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Many might think January is far too early to undertake any serious gardening work. However, according to one expert, it's actually the ideal moment to begin preparing a considerate Mother's Day gift that demonstrates "I thought ahead".

With a growing trend towards slow and thoughtful gifting, Mother's Day could see a departure from plastic-wrapped, fleeting supermarket bouquets towards living presents that reflect months of planning. Given the occasion falls on March 15 this year, now represents the optimal window to sow and cultivate plants requiring time to develop robust roots before flowering, one specialist suggests.

Josh Novell, gardening expert and director of Polhill Garden Centre in Kent, has revealed which January-grown gifts warrant consideration now.

He explained: "January might not scream 'gardening' to you; you're planting into cold compost and bare pots, not colourful borders. But, in reality, if you want something flowering or ready to give in March, this is when it starts."

Sweet peas

Sweet peas rank among the most beloved flowers for gift-growing, with January being the optimal sowing period. Josh advised maintaining them somewhere bright and frost-free: "Starting the sowing now means you end up with stronger plants that flower better and last longer when they do bloom."

He advised initiating them in individual pots or deep root trainers, which aids in minimising disruption later on: "By the time Mother's Day arrives, you'll have healthy young plants that feel substantial and cared for."

Hardy annuals

Hardy annual blooms such as calendula, nigella and cornflowers can also be sown in January under cover.

Josh said: "These are the kinds of plants that cope well with cooler conditions. By sowing them now, you give them a head start so they're ready to grow as soon as the light levels increase."

Similar to sweet peas, starting hardy annuals early often results in earlier blooming and sturdier plants: "They don't get that soft, leggy growth you sometimes see with late sowings. They're tougher, more resilient and better suited to life outdoors."

Herbs

Josh said: "Herbs are a thoughtful gift that keeps on giving and there's something special about giving someone a plant they'll cook with each day. Parsley, chives and basil can all be started indoors in January on a sunny windowsill. They're easy to grow from seed and very forgiving, which makes them perfect if you're new to gardening."

By March, these herbs can be potted up and given as living gifts.

Summer plants you can give a head start

Even plants more commonly associated with summer can benefit from a January start.

Josh said: "Dahlias are a good example. Starting them in pots now won't give you flowers by Mother's Day, but it does give them a nice strong foundation that sets them up for the months ahead.

"By the time Mother's Day rolls around, they'll be showing sturdy stems and healthy leaves above the soil. That's often more meaningful than cut flowers as it shows thought and time that's gone into the gift and gives your mum something she can nurture and enjoy as it grows and blooms through spring and into summer."