Getting Ahead for Spring
January is a hard time for the impatient gardener, I know because I am one. But now is not the time to start seeds. The light levels are too low and the temperature too cold. Seeds would not only struggle to germinate and become stunted. But the seedlings will become leggy and be prone to a fungal disease called damping off. A new growing year is so exciting, but unless you have artificial light and heat, I’m asking you to hold off a little longer. Alas, there are jobs you can be cracking on with to get ahead and help save time later on.
Jobs to be cracking on with:
Cleaning and prepping your tools
There’s nothing more important when seed starting than cleanliness. If you’re new to growing this year, you should be okay as your equipment and seed starting things will likely be new. Alas, if you are going into this year with old equipment, it needs to be spotless. It’s amazing how pots can hold on to spores and bacteria. Simply clean them all out with some soapy water. Clean, sharpen and oil tools like secateurs, knives, snips and hand shovels. Pruning tools should always be clean and sharp as this helps to stop bacteria making its way into the plant.Do a seed inventory
This one is hard for me as I am a bit of a seed buying addict. But it’s a good idea to do a seed inventory and see what you have left. This helps determine exactly what you need to buy and to see if the seeds you still have are viable. I have accidently over ordered things I had lots of because I didn’t do this. It’s also just a really calming and lovely thing to do. I find it often leads to daydreaming about a full garden. Not long my friends, not long.Ordering new seeds
January is a great time to order your seeds, non-eager gardeners usually wait until March to buy theirs. So you are still in with a good chance of great stock levels. I noticed that with the pandemic, a lot of things sold out last year. Seed companies became overwhelmed easily with the pure magnitude of orders. So get in early and pick up this seasons bounty.Prep your beds
If you are growing in pots you can wait for a while, but if you are growing in beds it’s time to prep them. If you are new, a soil test is a great way to start. This way you can see what organic materials you need to amend with. If you already have beds, a new 1-2 inch layer of fresh compost will be enough. You can also cover your beds to trap heat, this helps with seed starting and germination. You can either cover them with horticultural fleece or even an old sheet. This will help to bring the heat of your compost up by a few degrees.Taking stock
I like to use January as a time to look back on last year. What varieties did well and what failed. I make notes of varieties I loved and things I wouldn’t grow again. This helps with no.3. I also like to think back on what I’d love more of and what I need less of. Let’s just say I won’t be planting three courgette varieties this year, no sir.Start a garden scrapbook or journal
Doing this genuinely gets me through the cold days of January. I always get a wonderful new notebook for Christmas and this year I instantly filled it with everything gardening. Printing out pictures of flowers I wanted to grow, advice on cut flower health and how to make the perfect bouquet. Varieties of vegetables I was growing this year. Top tips for growing fruit. I poured over books and made notes, paperclipped seed packets to the inside. It just brings me so much joy. I also use it to keep notes throughout the year. When my last frost was, how quickly my seeds germinated. what varieties performed well in my climate, etc.Ordering your seed potatoes
I like to order my seed potatoes in mid-January as they get delivered at the end of the month ready for chitting. Don’t worry if you are un-decided though as many garden centres and placed like Wilko always have them in stock. Take your time to read through all the descriptions and reviews to see which ones best suit your needs. It’s one of the main reasons I love growing my own, so much more variety.Weeding
Yes, weeding in winter is a thing folks. It really helps prevent an abundance of weeds from erupting in spring. Weeds lay dormant in the winter, so it is best to dig out any difficult roots. Things like stinging nettles, docks, creeping buttercup and bindweed are really good to get on top of. I have been steadily digging out my cooch grass this winter. It really helps before the weather warms up and sends it romping away again.Get organised
This may be a quiet time, but it won’t last long. Getting organised now will stand you in good stead for the busy growing months. I create a growing calendar to follow so I can stay on top of when to start things, my succession sowing dates and when things will be ready to harvest. This really helps me stay on top of things so I’m not wasteful and don’t get too stressed.Need more help?
Why not sign up to my Patreon. Sow, Grow, Cook is a monthly subscription service where I give heaps of information, video tutorials, monthly zoom calls and when to plant things. I also cover tackling diseases and pests in the garden. Find out more information here.