This Month
Seasonal tasks for Scottish gardens
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January
The quietest month on the plot. A good time for planning, ordering seeds, and dreaming of the season ahead.
Scottish Gardening Calendar
General guidanceWhat to Sow
Indoors
- β’Onions (mid-month onwards)
- β’Chillies and peppers (need long season)
- β’Early tomatoes (late January)
Outdoors
No outdoor sowing this month
Plant Out
- β’Garlic cloves (if ground workable)
- β’Bare-root fruit trees and bushes
Ready to Harvest
- β’Leeks
- β’Parsnips (sweeter after frost)
- β’Brussels sprouts
- β’Kale
- β’Winter cabbage
- β’Stored roots
Key Tasks
- β’Order seeds early for best selection
- β’Plan this year's crop rotation on paper
- β’Clean and sharpen tools
- β’Check stored veg and remove any rotting
- β’Prune apple and pear trees on dry days
- β’Force rhubarb with an upturned bucket
- β’Dig over empty beds when ground allows
Soil Care
Add compost and organic matter to improve soil structure. Mulch bare soil to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Healthy soil grows healthy plants. Feed the soil, and it feeds you.
Weather to Expect
Expect hard frosts and possible snow. Ground often frozen or waterlogged. Shortest days, but light is returning.
Tip of the Month
A quiet month is a gift. Use it to flip through seed catalogues and make notes about what worked last year.