Grow Buddies Seed Subscription – January ’27

Welcome to your January growing guide!

Here’s what’s in your box:

• Sweet Pepper Red Bulls Horn
• Herb Lemonade Basil

Your January growing challenge

Grow basil that tastes like lemonade!

Sweet Pepper Red Bulls Horn

Sowing info

An early start can help increase your harvest as pepper plants can be slow to mature. Start under grow lights in January or late February without lights. Requires warmth to germinate and grow on (an unheated greenhouse will not be warm enough). When pepper plants reach about 20cm in height, pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushy growth. From pinching out time, feed weekly with a quarter strength organic feed.

Growing info

Continue to pot on each time roots appear out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot until planting out after last frost. Peppers love heat, so will always perform best in the greenhouse or polytunnel.

Blog – How to sow and grow Peppers and Chillies

Herb Lemonade Basil

Sowing info

Sow on the surface of damp peat free compost and cover. Keep at 15-25C until after germination, which takes 14-21 days. Water very lightly as seedlings emerge. Grow on in cooler conditions. When all risk of frost has passed, harden plants off before planting out in a sheltered sunny position.Can be grown year round on a sunny windowsill.

Growing info

Water moderately, taking care to avoid splashing the leaves. Harvest basil leaves regularly when required to promote fresh new growth and pinch out any flowers that appear to prolong the harvest period and maintain the flavour. Final height 30cm.

Blog – The Basil Basics