Club Benefits
One of my New Year's resolutions is to look after my garden more. And what better way to start than with the best things to plant in January? Because my yard needs a pop of color, and I think we can ignore the bright pink, plastic playhouse that's currently on my deck. Unfortunately, that will be there throughout 2026, but I'm not sure it will be as easy on the eye as these beautiful blooms.
These flowers ought to bring some brightness to early spring, and with some needing attention up to 12 weeks before the last frost, you can get started now. Others require no preparation — just dig them out and sow them into the ground at the first signs of spring.
Whether your borders are looking lackluster or, if like mine, your flower beds need a little sprucing, these are my firm favorites for planting in January, ready for full bloom in spring. These florals will take you right through summer 2026, and in some cases, to summer 2027 — some of these seeds don't need much attention to grow back year after year. So, once the job is done in January, this spot of your yard is sorted for years to come.
The best flowers to sow in January
1. Snapdragons
Time to plant (from first opening to sewing outdoors): 6 weeks min, 9 weeks max
Difficulty level: 1/5
Colors: Purple, yellow, pink
Ease of promoting regrowth: 5/5
Arguably my favorite spring flower (sorry, tulips!), Snapdragons look just as impressive in your yard as they do in a vase on your kitchen island, in my opinion. They're also not too difficult to sew, as I've recently learned — they can thrive in pretty much any soil, plus they need very little watering should spring end up being quite dry. The best part? They have a 90% germination rate. Plus, the bees love them. Triple win!
This packet of 5500 snapdragon seeds from Amazon suggests you start the initial process indoors, around 4-6 weeks ahead of the last predicted frost where you live. Grab a pot and sow seeds just beneath the soil surface. You'll notice it germinates within 14-21 days, at 65°F, after which you can sew in early spring. Just remember to space them around 6 inches apart for the best results.
Come mid-spring, these seeds will be bursting to life — think purples, yellows, and pinks. Leave some in your yard to add color where it's needed, and cut some and place them in a tall vase to decorate your home ahead of the Easter celebrations. Otherwise, they work well when intertwined with other foliage, if you'd like to create your own spring wreath.
Once cut back, these flowers promote regrowth, so they should regrow in 2027 with zero effort required from you.
2. Petunias
Time to plant (from first opening to sewing outdoors): 11 weeks min, 14 weeks max
Difficulty level: 3/5
Colors: Red, pink, purple, white
Ease of regrowth: 0/5
Luckily for me, the previous owners of my house sewed some petunias in the January, and we moved in July, so we also got to enjoy them. Truly, the smell that comes from this flower is impressive, and it gave my garden guests a good whiff each time they brushed past. Although not as simple to manage as snapdragons, this is another colorful option to add to your yard, which will work great in hanging baskets or in smaller spaces, while feeding the bees and pleasing the butterflies. It also has a 90% germination rate, so you can play it safe with this one, too.
Much like the Snapdragon, you'll need to start the Petunia seeds off indoors. These require attention way before the snapdragon seeds, so they should come as a priority — 10-12 weeks before the last frost. Go ahead and gently press this Dwarf Petunia Seed Mix from Amazon into a pot with some soil and a little sand. Keep it moist and in bright light until germination, which should happen in 1 to 2 weeks, at any temperature between 70 and 80 °F. When planting, space 12 inches apart. Until it flowers, you'll need to set a reminder to feed this plant monthly with a slow-release fertilizer like this one from Miracle-Gro.
Once bloomed, I'd suggest that you deadhead and pinch the tips — this will extend how long it blooms, perhaps even to late September. These seeds won't regrow, as the frost often kills them. So remember what to do, and you'll know how to repeat it in January 2027.
3. Coleus
Time to plant (from first opening to sewing outdoors): 5 weeks min, 8 weeks max
Difficulty level: 2/5
Colors: Red, green, yellow, magenta
Ease of regrowth: 3/5
For a wow-factor, the Coleus is a no-brainer. This bold and beautiful plant is easy to care for, while being a blessing for the bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A great choice for borders, you can even use these as houseplants and keep them indoors.
This Rainbow Mixture Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) Seeds packet from Amazon claims to be great for landscaping, and in there, you'll get 1,600 seeds. Start the process around 4-6 weeks before the last frost and bury them around 1/4" deep into the soil. It needs to be placed in full light, at around 60 to 80°F. It'll germinate between days 7 and 14, then it's ready to be sown, 10" apart from another.
This unique plant, once fully bloomed, will have guests looking twice and asking what it is. It's colorful and will bring yellow, red, green, and magenta into your garden, while if you want bushier growth, then you'll want to pinch the tops.
Looking to extend its life into 2027? Simply repot indoors before the frost rolls around again.
4. Dianthus
Time to plant (from first opening to sewing outdoors): 2 weeks min, 9 weeks max
Difficulty level: 1/5
Colors: Pink, red, white
Ease of regrowth: 5/5
There are lots of Dianthus flowers to choose from, with one of the most common species being Sweet William. Why do I love them? They're drought-tolerant just in case early spring brings lots of rain, and once bloomed, you can cut them and display them indoors. Then, go ahead and dry them out to extend their lifespan. As well as being a favorite of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, the ladybirds love them, too.
This 5000 pack of Mix Sweet William Seeds for Planting from Amazon is perfect. If you'd prefer to start this indoors, you can, but it needs to begin 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Otherwise, there's no need for any indoor prep if you've not got the time — just go ahead and sew right after the last spring frost. Need more direction? Go for just below the surface of the soil and keep it well (and evenly) watered. If you can, try to ensure it stays at 60°F outside once it exits your home. It should germinate within 2 to 3 weeks after sowing, and you'll be greeted with beautiful, clove-scented flowers when the sun finally makes an appearance.
This flower will come back in 2027, but in 2028, you'll need to divide to allow for regrowth.
5. Bergamot
Time to plant (from first opening to sewing outdoors): 10 days min, 11 weeks max
Difficulty level: 2/5
Colors: Pink/purple
Ease of regrowth: 4/5
Similar timings apply to Bergamot as Sweet Williams, so you could do them at the same time to save effort. Both are nice and fast, with this one's germination taking anything from 10 days! Fast results, the bees love it, and even better? It'll add a mild minty smell to your space. You can also harvest once fresh and display indoors to add a pop of purple inside.
These KVITER 2,000 Wild Bergamot Seeds from Amazon are a great choice. You can prep indoors (6-8 weeks before last frost) or just go ahead and sew them straight in early spring. Surface sow with care and make sure that you keep them moist until germination, which should be between 10-20 days, at 60-70°F.
Once seedlings do develop, you're going to want to thin them out to avoid mildew from forming. Otherwise, these petals are edible, so you can use them in tea or to decorate desserts, or even to make your own potpourri.
You only need to deadhead them for an extra bloom. Cut them to 4 inches just before the first frost comes.
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