January may seem early to prepare for spring gardening, but starting now offers numerous advantages. While outdoor temperatures still periodically dip below freezing, seeds can be started indoors under controlled conditions. This early start can extend the growing season and lower supply costs. Additionally, plants have more time to establish roots and develop defense systems. This enhances their tolerance to many pests and diseases and improves the likelihood of plants reaching full maturity.
Seed Selection
While many plants benefit greatly from being transplanted, plants with large seeds (pumpkin or beans), root crops (carrot or radish), or those that dislike root disturbance do better when directly sown into the garden bed. Alternatively, vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, kale, strawberry, tomatoes, and peppers thrive as transplants (Pennisi & Dorn, 2025).
It is important to select quality, disease-free seeds and choose varieties that grow best in the area you are trying to plant. A list of the best varieties in Georgia can be found in Field Report (Westerfield, 2025).
Our ANR agent, Caston Noorullah, recently begin a seed library at the DeKalb County Extension office (located at 4380 Memorial Dr #200 Decatur, GA 30032) with the goal of providing greater access to growing food. Because many gardeners begin their plants from seed to keep gardening affordable, this library is an excellent resource to further increase that accessibility. Currently, 5 seed packets are available to “check out” per visitor (it is not necessary to return the seeds).
Timing
The UGA planting chart is a fantastic resource that contains dates for planting both sowing seeds directly and planting transplants. For transplants, the planting day is the day the transplant is moved into the garden. Generally, seeds should be started 6-8 weeks prior to this date. January is the ideal time to begin seeds for a spring planting of broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce, cauliflower, and spinach. Starting these seeds early is essential since spring plantings of cool-weather crops need to be ready for harvest before hot weather arrives. Mid-February is the ideal time to begin tomato, whereas crops like cucumber, eggplant, peppers, and squash should be started in March.
Materials
Soilless media should be used to start seeds as opposed to garden soil. The most popular choice is typically peat moss with vermiculite or pearlite, which is used to maintain proper aeration and drainage. Garden soil is typically compact, leading to issues with waterlogging that commonly result in root rot or damping-off. It can also carry weeds and other diseases that can be detrimental to seedlings.
Seeds can be started in any container, including recycled materials, as long as they are rinsed, sanitized, and have proper drainage holes. Plastic trays, egg cartons, empty cartons, and used food cups are popular choices. Clear plastic lids can be added to create a humidity dome, which aids in germination but should be removed once seedlings emerge.
Starting Seeds
Seed germination is dependent on the proper temperature, moisture, air, and light. The process begins when water enters through the seed coat (imbibition), which activates enzymes necessary for energy, growth, and respiration (Bennett, 2021; DuPont, 2025). Many seeds prefer darkness for germination to occur, while others are impartial. Planting depth is often listed on seed packets, but a general rule-of-thumb is to plant at a depth twice their size (Cabrera, 2025). It is uncommon for seeds to need light for germination; However, there are exceptions including dill, Snapdragon, and most kinds of lettuce (Jauron & Steil, 2023). These seeds should remain close to the surface and should remain partially uncovered.
Gardeners often plant multiple seeds in one hole to ensure at least one germinates. However, if multiple seeds emerge, they will need to be thinned out to avoid competition.
Seedlings typically require 16 hours of light per day. Even the sunniest windows filter light and may not provide an adequate duration during the winter and early spring. When supplementing with grow lights, they should be placed about 2-3 inches above seedlings to provide the necessary light intensity. If your grow light emits heat then it is important to ensure it won’t scorch your seedlings when positioned close. A guide on grow light selection can be found in the previous blog post, Not All Grow Lights are Created Equal. Alternatively, if it is too cold in your house, heating mats can be purchased to increase their rate of growth.
Transplanting
Many gardeners choose to “harden off” their plants, or acclimate them to the harsher, outdoor environment prior to planting in the garden bed. This is commonly done by leaving them outside for several hours each day at increasing intervals two weeks prior to transplanting. The same effect can be achieved by gradually decreasing temperature and watering to mimic outdoor conditions.
Plants should have well-developed, vigorous roots by the time they are ready to transplant. They should be planted in a garden that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight with the appropriate nutrient quantities. Any fertilizing should ideally be done before planting, as seedlings easily experience fertilizer damage and it is difficult to amend the soil afterward. New transplants should be watered thoroughly as they continue to acclimate and develop within the soil.
Sources & Further Reading
Bennett, M. (2021, February 1). Germinating Seeds. WVU Extension. https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/news/2021/02/01/germinating-seeds
Cabrera, E. (2025, February 27). Starting your spring vegetable garden from seed. CAES Field Report. https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/features/vegetable-garden-seed-starting/
DuPont, T. (2025, January 14). Seed and Seedling Biology. Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/seed-and-seedling-biology
Jauron, R & Steil, A. (2023, December). Germination Requirements for Annuals and Vegetables. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/germination-requirements-annuals-and-vegetables
Pennisi, B & Dorn, S. (2025, January 9). Starting Plants From Seed for the Home Gardener. CAES Field Report. https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/B1432/starting-plants-from-seed-for-the-home-gardener/
Rothenberger, R. (2022, June). Starting Plants Indoors From Seeds. University of Missouri Extension. https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6570
University of Georgia Extension. (2021, March 22). Vegetable Planting Chart. CAES Field Report. https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/vegetable-planting-chart-for-Georgia-C963-UGA-extension.pdf
Westerfield, B. (2025, February 25). Best Garden Vegetable Varieties for Georgia. CAES Field Report. https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/C1326/best-garden-vegetable-varieties-for-georgia/
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