What Foods to Plant in January (Vegetables, Fruit & Herbs)
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January is the start of the new year and is also the time when some of the gardening work starts to pick up. It isn’t as busy as the months to come and the weather can still cause chaos but there’s definitely a few items to add to your jobs list. Let’s look at what foods to plant in January and what jobs need doing.
What vegetables to plant in January
Many of the spring vegetables and those with longer growing seasons will take a little work to get started in January, always being mindful of that weather!
Sow in the greenhouse or indoors
January is the ideal time to begin sprouting (chitting) your early potatoes. Place them upright in an egg box module tray, and make sure that you keep them in a bright spot out of any potential frost. This will help to initiate the germination process and hopefully produce strong, short tubers for healthy harvests in the months ahead.
Sprouts are likely to emerge from between 8 to 15 days away depending upon the temperature of their home and just how retentive they are of water. As a result, regularly checking on their tubers every 2 or 3 days should be something to consider doing! January is when you can start sprouting (chitting) early potatoes. Pop them on their end in a module tray or even an egg box and put them in a bright and cool spot away from the frost.
Early season potatoes
If you have access to enough space for pots, containers, and winter bulbs like garlic and onion – not to mention hardy early season potatoes such as Charlottes – this is the perfect time for planting! Getting rolling now gives you a real head start; before long, you’ll be able to be harvesting your home-grown vegetables from your own backyard or rooftop garden.
Containers under cover offer prime conditions for protection from extreme weather: wind threats may necessitate shielding plants and some give that extra “oomph” in terms of insulation keeping them warmer throughout.
Planting early produces lovely results offering game changing swathes of golden blossoms with yield subsequently transforming into simple yet stunning high rewards – all these reasons why throughout the year growing your veggies in containers we can highly recommend.
Growing indoors
If you want to grow vegetables on your kitchen windowsill, things like cauliflower and spring onions are ideal. Some of the salad leaves and spinach can also start this month.
For those with a heater propagator, start celery and celeriac in January. Some onion varieties will also work when planted under heat this month.
What fruit to plant in January
Fruits are a little slower for this time of year but there are still things to do.
Are you an avid rhubarb grower? Then, January is the perfect time to begin planting your seeds! Start by placing them in a warm and snug environment– like a heated propagator. This controlled temperature is ideal for growing plants from seed forms, so get started now before the colder winter months really start settling in. You’ll be rewarded with a wealth of delicious and colorful rhubarb –all yours for the harvest!
If you’d like your strawberry crop to start off early, consider planting the plants under cover. Shelter will enable them to thrive much earlier in the season than other outdoor crops! It’s a great way to whet your appetite for a delicious summertime treat as well. As always, be mindful of choosing quality soil and creating plenty of drainage options so that your strawberries are able to access the nourishment they need—after all, it’s from this nutritious foundation that happy and healthy plants will symbolically blossom!
If you’re thinking of planting raspberries and blueberries outdoors, the environment is key. Aim for a sunny spot with soil that isn’t frozen or waterlogged, since these conditions often lead to wilting or damaging crops. Consider the amount of sun in your area, as well as the local climate and soil consistency. Water sparingly and make sure air can flow through and around the plants; both raspberry and blueberries need good aeration in order to thrive.
If you’re looking to plant fruit trees, and the ground isn’t too frozen, one great option would be bare-root trees. This approach requires little regrowth care and is fairly low cost – a win/win combination! Planting bare-root trees requires minimal prep; Simply soak the roots in water overnight, employ a bit of strategy when transitioning them to soil, and then it’s go time!
With right amount of warmth, love, and water throughout the season, you’ll be reaping delicious rewards for years to come.
What herbs to plant in January
For most of the time, herbs being planted in January will be indoors, either in the greenhouse or in the kitchen windowsill. You can start almost any popular herb around this time and that way you’ll have plenty of leaves to use during the year.
Other jobs to do
Vegetable jobs
If there is any noticeable damage to the Brussels sprout stalks, add a stake vertically into the ground and wrap the stem around it to keep them upright. Additionally, you can add soil up against and surrounding the sprout stalk as well; it will reduce further stress and help produce big, healthy veggies. As you trim leaf growth along with diseased or broken leaves, it’s best to preserve near-perfect sprouts located on lower twigs – pull from these spots first for premium production. All that remains afterward is an added tip – harvest your precious Brussels sprouts when their outer pods form tight heads. Good luck with your harvest!
Preparing a seed bed is essential for successful germination of your sowing. There are various ways to ensure your hard work can succeed by softening the impact of cold temperatures.
Covering your soil with clear polythene, fleeces or clothes is an ideal approach to help keep ground temperatures at a beneficial warmth. Doing so will mean that your soil will not be subjected to colder temperatures which could hinder successful sowing. Ensure that you are adequately protecting your seed beds from unpredictable weather with these easy steps, and take the guesswork out of achieving successful germination rates with each season’s planting.
Improving your soil
If you are looking to improve drainage in soils, consider adding organic matter. Not only will this result in improved water absorption, but it also brings nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium that helps plants grow healthy. But what if the soil is too wet? In that case, using a plank of wood can be beneficial; this helps avoid compaction of the soil, resulting in better growth for the plants.
Going a step further, use the plank both for accessing the spot without squishing the ground and also for sitting on! The plank also ensures that no additional nutrients need to be added due to your weight. The slight physical protection gardener will also give a psychological advantage –You’re almost levitating above slippery ground! Happy gardening!
Fruit jobs
As winter weather arrives, it’s the ideal time to focus on some pruning jobs. Need a few ideas? Start with apples, pears and quinces! These tasty fruits all benefit from having their branches trimmed during the colder months of the year.
Don’t forget those currants and gooseberries, either—give those bushes some love! And if you have any autumn raspberries in your garden or yard, it’s definitely beneficial to prune away any dead or overgrown briars before springtime returns. So say hello to some better harvesting with a hearty round of winter pruning!
Examine all produce carefully and look for any signs of rot. If you come across any rotted fruit, quickly remove them. Once the rotten fruit has been taken away, move forward to harvesting. You may find that maturing citrus is have ripened and ready to pick! It’s important to keep an eye out for anything that may have rotted in order to make sure the rest of your produce is safe. Ensuring this freshness will keep your harvests bountiful throughout their growing season.
Be attuned to bud-break on grapevine stems! That marks the onset of a new growing season. Make sure that your trees are staked up securely beneath them to minimize wind damage. In particular, vines should be attached firmly to their stakes, so that gusts of wind can’t shake loose the adherence throughout the season. This is an essential part of caring for your blossoming vines and ensuring that you’ll have a good harvest come autumn.
