So the holidays are over and now it is time to start thinking about your early spring garden. I’m always wiped out on gardening by late fall, but by January, I am itching to get my hands in the dirt again.
Depending on your region, you may want to just stick to planning your garden for now. Sketch out your layout, so you know exactly where you’ll be planting everything, plus, you will have lots of time to consider companion planting options to get the most out of your garden. I’m lucky, here in the Northwest, I can start a few things already.
Seeds I’m Starting Indoors this Month
I strongly recommend a grow light if you are starting indoors now, otherwise, the gray days may not be enough to get your seeds germinated.
- Yellow Granex Onions {store really well}
- Artichokes {Green Globe and Purple of Romagna}
- Lettuce {Valentine Mix}
- Lavender {smells awesome and brings in the bees}
- Rosemary {repels deer, so it’s awesome for border landscapes}
- Leeks {kind of like onions, only sweeter}
- Kale {maybe just a few plants for the chickens}
See the full list of seeds I’ll be planting this year.
What I Plan to Transplant Outside this Month
Nothing goes outside this month. The weather outside is frightful, but inside it’s so delightful–at least with a grow light it is. Ha! 😉
Plants and/or Bulbs I Plan to Purchase this Month
Last year, I bought a Meyer Lemon tree from Fast Growing Trees in January. I kept it inside at first, because it isn’t wild about temperatures below 40 degrees. Eventually, I moved it out to the greenhouse. If you plan on buying a lemon tree, be sure and check out my tutorial on How to Plant a Meyer Lemon Tree.
What I plan to Harvest This Month
- Mung Bean Sprouts
- Alfalfa Sprouts {So yummy on egg salad sandwiches}
- Wheat Grass {adds a boost of nutrition to any smoothie}
- Winter carrots, leeks and lettuce from the greenhouse
January is also a good time to really check all of your stored produce. If you stored potatoes, apples etc. go through them and make sure you don’t have any…well, bad apples.
Houseplants and Indoor Bulbs
Houseplants can become susceptible to spider mites around this time of year. You can deter them by spritzing the leaves with water. Also, in these darker months, make sure to cut down on the watering. If you want to force some bulbs to bloom for a little indoor color in early spring plant tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, etc. in pots indoors now.
If you have never planted a succulent terrarium before, checkout my How to Make a Succulent Terrarium tutorial. It’s a great rainy day activity.
Trees and Shrubs
If you aren’t snowed in, now is the time to clean up the yard a bit. Last year, I burned all the stumps in my yard and created a few new beds. It’s kind of dependent on how soggy the weather is, though. Don’t prune anything quite yet though. It is still too cold.
Weed and Pest Control
There’s nothing to do here. Sit back and enjoy it–because in a couple of months, it will be a never-ending battle.
Lawn Care
Again, nothing to do here in January, just sit back and let the rain do its job.
**These garden chores are based on my Zone 8a Seattle/Tacoma WA location. Find your garden zone HERE.
Tamara says
Mavis,
How is your greenhouse heated?
Mavis Butterfield says
The greenhouse is not heated. I was planning on purchasing a heater for it this winter but have not gotten around to it yet.
Jen says
I would love to be playing outside in the garden right now 🙁 Here in central Illinois we are getting hit with half a foot or more of snow, 30mp winds and wind chills tonight are expected to hit -40. I really hope all the fruit trees and grape vines I planted this year pull through. I guess I won’t really know if they made it until spring. I too have just spent the day dreaming of my spring garden and hours looking the Baker Creek website. I am counting down the days till spring! (or any day until then that hits over 32 degrees!)
Sydney says
Have you guys seen the free planning program on http://www.smartgardener.com? I had a blast putting together our garden beds, has info on the seeds, your zone/and climate issues with certain plants and then can give you reminders for when to start or transplant. It didn’t have every plant or variety, but, that was okay. Again, it’s free! Who doesn’t like that??? 😉
D.Smith says
_3 here at 10 am…only gardening one is in my mind. Have you ever made sprouts for your chckens? They adore them. I start feeding them right when I bring chick home from the feed store. Very nutritious. I just use an old jar with a piece of screen and jar ring over. Makes it easy to rinse twice daily..I use cheap feed wheat. Chicken riot when I enter the coop with sprouts! We get 13-15 eggs a day from 18 hens wiih sprouts, heated water, and added sprouts. Selling extra at feed store pays for our feed.
Mavis Butterfield says
I like the idea of growing sprouts for the chickens!! 🙂
Dawn Childs says
The artichokes you are planting, are they annual or perennial? I was thinking of trying the Emerald Star perennial variety to see how it fares the winters of the PNW.
Sydney says
Just started some sprouts for our chickens yesterday!
Mary says
Absolutely love your blog! Especially appreciate your garden posts.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Mary! 🙂
Jen says
Mavis, you should check out the DIY solar heaters made of aluminum cans on Pintrest. We are building one right now and they are super easy and cheap! It would make a nice pre-spring project for ya and save you some money from not running electricity to heat your greenhouse.