What to plant in January

January is the quiet month in the UK garden — a time for planning, structural pruning and forcing rhubarb. Frosts still bite, but light is returning, and the first early seeds can be started under glass.

What to sow in January: Broad beans (under cloche); Sweet peas (in a cold frame); Chillies and aubergines (heated propagator); Onions and leeks (heated propagator); Lettuce (under cover).

What to plant in January: Bare-root roses and fruit trees; Garlic cloves (if not done in autumn); Rhubarb crowns; Hedging whips (bare-root).

What to harvest in January: Brussels sprouts; Leeks; Parsnips; Winter cabbage; Kale.

Key jobs for January: Prune apple and pear trees while dormant; Wash out pots and seed trays; Force rhubarb with a forcer; Check stored apples and onions for rot; Order seeds and plan crop rotation.