garden jobs for january

First things first, decide what you want to grow. Will you stick to the classics like tomatoes and peppers, or try something new like kohlrabi or chard? Our general advice for new growers would be to start by focussing on what you enjoy eating most, however, do also consider other factors that may underpin your reasons for wanting to grow. For example; are you trying to get your children involved in the process, in which case perhaps growing things with larger seeds and faster growing could be a good idea – such as peas, beans, potatoes and garlic. Or perhaps your primary goal is to reduce your shopping bills, in which case you may want to focus on things that will save you the most money, in which case potatoes can probably be struck from the list! Things like tomatoes, lettuce and other salad leaves could be a good option, as well as soft fruits such as raspberries and blackberries which are expensive to buy and also don’t keep for long!

Once you have decided what you want to grow, it’s time to order your seeds for the forthcoming growing season. Whether you’re buying from a local garden centre or an online retailer, order as early as you can to give yourself the best chance of getting all the varieties you want. If you want to grow fruit then you can often purchase young fruit trees and bushes bare root between November and March in the UK. Bare root trees and bushes are cheaper than their pot grown equivalents, there is usually a broader choice of varieties, and they can often be planted up until the end of March (whilst they are dormant) so that they’re ready to grow away in spring when conditions are right for growth.

Designing any new growing spaces or creating new beds is also a great task to tackle in January. Take a look at your garden and think about where you’d like to add a new raised bed or a vegetable patch. And if you’re short on space, don’t worry – you can still grow your own produce in pots or containers. When choosing where to site your growing space(s), it’s a good idea to consider:

• • Sunlight – in general, a location that will be in direct sun for as much of the day as possible is best for growing most fruit and vegetables. If you don’t have any areas in direct sun, or they’re not in direct sun for at least 6 hours each day (a common requirement for many vegetables), you will still be able to grow but you may be more limited in choice and/or harvests may be smaller.
  • Proximity of trees (and hedges to some extent). Try to pick a spot away from trees and hedges if you can. If you site your growing area close to large trees or established hedges, they can take a lot of moisture away from the ground in the immediate area, particularly during any dry spells in summer, so your fruit and veg will need a lot more water (provided by you!) to stand a chance of providing you with a decent harvest. If you’re growing in pots/containers then you can largely disregard this one, providing they aren’t casting too much shade.
  • Availability of water; if you’ve got a water butt nearby, or you can get your hosepipe there, then that’s ideal. You will need to water things at some point. Bear in mind as well that we sometimes have hose pipe bans for those with a mains water supply.
  • Convenience; the closer and more convenient it is to get to, the more likely you are to visit often, not only to harvest but also to check up on your green babies and provide any required tending. 
  • Practicality and aesthetics; whist a vegetable patch right in the middle of your lawn might be the best option for maximum sunlight exposure, you may end up with some interesting looking plants if that also happens to be the prime spot for your children’s football match. Also, you may wish to consider aesthetics and symmetry in your design and site selection.
  • Wind; if you live in a very exposed area this can be a particularly important consideration. You can protect young plants from wind to some degree with the use of fleece, and plants/areas in general with the use of natural (e.g. hedging) or manmade (e.g. fabrics, bamboo screens) windbreaks, but it’s worth giving some thought to this before deciding where to place your flag.
  • Terrain; soil quality, drainage, and slopes are a consideration. If you are aware of any contaminated areas of ground (e.g. oil or chemical spills) then you might want to opt for an alternative growing area, or use containers in that space. If you have any known drainage issues (e.g. particularly boggy spots for those on clay soil) then a higher raised bed might be a good option to ensure vegetables have access to good drainage. A level site is also generally preferable because it’s easier to setup (no terracing required) and rainfall is distributed more evenly across your crops.