Essential Gardening Jobs for January: Tips for a Fruitful Year Ahead

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Are you a tortoise, or a hare?

January can be a strange month for gardener, particularly those of us who like to sow seed. We're itching to get going, and know that some seeds can be started now. Sometimes starting in January can be a false economy, yes with the right conditions our seeds will germinate and grow, but unless you're sowing indoors with heat and grow-lights, the chances are you may have to start again in a month or twos time when there's natural daylight for longer and the greenhouse is holding a reasonable level of daytime temperature. But sometimes, it just feels good to get going, so whether you're racing to start now, or holding on for just a little bit longer, here are some vital gardening jobs for January.

Planning for the year ahead

If it’s cold and/or wet then I start with a bit of planning. I reflect on what did well in the last few years, new plants and varieties I would like to try, what failed and why. Then I draw up a list of crops to sow or plant each month, or at least I used to; as the creator of Collie Flowers Personalised Seed Calendars I have access to the informaiton I need for anything I might choose to grow - my challenge this year is to rein it in and be realistic with what I can grow.

After that, I check through my seed store to see what's still usable, then its seed ordering time. This year some of the new things I'll be choosing to grow will also be heading into Collie Flowers stock, so keep an eye on our store for what's coming in. It’s best to do your planning in January, if you haven’t already done so, so you have a whole years supply of seed in stock and don’t run out. Of course, I always deviate from my plan and end up buying something else as we go through the year, but at least by having a plan and lots of seed ready to sow, I can be productive as soon as the conditions are right to get growing. If you're growing vegetables as well as seed, now is a good time to check your crop rotation plan and make sure all your beds will be ready when you need them.

In the flower garden, now is a good time to:

• Plant bare-root roses, shrubs, hedging and ornamental trees, as long as the ground isn't frozen
• Take root cuttings of fleshy-rooted perennials such as oriental poppies, acanthus and verbascums
• Establish new areas for snowdrops and hellebores by buying plants in flower, so you can choose the best looking blooms
• Clear away soggy, collapsed stems of perennials and compost them
• Take hardwood cuttings from deciduous shrubs, such as forsythia, willow and viburnum
• Remove and bin hellebore foliage marked with black blotches, to limit the spread of leaf spot disease
• Check that small alpines don't become smothered by fallen leaves and other wind-blown debris
• Deadhead winter pansies and other bedding regularly, and remove any foliage affected by downy mildew
• Start sowing seeds of hardy annuals, such as cornflowers, cerinthe and ammi, in modular trays for early flowers
• Move dormant plants that are in the wrong place to more suitable sites
• Dig over any gaps in borders, removing the roots of perennial weeds
• Give empty pots and seed trays a thorough scrubbing ready for the start of the sowing season
• Remove debris from shed and greenhouse guttering, so winter rain can fill up your water butts
• Clean out and scrub bird feeders regularly to maintain hygiene
• Top up bird baths with fresh water daily and melt ice with warm water on frosty days
• Put up bird boxes in sheltered spots, on tree trunks, sheds or walls, well before the nesting season begins
• Provide high-energy food for birds to help them through the winter months
• Look after the wildflife and build a bug hotel

In the vegetable garden you can

• Prepare your greenhouse for spring, giving it a good clear to ensure the increasing level of light over the next few months aren't filtered by dirty windows and improve the ventilation, shading and heating
• Tidy up the greenhouse, getting rid of any broken pots, old compost or debris that could hide unwanted visitors
• Sow winter salads in a greenhouse, conservatory or on a sunny windowsill, for harvests within a few weeks
• Move potted strawberry plants under cover to encourage early fruiting
• Check overwintering plants regularly for aphids, mealy bugs and other pests, and take action where necessary
• Regularly inspect stored crops, discarding any showing signs of rot or deterioration
• Plant bare-root fruit bushes, trees and canes into enriched soil, as long as the ground isn't frozen
• Ensure netting is in place over brassicas, such as kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbages, to protect from pigeons
• Cover rhubarb plants with a bucket or terracotta pot to force an early crop of tender long stems
• Feed spring cabbages with high-nitrogen feed to encourage leafy growth

Finally, if you haven’t already gotten rid of your living Christmas tree now is the time to take it down. If its potted with roots, why not plant it outdoors to give it a long life, and if not chop it up and add to your compost.