Here in the Mid-West seed starting is already underway for many of us. Here are some dates and ideas of what you seeds you can start in January.

January 1 – direct sow carrot seed in cold frames

January 4 – pansy, dianthus, snapdragon in flats

January 6 – direct sow peas in cold frames – weather permitting – pea seed will rot if it gets too wet and cold

January 10 – statice in flats

January 11 – parsley, cabbage, celery and onion in flats

January 15 – direct sow carrots and spinach in cold frames

January 18 – begonia and geraniums in flats

January 25 – well established seedlings that were started in flats can be moved into cold frames, weather permitting – remember to do this gradually so seedlings are not shocked unless you have a heated cold frame

Janaury 29 – direct sow carrots in cold frame

The multiple dates for sowing various seeds such as carrots are there for people who succession sow or who did not get the seed sown on the first date.

Do you feel lost when it comes to making plans for your spring garden? If so, you are not alone. Many people simply do not know where to begin.

If this is a new garden, the first step is soil preparation. After all, you cannot grow a garden in grass or weeds. Make sure the area is tilled or hand dug, weed free and necessary amendments are added and worked into the ground. If possible, lay down big sheets of cardboard to help kill the weeds and grass the fall before you intend to plant.

The next part involves the seeds or plants. Do you want to grow flowers, herbs, vegetables or a combination? Think about what your family would use the most of. If you choose flowers, do you want ones that are fragrant, a specific color, ones that dry well or ones that attract butterflies? These are just a few of the possibilities. Once you have decided this, look at numerous garden catalogs and websites to determine what plants do the best in your area.

Consider the space you have to plant in once you know what you will plant. This will help you determine how many plants you can grow in a given area. If you are planting close for weed control, choose annuals. Perennials will need frequent dividing if they are planted too closely together to begin with. Intermixing annuals and perennials is fine. Some flowers such as marigold, nasturtium and zinnia do well in a vegetable garden. Experiment and remember gardens are ever changing.