While some gardeners might live by the notion that there is absolutely no Gardening to be done in January, they’re definitely wrong! While your garden might not look as vibrant as it would come August, there are still a few plants you can grow, and a few gardening chores you can get an early start on in January. Have you heard of a gardener’s almanac?  Over the years, I’ve learned all too well that there isn’t a month of the year when gardening isn’t possible, just check out my monthly gardening guides that I will release at the start of each month. These tips and tricks are necessary for any gardener looking to spice up their January! Let’s get growing!

Start Planning

You guessed it…January is the perfect month of the year to begin thinking about what to plant in your garden come Spring. Many seed catalogs come out early in the year, so keep your eyes peeled for exciting fruit, veggie, and flower varieties to grow this coming year.

Speaking of planning, it’s also important to plan out where exactly you will plant your vegetable varieties. Make sure that you are planning for crop rotation should it be necessary, and keeping specific plants further apart to prevent the spread of pests.

Use De-Icing Compounds

If you live somewhere snowy (hello, Salt Lake City!) your plants are probably used to a heavy dose of de-icer sometime during the winter season. And these heavy doses of de-icer can actually harm your plants! To prevent the damage associated with salt and de-icer, use a deicing compound specifically made for plants. Use potassium chloride or calcium chloride as an alternative.

Check Your Bulbs

Did you store bulbs over the summer and winter in hopes of breaking them out again come the growing season? Now is the time to check those bulbs for signs of rot (or other problems) before planting them in the soil. Healthy bulbs should be firm to the touch and gardeners should throw away any bulbs that are not.

Perform Maintenance To Gardening Tools

If you didn’t have the time during the fall to clean and care for your Gardening Tools, now is the perfect time to do so! Remove rust from small gardening tools like rakes and shovels, while providing more intense maintenance care to other tools like lawn mowers and leaf blowers. Plus, if you need a new one, you might find a gardening tool on sale for cheap!

Grow Microgreens Indoors

Alas, the gardening project that you’ve (probably) been waiting for! Get your hands dirty by starting herbs or microgreens indoors in a sunny window. Just as long as your window isn’t too drafty, you should have fresh herbs and microgreens well into the summer season. You could even transplant your indoor plants outside once the weather has warmed up.

Grow Kale and Other Cold Hardy Vegetables

When grown in a small cold frame, you can grow Kale, Lettuce, Broccoli, and other greens during even the coldest months of the year. You can learn to build your own cold frame using these tips and tricks, and you can learn more about growing cold hardy vegetables here.

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