This post may contain affiliate links .
Share this post or trap it for by and by !
January may seem like a quiet time for gardeners , but it ’s the perfect month to set up the instauration for a successful growing season . Smart gardeners have it off that preparation is key , and there are passel of tasks to harness now that will pay off later .
Image Credit: Deposit Photos
From organizing your program to ordering seeds and prepping for transplanting , January is all about planning , organizing , and laying the groundwork for a prosperous garden . Here ’s a detailed look at the essential horticulture project to focus on this calendar month .
Organize and Plan Your Garden Layout
When the atmospheric condition is too miserable to go alfresco , take some sentence to project out front for your fountain garden . This is a great time to consider whether your garden layout would do good from any changes and guarantee you are making the most of the available space .
Take some fourth dimension to represent out your garden layout for the year . think crop rotation to minimise pest and disease risks and maximize soil wellness . Reflect on what worked well last year and any challenge you faced , using those insights to plan improvements .
Sketch your layout by hand or use digital cock to insure everything has its billet . Awell - recall - out plan saves timeand effort as the season progresses .
Organize seed storage
chequer through your seed ingathering , remove any that are no longer workable , and organize the remainder for the grow time of year onwards . I also like to write outplant labelsin the winter , saving me time during the busy fountain sowing period .
18 Easy Flowers to Grow From seed
Test Germination of Last Year’s Seeds
Before you toss leftover seeds from last yr , essay their sprouting rate to see if they ’re still viable . Place a few seed on a damp paper towel , keep them lovesome , and delay for sprouting within a workweek . If germination rate are low , it ’s time to replace those seeds to forefend letdown during planting time of year .
Order Your Seeds Early
January is prime time to order seeds for your garden . Prioritize varieties that performed well last yr and search new cultivars that could raise your harvest .
democratic seed often sell out quickly , so grade now ensures you get what you need . Here ’s on templet on theBest position to corrupt Garden Seeds Online .
Check Your Gardening Inventory and Supplies
Make a list of anything that involve fill again so you ’re fully prepared for the upcoming planting time of year . Go through your stock of territory , fertiliser , seeds , and pest control mathematical product , match expiration date and assessing quantities to see what needs replenish .
Take short letter of any tools that may need repair or replacements , ensuring everything is in working order before the busy season begin .
Prepare Materials for Transplants
assemble everything you need to start your transplants , including potting premix , blank containers , and seed trays . If you ’re reusing container , sanitize them to subdue the risk of disease .
Best Seed Starting Supplies to Get start With Seeds Indoors
Know Your First and Last Frost Dates
Understanding your first and last frost dates is one of the most of import steps in planning a successful garden . These dates find out when it ’s dependable to start plant outdoors and when to carry the end of your farm time of year . Frost dates are far more critical when it occur to design source - start and transplant schedules .
If you have n’t already look up your Robert Lee Frost dates , now is the perfect time to do so . Once you have this data , you may plan your planting agenda by enumerate backward to determine when to originate seeds indoors — typically six to eight weeks before transplanting .
Start seeds indoors
Get one pace ahead by starting irksome - growingseeds indoorsin a propagator or on a warm , sunny windowsill . I always originate chili Piper nigrum and eggplant seeds in the deepness of wintertime , as these are notoriously slow - growing and ask batch of time before they can be planted out in their final growing locating .
Starting seeds indoorsin January move over cool - time of year craw like kale andlettucea head protrude , lay out you up for early harvests .
Prune trees and shrubs
Many tree diagram and shrubs should be clip in the wintertime while they ’re abeyant . influence your way around the garden removing dead and diseased offset , as well as any crossing branches that could rub against each other . Basic pruning will improve air circulation , boost healthy growth , and give your plants a neat , integrated appearing .
Test soil pH and nutrients
During wintertime , apply a soil test kit to chequer for any dissymmetry or deficiencies in the territory . This will set aside you toamend your territory with pH adjustersor tally specific fertiliser that ensure your plant will flourish come spring .
How to quiz Your Garden Soil
Focus on Pest and Disease Prevention
January is the perfect time to get in advance of potential garden problems by focusing on pest and disease bar . set out by cautiously selecting disease - resistant plant varieties when ordering seed or yield plants . choose plants grown from tissue paper acculturation sources can significantly reduce the peril of introducing diseases to your garden , give your crops a strong , healthy head start .
In increase to choose the veracious works , take this time to design your garden layout withcompanion plantingin mind . Strategically pairing plants that of course discourage plague or heighten each other ’s increase can denigrate the need for chemical substance intervention afterwards on . For example , plantingmarigoldsnear vegetable can help repel roundworm , whilebasilcan protect tomato from sure pests .
Keep Detailed Records
practice a garden calendar or journal to keep track of your plans , successes , and country for betterment . mention planting date , seed mixed bag , and any pest or disease event as the season progresses .
proficient record - keeping serve you make informed decisions for future growing season .
Here ’s ourAnnual Garden Journal & Garden Planner . It is a customizable journal with worksheets to keep data track of all of your garden plans , platter , and lesson pick up .
