Hello and Happy New Year!
Welcome to the first in a new blog post series: Monthly Gardening Guide, where at the start of each month I share a post with all of the jobs that should or could be done in the garden that month. Not only do I hope this will help you in your gardening tasks, but it will help me learn what jobs need to be done, too. It's a research series for me and an info dump series for you! This will be mostly focused on a kitchen garden rather than an ornamental one.
I have always wanted to grow my own vegetables, inspired by my Granddad, who used to cultivate his garden while I "helped" him as a child. I’m pretty sure I was more of a hindrance than a help, but he never seemed to mind. Since moving into my own place, I have slowly began to expand the garden, the first year I planted a hedge to create a wildlife safe haven, then the following year I began my growing journey with wild flowers, fruit and veggies, and this year I want to do even more and use all of the time and space available!
Without further waffle from me, let's dive into this Monthly Gardening Guide January Jobs.
It's January. It's a new year and my head is buzzing with the possibilities of the garden, there's not a huge amount that can be done now, but if you are itching to get some dirt under your finger nails like I am, here are a few jobs that can be done this month.
(Click any of the above and it will take you directly to the section you want to see!)
1 . Plan your garden
If this is your first time planning your garden and you are starting from scratch, check out the full guide on how to plan a new kitchen garden here!
For those of you who already have a season or two (or more!) under your belt, planning your garden remains an essential task, albeit approached differently than for beginners. Reflect on your previous gardening experiences: consider what worked well and what didn’t meet your expectations last year. This reflection will guide you in making informed decisions about how to lay out your garden this year. If you grew a plant that didn't produce much fruit, maybe there is a a super easy fix for that issue, or maybe you grew a vegetable that you didn't eat or cook quick enough and it spoiled.
When planning your garden, it's important to take into account factors such as sunlight exposure, soil conditions, and water drainage in various areas of your garden. These elements can significantly influence plant growth and should be factored into your layout.
Figure out which seeds you already have and what additional seeds you need to purchase. Next, plan where each plant will be grown in your garden. Keep in mind that different plants require varying amounts of space between them to achieve the maximum yield and minimize the risk of overcrowding and disease. Figure out when each plant will wrap up production, when you can pull it up and replace it with something else, making the most of the space you have with a tight turn around without getting too eager and overwhelming yourself or your garden.
Crop rotation is a crucial aspect of your planning. For example, if you grew potatoes in a specific patch last year, be sure to relocate them to a different area this year. The same principle applies to all other vegetables. Avoid planting the same type of vegetable in the same patch for two consecutive years. This helps disrupt the life cycles of pests and diseases, reducing their impact on your crops. Additionally, rotating crops can improve soil fertility, as different plants have varying nutrient needs and contributions.
Here is a simple rule you could follow for crop rotation if you need a guide:
Year 1: Legumes
Year 2: Leafy Greens
Year 3: Root Vegetables
Year 4: Fruiting Plants
Also, think about companion planting, as some plants benefit each other when grown in close enough quarters. For instance, herbs like rosemary and basil are amazing at keeping pests at bay.
Whilst planning the quantity of plants to grow, consider growing a few extra of each to be able to save the seeds at the end for next years planting. This works for certain vegetables only, so it's worth doing your research first, but things like onions, peas, herbs, carrots and others can provide you with seeds to supply your crop for the next few years, not to mention give you great gifts for family and friends. This year I gifted many friends and family extra seeds that came from the parsley, marjoram and edible lavender!
2 . Ordering seeds needed and other materials
Now that you've planned your garden for this year and know which seeds you have and which ones you need to buy, it’s a great time to go seed shopping! You can order seeds online or visit a local garden center. Many supermarkets now offer a selection of seeds for convenience, although the quality can vary, so it’s often best to choose reputable sources to ensure you’re getting viable seeds.
If you're interested in becoming more self-sufficient, consider saving your own seeds from your garden to plant next year. This practice can be both rewarding and cost-effective. However, it’s important to note that not all plants produce seeds that can be reliably saved, and there is a chance of cross-pollination, which can affect the traits of the plants in the next generation.
When saving seeds, make sure to select healthy, mature plants and harvest seeds at the right time.
