January

The Module Magic: A Smart Start for Seedlings

Embarking on a successful gardening season begins with a smart strategy, and starting seeds in modules is undoubtedly a game-changer. Take, for instance, certain varieties of beetroot, cauliflower, and broccoli, which thrive when sown undercover in modules. Multi-sown beetroot, such as 'Boltardy' and 'Jolie,' can be planted out without the hassle of thinning, allowing you to harvest petite, tender roots while leaving others to reach full maturity. Brassicas like 'All the Year Round' cauliflower and 'Ironman' broccoli can be potted on once they're robust enough, shielding them from the watchful eyes of pigeons and the pesky nibbles of slugs during their vulnerable early stages. This method not only ensures the survival of your seedlings but also fosters healthier, more productive plants. With module sowing, you're setting your garden up for success from the very beginning, promising a season of vibrant growth and bountiful harvests.

To Chit or Not to Chit: Weighing the Pros and Cons

The age-old debate of whether to chit seed potatoes is a perennial question among gardeners. Chitting involves pre-sprouting the tubers by allowing them to produce small growing tips from their eyes before planting. One of the main advantages of chitting is that it jumpstarts the growth process, giving you a head start on the season. This can be particularly beneficial in regions with shorter growing seasons. Chitting also allows you to select the strongest sprouts, promoting healthier plants.

On the flip side, some argue that chitting can be unnecessary for early-cropping varieties, as they tend to grow quickly once planted. There's also the risk of damaging delicate chits during the process or when handling the tubers. Additionally, chitting requires space and time, which may not be convenient for every gardener.

Whether you choose to chit your seed potatoes or not, one universal piece of advice is to remove them from their delivery bag, especially if it's a netting bag. Emerging shoots can become entangled in the netting, potentially damaging the delicate sprouts. Ultimately, the decision to chit or not depends on your gardening preferences and local climate conditions.

Weed and Feed for Vigorous Onions, Garlic, and Shallots in the New Year

As we are into the new year, it's time to tend to your overwintered onions, garlic, and shallots, ensuring they get the best possible start to the growing season. Towards the end of January, don't be surprised to find a surprising number of annual weeds taking root, especially in milder climates. This is the moment to wage your first battle against these intruders and also to dig out any persistent perennial weeds that may have surfaced. After the weeding is complete, it's the perfect opportunity to offer your alliums a boost of nourishment. Sprinkling dried chicken manure around the plants and gently hoeing it in provides a nutrient-rich kickstart to their growth. Alternatively, opt for a nitrogen-rich fertiliser like sulphate of ammonia, applying it at around 35g per square meter. This simple yet essential care regimen promises robust, healthy alliums, ready to grace your garden with a bountiful harvest in the season to come.

January Lettuce: A Hardy Greens Adventure in Your Unheated Greenhouse

Lettuce plants possess a surprising resilience, making them ideal candidates for sowing and nurturing in an unheated greenhouse, even in the heart of winter. To get started, all you need is a pinch of lettuce seeds in a seed tray or seed pan, and you can repeat this every couple of weeks from mid-January (provided your compost isn't frozen). The magic happens as the winter sun gently warms the greenhouse, coaxing these hardy greens to sprout. Once they reach a height of 10-15cm, you have options aplenty. You can snip them as cut-and-come-again lettuce, ensuring a constant supply of fresh greens for your salads and sandwiches. Alternatively, you can transplant them and cultivate these young plants as loose-leaf lettuce, adding a vibrant, homegrown touch to your culinary creations. The beauty of this endeavour lies in its simplicity, and using older seed from the previous year is a cost-effective choice, as only a few pinches are needed to kickstart your delicious lettuce journey.

Greenhouse Gardening in January: A Head Start for Long-Season Crops

For those passionate about greenhouse gardening and eager to cultivate plants that demand an extended growing season, January is a pivotal month. Hearty crops like chillies and aubergines, which thrive in a warm environment, should be sown now, especially if you have the advantage of a heated propagator. These early weeks are when the foundations for a successful season are laid. To ensure the young seedlings thrive, maintain a consistently warm and well-lit environment. If additional light is needed, consider purchasing a small grow light or employ a resourceful trick: place tinfoil at the back of your propagator to reflect precious light back to the seedlings. Regularly turning the plants prevents them from leaning towards the light source, promoting sturdy growth. However, if you lack the necessary equipment, don't fret; you can wait until late February to sow these crops on your kitchen windowsill. Whether in a heated greenhouse or on your windowsill, a little planning in January promises a thriving garden and a bountiful harvest in the months to come.

Victorian Wisdom: Forcing Plants for Gourmet Delights

Embracing a time-honoured tradition, the Victorian trick of forcing plants like rhubarb, sea kale, and chicory can transform your garden into a source of gourmet delights during the winter months. By covering these plants with an old forcer, a trusty black bin, or even a simple, light-blocking pot, you can coax them into producing sweeter, milder, and more tender stalks and leaves. Rhubarb, when forced, yields pale pink, exceptionally sweet stems that are not only delectable in pies and crumbles but also perfect for crafting a delightful jam. Sea kale, a Victorian favourite, produces tender stems that lend themselves beautifully to steaming. Meanwhile, chicory loses much of its bitterness when subjected to the forcing process, resulting in a milder, more palatable leafy green. This age-old technique offers a charming way to indulge in a variety of gourmet treats from your garden, all while celebrating the wisdom of the past.

