Garden Jobs for January
Happy New Year – wishing health and happiness to all our fellow gardeners!
January is usually a month of hard cold and heavy rain. Even so, there are jobs we can do in the garden to get it ready for spring. Just remember to plan your garden work around the weather.
The main jobs for January are:
Harvest winter vegetables
January is a good month for harvesting winter vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes and carrots.
Prune fruit trees and shrubs
January is the right time to prune fruit trees and shrubs, as the plants are dormant. It is important to remove dead branches and any winter damage. Pruning renews the plant, shapes it, improves fruiting and helps protect it from diseases and pests.
In the southernmost parts of Greece, vine pruning can also begin in late January. After pruning fruit trees, shrubs and vines, spray with a copper-based product to protect against fungal and bacterial diseases.
Protect plants from frost
Tender plants such as citrus trees, roses and succulents need protection from frost. Cover them with hessian or frost-protection netting.
Prepare seed trays for spring vegetables
January is the time to start sowing spring vegetables in seed trays. Set up a small greenhouse in the garden, the yard or even on the balcony, and sow the seeds of the vegetables you will grow in summer, such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Choose the tastiest, most productive varieties that suit the conditions in your area. You might save seed from old traditional and local varieties, or try something new.
Use seed trays, cells or recycled plastic cups to sow your seeds, with a specialist seed compost to ensure a high germination rate. The seedlings will be ready to transplant into the vegetable garden in around 2–2.5 months, depending on your local climate.
Plant bare-root plants
From early January you can start planting bare-root plants such as fruit trees, shrubs and ornamentals. Bare-root plants cost less than container-grown ones and settle into their new home more easily.
Plant bare-root roses
January is the perfect month to plant bare-root roses – roses supplied without soil around their roots. You can plant them in the garden or in pots on the balcony. There are many types and varieties to choose from: miniature, low-growing, shrub, climbing and ground-cover roses. Plant them in a sunny position for good growth and plenty of flowers. Before planting, trim the tips of the roots; this stimulates the root system and helps the plant establish. For even better root growth, work manure and compost into the planting holes.
Prepare the soil for spring planting
You can start preparing the soil for spring crops such as tomatoes, peppers and aubergines. Add compost or humus and dig it in lightly.
You can also start planting summer-flowering plants, such as carnations, gerberas and dahlias.
Prune and feed olive trees
January is the month for pruning olive trees. Pruning renews the tree and improves fruiting. Olives are hungry trees, so feeding is essential for good growth and yields. The main nutrients olive trees need are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), boron (B), calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe).
How much fertiliser an olive tree needs depends on several factors, such as the age of the tree, soil fertility, the variety and the climate. An agronomist can help you work out the right amount for your tree.
January is also a good time to plant fruiting shrubs in the garden or on the balcony, so you can enjoy their nutritious berries – the famous superfoods. Why not plant blackberries, currants, aronia, goji, raspberries and blueberries, and add more variety to your daily diet?
Here are a few more tips for pruning trees and shrubs in January:
- Use sharp tools to avoid damaging the plants.
- Prune in dry weather so the cuts heal faster.
- Remove only dead, diseased or damaged branches.
- Let the remaining branches grow naturally.
- Weed around the plants in the vegetable garden.
- Choose and buy bulbs or rhizomes of summer- and autumn-flowering plants (such as dahlias), so you are ready to plant them from the end of the month through to the end of February.
