What to Grow in January (Temperate Climate Australia): a list of vegetables, fruit, herbs, edible flowers and my Garden Cocktail of the Month.
What to Grow in January: Sunflower – Photo © The Gourmantic Garden
There’s nothing like the start of a new year to plan the garden ahead. In Australia’s temperate climate such as Sydney, January is usually the time when the warm weather has usually settled in, the garden is awake from its festive slumber and demanding our attention.
While lazy days on the beach may be tempting us in Sydney, January is also an ideal month to get our hands dirty, to feel grounded with nature and sow seeds for a bountiful harvest year.
Starting this month, I’ll be bringing you a month by month planner on what vegetables, fruit, herbs and edible flowers to grow including some suggestions for varieties to try. I will also be bringing you a new feature, Garden Cocktail of the Month to inspire you to turn your garden-grown produce into delicious cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
What to Grow in January: Vegetables, Fruit, Herbs & Edible Flowers
Basil – Photo © The Gourmantic Garden
What to Grow in January: Vegetables & Fruit
- Amaranth (try amaranth bi-colour)
- Artichoke
- Beetroot
- Beans (bush beans such as Cherokee beans)
- Bitter melon
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Corn
- Cucumber (bush varieties such as spacemaster)
- Eggplant (best bought as advanced seedlings at this time of year)
- Florence fennel
- Gailaan (Chinese broccoli)
- Kale
- Kohlrabi
- Leek
- Lettuce (loose leaf varieties such as oakleaf do better in the heat of summer)
- Madagascar bean
- Malabar spinach
- Mustard reds / greens
- Okra
- Orach
- Radish
- Rhubarb seed
- Scarlet runner beans
- Silverbeet / Swiss chard
- Spring onions
- Tomato (preferably determinate, cherry or dwarf tomatoes)
- Turnips
- Warrigal greens
- Zucchini
Herbs
- Basil (Genovese, purple or Thai basil)
- Chives
- Coriander (try slow bolt coriander)
- Cress
- Dill
- Fennel
- Lemon verbena
- Lemongrass
- Lovage
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Purslane
Basil – Photo © The Gourmantic Garden
What to Grow in January: Edible Flowers
- Bergamot
- Borage
- Dianthus
- Echinacea
- Marigold
- Nasturtiums
- Sunflowers
- Viola
Garden Cocktail of the Month: January – Garden Bloody Maria
Start the year with a spicy kick by infusing garden-grown jalapeños in blanco tequila and mixing this spicy version of the Bloody Mary.
Cheers to enjoying garden cocktails in January!
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