Additionally, consider researching heirloom varieties, which are often more suitable for seed saving compared to hybrid varieties. Heirlooms can provide unique flavors and resilience, making them a great choice for your garden
It is worth considering what other tools and resources you might need for your growing season and stocking up on those now before the mad rush of keen gardeners clear the shelves. You'll need soil and compost, maybe canes, fly netting and new tools. Don't leave it to the last minute, be prepared and get ahead of the game.
3 . Pruning
Now is the perfect time to prune some of your fruit trees, bushes and other herbaceous shrubs, though be cautious of the weather forecast as pruning right before a frost or wet spell can cause damage to the plants. However, not all plants can be pruned now, some are best pruned after flowering, and others in the summer. Always double check the requirements for the plants you have before getting carried away with the secateurs!
When pruning, there are a few simple rules to follow across the board. You want to get rid of anything that is dead, damaged or diseased as well as any crossing branches, overcrowding branches and growth heading into the center of the plant; you are aiming for a goblet shape for maximum yield and a healthy plant. When cutting your plants, try to ensure that the cut is at an angle so water can run off the cut instead of pooling on the wound which could cause the plant to rot, it's also a good idea to make sure your pruning tools are sharp and clean to ensure a smooth cut, which aids in quicker healing.
Apple and Pear trees should be pruned now, following the guidelines above. When pruning fruit trees, roughly 20% of the canopy should be removed to encourage new growth and a healthy fruit production.
Herbaceous shrubs like rosemary, thyme, lavender, sage, and oregano can be pruned just before new growth begins. You can trim them anytime from now until late winter. Just be sure to cut back new growth a bit to keep the energy focused in the main part of the plant, preventing it from getting leggy. For instance, with lavender, you can prune back about one-third of the plant to promote bushy growth.
Additionally, currants, Autumn raspberries, blackberries, and gooseberries can also be pruned now. For late harvest raspberries, it’s best to cut back the canes that have already fruited to make way for new growth.
Spring raspberries should only be pruned after you have finished collecting the fruit, and stone fruit trees like plums should also be pruned in the summer to prevent damage and disease.
4 . Tool maintenance
I am terrible at leaving my tools out when I am working consistently in the garden; they get wet, rusty and blunt. So, January is the perfect month to spend some time on the tools to ensure their efficiency when we need them in the coming months. I am still learning in this department, so if you want a more detailed tutorial, pop over to YouTube or head to your local garden center for expert advice and more resources.
To start, any rust on your tools should be removed to maintain their efficiency. This can be accomplished using fine sandpaper, wire wool, and products like WD-40 or Evapo-Rust. For lubrication and to help prevent rust from forming again, any form of mechanical oil can be used. If you prefer a more natural approach, food-based oils are a great alternative, although it's important to monitor for any signs of mold or unpleasant odors, which would indicate a need for cleaning and re-oiling.
When it comes to sharpening your tools, I find that using a wet stone works wonders, providing a smooth edge that makes cutting and digging much easier. Additionally, consider investing in a sharpening guide (or follow tutorials online) to help maintain the correct angle while sharpening, which can prolong the life of your tools and ensure accuracy when pruning and performing other delicate tasks.
To protect them throughout the year, clean them regularly to prevent the build up of sap and dirt. Simply rinsing with water and a brush often does the trick.
5 . Prepare beds
Most of the garden beds are now empty, except for the winter kale and cabbage that may have survived. I currently have some kale and cauliflowers out, but we just experienced a cold snap with snow, so it's uncertain if they will make it!
Regardless, the majority of the beds are crop-free, making it an ideal time to prepare them. This way, when we plant in the spring, the soil will be ready to support and nourish the plants, helping us achieve the best yield from healthy crops.
First, you'll want to weed the beds and remove any debris, rocks, stones, or rubbish that has accumulated.
This is also a great time to test your soil. You can order test kits online or do DIY tests; for more information, consult someone knowledgeable. I haven't done this yet, but I usually use multi-purpose soil from the garden center to fill my raised beds, as the local soil is heavy clay. Soil tests can provide insights into the nutrients your soil has or lacks, helping you get the necessary additions for optimal crop growth.
Now is the perfect time to add manure, compost, or natural fertilizer. If you've done a soil test, you can use that information to guide your choices.
