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January brings a whole host of tasks and, actually, there are certain bits and bobs you ought to be sorting in your garden right now. Whilst plenty of people give their outdoor spaces a wide berth during the colder, damper months, it seems tackling the occasional chore could really pay off.

Michael Griffiths, a passionate green-fingered guru who regularly dishes out handy hints on Instagram, reckons it's time to focus on chillies, as this kitchen staple can prove useful in more ways than you'd imagine. Turns out, you should hang onto those scraps and seeds rather than binning them, as they've got a brilliant purpose in the garden.

He's recently let slip this gem on social media, spelling out precisely what gardeners ought to know. You might be surprised to learn there are several crops you can get growing before January wraps up.

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Captioning his post, Michael penned: "Stop buying pepper plants. You can grow them for free using one thing you're probably throwing away.

"Next time you chop a pepper, save the seeds and turn kitchen scraps into productive plants. It's easy, budget-friendly and perfect if you're short on space."

In his demonstration, he walked viewers through the straightforward process, proving it's a doddle to master. He simply popped the leftover seeds into a plastic container filled with moist compost.

Next, he gave the seeds a light dusting of extra compost before popping the lid back on to create a "mini greenhouse". Stick them somewhere toasty and bright, he reckons, and within a few weeks they'll be ready for a roomier home.

Turns out, one pepper is all you need to cultivate a whole crop. It really is that straightforward to grow your own supply, and the trick works just as well for chillies.

Since posting the clip, it's clocked up more than 9,000 likes, with plenty of people chiming in below. There's clearly no shortage of wannabe gardeners itching to give it a go.

One enthusiast gushed: "Love this! I would absolutely try this!" Another chipped in: "I this did last year. Got lots of pepper. I had to freeze them as [there were] way too many to eat at one time."

Michael reckons January's prime time for getting stuck into chillies, with peppers following suit come February. Surprisingly, there's actually quite a bit you can tackle outdoors even when it's colder.

You might not realise, but those seeds tucked inside peppers are perfect for propagating more plants. Whether you get them from shop-bought peppers or splash out on proper seed packets, results can vary.

Growing your own means drying out the seeds first, then bedding them into warm, damp soil. They're fussy about heat and sunshine, so a bright windowsill's your best bet.

Someone queried: "Can we start at the end of January?" Michael shot back with: "Chillies in January, sweet peppers in February."

In other words, people should start taking action now to maximise the potential of their seeds. It's a really useful tip to be aware of.