Rod Gesten here, Owner of Mud Hub Greenhouses.
I hope you are having a great start to your new year. For me, when the snow is flying in January, what do I do? I start my tomatoes.
For those of us gardening in high-altitude or short-season climates (like my Zone 6a in Santa Fe), the only way to get a generous, successful harvest is to cheat the calendar. We can’t wait for the last frost date; we have to start now.
If you wait until March or April, you’ll get a small yield, and you’ll likely lose everything to the early fall frosts before the plants truly reach their potential – a mistake many short-season growers make.
The Lesson Learned from the 2025 Season
I know this timing works because I saw it firsthand in my 2025 season. Despite losing my first round of seedlings in March, I was able to successfully restart my tomatoes and still bring in a plentiful late-season crop [cite: uploaded:2025 warm season gardening overview.docx]. That success was only possible because I started them back in January.
What to Start Now (The January Checklist)
Starting seeds in January is a strategic move for any high-value, slow-growing crops. You’re giving them the critical head start they need:
- Tomatoes (High Priority): Especially large heirloom varieties that take 80+ days to mature. Start them under lights in a warm area of your greenhouse or home. They need to be big, tough plants by the time they hit the ground in late spring.
- Peppers (High Priority): Peppers (included in my annual struggle) the hot peppers need heat and time. Start them alongside your tomatoes. The goal is to have stocky, 6-inch tall plants by March.
- Bulb Onions: Start these now for large, mature bulbs by mid-summer.
- Artichokes/Cauliflower: As I found with my cauliflower struggles, these crops need maximum time to mature and flower before the heat of summer sets in [cite: uploaded:2025 warm season gardening overview.docx].
Your January Strategy: Heat and Light
Starting your Mud Hub gardening adventure in January requires three things:
- Warmth: Ensure your seed starting area is warm and stable (75-80°F is ideal for germination). The greenhouse protects you from outdoor snow, but you may need mats or insulated boxes for germination.
- Light: Seedlings need 14–16 hours of strong light per day. Standard windows won’t cut it. Use high-quality grow lights placed just inches above the young plants.
- Planning: Don’t guess! Use the Almanac Planting Calendar to determine your exact last frost date and count backward 6-10 weeks to find your perfect start day.
Click here to find your personalized seed starting dates: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar
If you want a generous, long-lasting harvest, the time to plant isn’t spring; it’s now.
Rod Gesten Owner, Mud Hub Greenhouses
