Garden Tasks — January
Laypeople (non-gardeners) think there’s nothing to do in January, but we know better. And while many of this month’s tasks take place in the house, or in the head, they are just as important and fun as chores for any other month.
And while you’re busy prepping for the next growing season, don’t forget to use up any stored food you have from last year. I’m loving making sauce from frozen tomatoes, soup from butternut squash, and even harvesting fresh greens, leeks, and radishes from my covered garden beds right now.
PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Take some time to read over your garden journal from last year and look back at your photos. It will be a good reminder of how much you accomplished, and all the notes you made are really going to help in planning.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to systematically asses last year’s growing season to help you decide what to do the same or differently next year. Click here to find my guided worksheet to help with this process.
And don’t forget about the non-plant parts of your garden. Is it time to build or replace raised beds? Add trellises? Add a cover so that you could be growing over winter? Add a house or a bath for visiting birds? Get some furniture to sit and enjoy the view next spring?
Create your planting plan — this means WHAT you are going plant, WHERE it’s going, and WHEN it should be put in the garden. If you want help with this, schedule a consultation.
Inventory your seeds: check quantities, expiration dates, and viability (do any look wet, blackened, or otherwise compromised?)
Peruse seed catalogs and website and make your orders for the seeds you need.
If you are planning to buy seedlings from the nursery in spring, start your shopping list.
Assess supplies. Do you need seed starting mix, trays, grow lights, etc, or maybe a new trowel or some gloves? Might be a good use for holiday gift cards.
Turn compost pile on a “warm” day (anytime it isn’t frozen).
It’s a great time to get your soil tested (info for Middle Tennessee here). Once results are in, amend as necessary.
Never hurts to add compost, either your own or from a local delivery source like EarthMix.
Shop for a new garden journal or planner. I reviewed a few different options here.
FOOD
Some fun food to grow inside this winter: sprouts, mushrooms, and micro greens are all fast-growing plants you can harvest in 1-2 weeks for fresh, homegrown additions to your meals.
Start seeds indoors of artichoke, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leek, and onion. These will be transplanted into the garden in March.
If you have any food stored from last season, be sure to use it and appreciate the garden on a cold day.
FLOWERS
Protect perennials — especially if they aren’t native to your area. Check on your beds and make sure the mulch hasn’t been washed or blown away. You want it about it 3” deep to protect the roots of your plants.
Give some love to your house plants (like grooming off dead leaves or blooms and dusting them off), but don’t over-love them. With cool temperatures and short days, they don’t need as much water or fertilizer at this time of year. Make sure to feel the soil with your hands before watering, if it’s still moist, let it go a few more days.
It’s a joy to grow amaryllis indoors this time of year. I have several that are all blooming at different times. Some people like to force paperwhites, but I really don’t like their smell.
Some flowers can be started from seed indoors this month: foxglove, hollyhock, snapdragons, calendula, pincushion flower, strawflower, and more. If this excites you, I recommend reading Cool Flowers to learn more about cold hardy annuals.
You might get to see hellebores blooming this month. If you don’t have these magical winter flowers in your garden, I highly recommend getting some!
FEELINGS
Let yourself really dream this month. Write down your grandest, wildest visions for your garden. They might not be part of the plan for this year, but they will help give you direction and motivation to take the next step.