Recently, I saw a technique from one of my favorite YouTubers, Growveg, where they layer well-rotted manure or compost on top of the soil, followed by a layer of dry leaves for insulation and added nutrients. If you live in a windy area, it's best to cover the leaves with netting to prevent them from blowing away! When you're ready to use the bed, remove any remaining leaves and store them for later use as mulch (more on that in the next point), then turn over the soil, and you're good to go!
This is something I'm planning to try over the next week, but I also have some cover crops growing in the beds I didn't use over winter, which I will dig in soon.
Manure may be available to buy at your local garden center, but it's worth calling around a few local farms first to see if you can buy some of theirs, it's more sustainable that way, and you are supporting a local farmer. Compost can be made at home or bought. The Hereford Household Waste Site turn all of the green waste they get into compost and sell it as 'Soil Conditioner' for £2.50 for a 40 liter bag. For the past 2 winters I have purchased 6 bags from them, though when I planted my hedge, I bought a lot more! Check out you're local waste site to see if they have something similar.
6 . Mulching
Following on from prepping beds, mulching is something that should be done continuously throughout the year.
Mulching is where you layer a natural material on top of the soil around your plants and it has so many benefits. It protects the soil, and therefore the plants, from extreme weathers both hot and cold and prevents displacement from strong winds. Mulching can help control the weeds, though some still poke through eventually, and some materials can actually produce more weeds than they stop. It helps plants retain moisture and reduces evaporation during the warmer months, which is a win win situation for you and the plant as it saves you money and time and ensures the plant gets the water it needs to flourish. Mulching can increase living organisms in your soil such as worms which can improve the structure of the soil. and lastly it can slowly release nutrients into the soil as it decomposes.
There are so many materials you can use, each has their own benefits and flaws which I wont go over here, but I may do a post just about mulching if it's something you guys want? Let me know in the comments below or on social media if that's the case.
Some of the most common materials used are:
Wood chippings, straw or hay, dry leaves, cardboard and hemp mulch. I use the sawdust and hay from my pet rabbits litter trays as it has the additional bonus of being soaked with bunny pee and contains bunny poop, both gold dust for the soil! Though, the hay starts to grow fresh grass if exposed to the right (or wrong) environment which can be a nuisance , but I just pull it up and replace it at that point. It's reusing material that would otherwise be wasted which I love, and it's free. Whoo!
7 . Tidy and clean growing spaces
You have a couple of super busy months ahead with sowing, planting, and maintaining your garden while sticking to your plan. When it's time to plant the peas, you might find yourself searching for the trowel, which you could have sworn was in the greenhouse last, right?
Before you reach that point, take the time to organize your growing spaces now—whether it's the greenhouse, windowsills, propagators, or tools. Gather all your tools and check if they need any maintenance (see Tool maintenance for more info). Look for any broken pots that need replacing and make sure everything is in its proper place before the hectic growing season begins.
If you need to wipe down the windows or plastic in the greenhouse to let in more light, do that this month. A clean greenhouse can significantly improve light penetration, promoting healthier plant growth. Also, consider checking your watering system; ensure hoses and irrigation lines are functioning properly.
If the floor of your growing space is soggy from the wet winter weather, consider adding some chippings or slabs to make things easier down the road.
If you have the space and resources, consider setting up a compost area if you haven't already. Composting kitchen scraps and garden waste can provide you with nutrient-rich material to enhance your soil, making it an invaluable resource during the growing season. When I first started, I had three clear plastic containers in the garden which I used for composting, now I have a purpose bought composting bin which is working a treat, though it is rather bulky and its a weird shape so it sticks out into the garden space a bit, but a neighbour was giving it away for cheap and it was too-good a bargain to pass up.
8 . Give wildlife a hand
January can be a challenging month for local wildlife, but you can make a difference by helping them through the colder months.
One effective way to support birds in your area is by setting up bird feeders filled with seeds in your garden. It may take some trial and error to find out which foods are most appealing to the birds in your area. For example, in my garden, the birds love sunflower hearts and mixed seeds, while they tend to ignore peanuts and suet blocks. Conversely, my mum's garden, just two minutes down the street, has birds that enjoy suet blocks and fat balls. If the birds haven't touched the food within the first week, don’t rush to change it; give them time to discover the food source. I recently moved my bird table from the back to the front garden, and after a week, I was delighted to see my first bird visiting.
