London in January: what to plant
Over the last 5 years, January in London has run 2.0–7.6°C with about 69 mm of rain across the month. Here is what weather like that will carry to harvest.
Everything above is a five-year average. In the game it is this — the weather London is actually having, today.
Grow one in London's weather right now →❄️ In 5 of the last 5 years, London saw at least one night at or below 0°C in January (record low -5.2°C). Cold-sensitive crops need cover.
🗓️ This month still falls inside the frost season. Average last spring frost around Mar 9, first autumn frost around Nov 21 — roughly 257 frost-free days. Sow tender crops after the last frost date and make sure they finish before the first.
☀️ About 4.4 h of sunshine a day this month. Temperatures hold steady through the month.
Sow this month — when would you harvest?
Assuming you sow in mid-January, then adding up the warmth London usually gets, one day at a time — which is why some of these run past the end of the month.
| Crop | Days | Harvest around |
|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Microgreens | 8 | Jan 22 |
| 🍃 Mint | 30 | Feb 13 |
| 🧅 Chives | 32 | Feb 15 |
| 🌿 Basil | 34 | Feb 17 |
🌡️ Cucumber, Tomato, Chili Pepper, Yardlong bean, Bitter melon, Luffa, Winter melon, Aubergine, Okra never accumulate enough heat outdoors in London — not in any month. Locally these need a greenhouse or a warm windowsill.
Start these indoors this month
London's average last spring frost is around Mar 9. These need a head start under cover — sow into trays now, transplant out after the frost date.
- 🎃 Pumpkin — sow indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost
Best crops to sow now
They are all ideal for this month — the only real difference is how long each one takes, so pick whatever you want to eat.
- 🌱 Microgreens about 8 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🍃 Mint about 30 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🧅 Chives about 32 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
- 🌿 Basil about 34 days to harvest 🪴 Windowsill pot — sheltered from outdoor weather
Leave these for another month
- 🌶️ Okra — Recent mean 4.8°C is too cold (ideal 20–33°C)
- 🍆 Aubergine — Recent mean 4.8°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
- 🍈 Winter melon — Recent mean 4.8°C is too cold (ideal 18–32°C)
Other months in London
📍 Somewhere else? Look up your own city →
Temperature and rainfall come from Open-Meteo's historical observations for London, averaged day by day over the last 5 years. Whether a crop finishes in time is worked out from its own starting temperature and heat requirement — those numbers are listed on each crop page if you want to check them.