• Honesty Lunaria annua · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  Biennial, so sow it now for purple flowers next spring and silver seed discs after that. It is happy in shade under trees where little else will flower.

• Hollyhock Alcea rosea · flower · sow direct · zones 2 to 9

  Sow now and the plants flower properly next year at their full height. Give them a wall or fence at their back, and clear away rusted lower leaves as they appear.

• Mélisse Melissa officinalis · herb · sow direct · zones 3 to 9

  Easy to the point of being pushy, so cut it back before it sets seed. A hard trim after flowering gives you a fresh flush of clean lemon scented leaves.

• Autumn Crocus Colchicum autumnale · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 4 to 9

  Plant the corms now and they flower within weeks, on bare stems with no leaves at all. The leaves arrive in spring, so give them somewhere the untidiness will not matter.

• Oleander Nerium oleander · shrub · plant out · zones 8 to 11

  Thrives on heat, drought and poor soil, which makes it useful where little else copes. Every part is toxic, so it is one to keep away from grazing animals.

• Longan Dimocarpus longan · tree · plant out · zones 10 to 13

  Plant a grafted tree into free draining soil and shelter it from strong wind. A dry spell before flowering is what triggers a heavy crop, so hold back on water then.

• Galangal Alpinia galanga · herb · plant bulbs · zones 9 to 13

  Plant the rhizomes shallow in rich damp soil with dappled shade. It is slower than ginger and worth the wait, with a sharper, more resinous flavor.

• Fountain Grass Cenchrus alopecuroides · grass · plant out · zones 5 to 10

  Soft bottlebrush flowers that catch low light beautifully. Plant it now while the soil is warm so the roots are established before the cold arrives.

• Winter Purslane Claytonia perfoliata · vegetable · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  Succulent heart shaped leaves that keep going through hard frost. It self seeds freely, so one sowing usually turns into a permanent winter salad patch.

• Bay Laurel Laurus nobilis · shrub · plant out · zones 8 to 11

  Slow, steady and happy in a pot for years, which also lets you move it out of hard frost. Clip it in summer rather than winter so the cuts heal before the cold.

• Peanut Arachis hypogaea · vegetable · sow direct · zones 8 to 13

  After flowering the stalks bend down and push into the soil, which is where the nuts form. Loose sandy ground is essential, because they cannot penetrate a crust.

• Land Cress Barbarea verna · vegetable · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  Tastes almost exactly like watercress without needing running water. Sow it in a damp shady spot now and it will crop through the whole cold season.

Other months

• February
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December