It's January...so for most of the country, gardening seems like a distant dream. Even here in South Carolina, I've been stuck inside during our recent cold snap. Trust me, I'm usually outside digging something in January...planting leftover pansies or bulbs, drawing and digging new garden beds, cleaning up leaves or perennials. With the temperatures in the teens and 20s the past few weeks, I'm getting cabin fever! (Of course, it's not like I'm not gardening...how many thousands of seeds are germinating as I write?!)
So, what's a cooped-up gardener to do in January? Here are a few thoughts to help you survive the chilly month:
Plan.
Think about your garden beds, both ornamental and edible. Is there anything you can do to add winter interest to your garden for next year? Are there gaps that could be filled with evergreens or perennials whose seed heads would feed wildlife? Do you like the location, design, and overall presentation of the beds? If not, now's your chance to rethink and redesign your garden. Remember—planning is so much more cost-effective than random plantings. Plus—you'll want to move any perennials before they break dormancy. While the soil is most likely too hard in many zones to do much digging yet, it's a great time to make a cup of hot chocolate, gather some graph paper, and start outlining new and/or improved beds while the weather outside is frightful.
Daydream.
You know you have a pile of seed catalogs just calling your name. While many of my friends don't want to worry about starting their plants from seeds or don't have the space required, seed catalogs are a veritable treasure trove, both for the joy of looking at gorgeous plants, as well as the great information most catalogs provide. Keep that paper and pen handy to make lists of new plants you want to add this year. You'll also find fabulous online sites to drool over as well.
Create.
Why not mix up your landscaping by adding edibles in your ornamental beds? Perhaps you've wanted to add a raised bed. Maybe you've always desired a potager close to the kitchen. Now is the time to design it, price it, order parts, and build it.
Play.
Involve the kids or grandchildren. Each January, I find some extra seeds, and my children and I start something inside. This year, they are inheriting one of my raised beds for their own garden. We're looking through catalogs, picking out seeds, and drawing up ideas of what they might grow that they will actually EAT. I know, I know...I grow heirloom veggies for a living, but our kids are still kids. Picky.
Test.
Does your local university have an co-op extension service? You'll find a wealth of information there. Ours offers soil testing for a very nominal charge--$6. I can't recommend soil testing enough. Our extension office provides a detailed analysis of the soil sample, as well as what you might need to add to the soil, depending on what you want to grow. It's a wonderful service—and it's a great time to check your soil so that you can add nutrients prior to the planting season.
Research.
Have you always wanted to practice organic gardening but keep using Miracle Grow instead? Want to grow bigger tomatoes? Need to identify that pesky bug that keeps eating your roses? The winter is a great time to hunker down with terrific books to learn new gardening skills. There are also some fantastic memoirs out there for winter reading—look for It's a Long Road to a Tomato: Tales of an Organic Farmer Who Quit the Big City for the (Not So) Simple Life by Keith Stewart; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; The $64 Tomato: How One Man Nearly Lost His Sanity, Spent a Fortune, and Endured an Existential Crisis in the Quest for the Perfect Garden by William Alexander; and Heirloom: Notes from an Accidental Tomato Farmer by Tim Stark.
Rest.
Soon enough, there will be plenty of garden chores to occupy your days!
What keeps you sane when you can't play in the garden? I'd love to know! Please share your thoughts, ideas, and favorite books here!