Taming the Fire: Growing Super-Hot Chillies for the Bold

For those who crave the fiery thrill of super-hot chillies, January is your cue to kickstart the adventure. These chillies, capable of nearly making your teeth bleed with their intense heat, require careful cultivation and ample patience. As a general rule, the scorching intensity of these peppers comes at the cost of a longer growth and ripening period. To stay ahead of the game, it's wise to sow your super-hot chilli seeds this month, using a heated propagator and grow lights to provide the ideal conditions for their slow but steady development. Keep in mind that unless you're a bona fide "chilli-head," you won't need a multitude of plants, as they tend to bear copious fruit. Exercise restraint when sowing your seeds; too many, and you might find yourself with more heat than you can handle. Cultivating super-hot chillies is an exhilarating journey for the bold palate, promising a taste adventure like no other.

Welcoming Feathered Friends: The Importance of Nest Boxes in January

In the heart of January, as the natural world slumbers through the winter, providing nest boxes in your garden becomes an act of kindness that resonates deeply with our feathered friends. Birds rely on these unassuming shelters to raise their next generation and ensure the survival of their species. While offering bird food is a wonderful gesture, it's equally vital to grant them access to safe and secure nesting sites. Nest boxes serve as sanctuaries where they can safeguard their precious eggs, chicks, and vulnerable young ones from the numerous dangers that lurk in the wild. Different species have unique preferences for nest box sizes and entrance holes, tailoring their choices to ensure the utmost safety and shelter. The proximity of these nest sites to foraging locations is also critical, enabling the birds to find nourishment without straying too far from their precious brood. By placing nest boxes in your garden, you play a crucial role in fostering a thriving avian community, ensuring that generations of birds will find refuge and opportunity to flourish in the heart of nature.

Guarding Against Peach Leaf Curl: A January Shield for Your Trees

January serves as a crucial month for safeguarding outdoor peach and nectarine trees from the insidious threat of peach leaf curl. This fungal disease can wreak havoc on their delicate leaves, compromising the health of the entire tree. By covering these trees during this critical period, you create a protective barrier against the wet and cold conditions that facilitate the spread of the disease. An array of covers, from plastic sheets to specially designed tree wraps, can be used to shield your prized fruit trees. Additionally, for those growing peach and nectarine trees in pots, a strategic move is to shift them under cover during the winter months. This prevents rainwater from exacerbating the problem by splashing the fungal spores onto the leaves. With these precautions in place, your outdoor peach and nectarine trees will stand a better chance of flourishing, free from the threat of peach leaf curl, and offering you a bountiful harvest in the months ahead.

Winter Vigilance: Clearing Snow for Greenhouse Safety

As winter blankets the landscape in a glistening white, greenhouse owners must remain vigilant in ensuring the safety of their precious structures. Accumulated snow on a greenhouse roof can pose a serious threat, not only to the plants inside but also to the integrity of the structure itself. The weight of heavy snow can lead to shattered glass panels or warped and buckled support bars, potentially causing irreparable damage. It's essential to regularly remove snow from the greenhouse roof using a soft broom or long-handled tool, gently brushing it away to prevent overloading. Similarly, for those employing netting or mesh cages to protect their plants, clearing snow off the tops is equally vital. By staying proactive and attentive to these winter maintenance tasks, you'll ensure the safety and longevity of your greenhouse, providing a haven for your cherished plants to thrive in all seasons.

The Resilient Spirit of Autumn-Sown Broad Beans

Autumn-sown broad beans may seem to defy logic as they freeze solid and dramatically collapse to the ground in the biting cold. However, rest assured, these hardy souls are built to withstand such winter trials. Attempting to stand them back up is a well-intentioned but ultimately unnecessary endeavour, as it's likely to result in damage or snapped stems. Instead, trust in their resilience and simply let nature take its course. As the sun's warm embrace defrosts the frozen earth, these remarkable beans will gradually spring back to life, standing tall and proud once more. Their remarkable ability to rebound, seemingly from the brink of defeat, is a testament to their robust character. However, if deep snowfall is in the forecast, a gentle cloak of cloches can provide an extra layer of protection, ensuring that your hardy beans continue to thrive despite the harshest of winter challenges.

Guardians of Onions and Shallots: Winter Vigilance

In the wake of freezing winter weather, a gardener's watchful eye is key to ensuring the success of onion and shallot sets. Frost can be a devious foe, capable of unsettling these sets and dislodging them from their rightful place in the soil. When this occurs, the result can be stunted growth or misshapen bulbs. Thankfully, as long as the soil remains unfrozen, these wayward sets can be gently nudged back to their original depth, ensuring they continue their journey towards a bountiful harvest.

But it's not just frost that threatens these young plants. Enter the blackbirds, with their keen eyes and sharp beaks. They can mistake the dried tips of newly planted sets for worms, pulling them from the ground in their quest for a meal. To thwart these feathered culprits, replant any displaced sets and consider covering them with protective netting until the roots have firmly anchored the sets into the soil. In this delicate dance between nature and nurture, a gardener's diligence ensures that onions and shallots have the best possible start on their path to flourishing in the garden.