Feeding birds comes with responsibilities. It's essential to regularly clean the feeders and the bird table to reduce the risk of disease spreading among the birds. A clean environment is crucial for their health. Always check the seed for mold or dampness, and replace it if necessary. Fresh and safe food is vital for the birds’ well-being.
You can offer a variety of foods on your bird table, including seeds, nuts, fruits, and grains. Sunflower seeds, mixed seeds, and safflower seeds are popular choices, while unsalted peanuts and walnuts can attract many birds. Fresh fruits like apples, bananas, and berries are a great addition, and plain oats or uncooked rice can also be beneficial. Make sure that all food is free from seasonings and additives. If you're unsure about what to provide, local pet stores that sell bird seed can offer detailed information.
You could also put out bird nesting boxes, and if you already have some out, make sure you give them a clean out ready for the next resident to make it the home for their young.
In addition to feeding birds, consider enhancing your garden to support local wildlife. Creating a bug hotel can provide shelter for beneficial insects, while building a small pond can attract a variety of wildlife, including birds and amphibians. Growing a native hedge offers shelter and food for birds and other creatures, and planting herbs and wildflowers can provide food sources and habitats for various species.
9 . Winter sowing
There are things you can sow now, and I will go through those in just a moment. Before I do, however, I want to talk about the method I did last year, winter sowing.
This year I am going to sow the seeds as and when they are meant to be sowed and compare the results from last year as an experiment as to which method works best.
Winter sowing is a method where you sow the seeds in winter in non-heated propagators, a greenhouse or a cold frame and wait for them to grow when they are ready. If you are terrible at remembering to sow the seeds or you are low on time during the spring, this is a great thing to try. The seeds are then exposed to cold temperatures before they start growing, meaning you don't have to harden the plants off quite as carefully, and when they are growing you can move them into a warmer place or directly into the ground depending on the seed. The seeds tended to grow slightly earlier than the packet said because the seeds were given extra time to grow.
I experienced both positives and negatives with this. I sowed the seeds in DIY propagators made from the plastic trays that large Greek yogurts or alike come in in the supermarket, one on the bottom with the soil and seeds with added drainage holes and one on the top with larger holes in to allow rain and moisture in to reduce my watering responsibilities.
The pros I found: Not having to remember to sow seeds when they needed to be sown, being able to grow seeds without a greenhouse (I didn't have one then), the seedlings appeared earlier than expected, meaning the plant had an extended growing period and it was successful, with some plants.
Cons: The plants that started too early became leggy and were weak as they didn't have the light required to be healthy, only about half of the seeds grew, the plants all began to grow at the same time meaning I had more work to do in one go with potting on or planting out, and I didn't have a staggered growth time for things like spinach, lettuces, cabbages and herbs.
I will let you know how this year goes and my recommendation based on my trial!
In terms of vegetables that can be sown in January anyway, there are few but still some.
In a heated propagator or a sunny windowsill you can start off Sweet and Chili Peppers. These have a really long growing time, so starting them now means you get a mature plant earlier, resulting in harvest-able fruit earlier, though ensure these get enough light and if you can't guarantee that, it might be worth investing in a grow light or waiting a few weeks for the days to be longer or you'll get weak, leggy plants.
Aubergine can be sown now in the same way.
Lettuce, Spinach and some varieties of cauliflower, cabbage and onions can be sown now in a greenhouse or poly-tunnel or sunny windowsill. Some lettuces planted now could be ready to harvest in late March/early April!
Some flowers can be sown now, too, and if you haven't already got your bulbs in the ground, you need to get those in ASAP!
January is an important month for gardeners, just like any other month! It offers opportunities to prepare for the growing season ahead, whether you are growing indoors or out, in a windowsill, on a balcony or in raised beds. Every gardener loves being in their garden, and the winter months can be hard as the days are shorter, the weather is nasty (most of the time) and our finger nails are clear of mud and soil, though they don't have to be! Get out there and crack on with some of the jobs in this list and you'll find yourself prepared for the busy months ahead! Embrace the quite crispness of winter and enjoy the beauty in the garden, from the birds mooching around for grubs to the frost crunching underfoot. By taking pro-active steps this month, you'll not only enhance the efficiency and beauty of your growing space but also support nature around you.
Happy gardening, and here's to a bountiful and vibrant year ahead!
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