January Gardening

Garden is resting. We are mostly eating the few things that are still gowing in the snow (Cabbages, Sunchokes), stuff that we have indoors, canned or in the freezer (like pumpkin, potatoes, tomatoes, spinach and swiss chard) and stuff that we have growing in our basement (lettuce, rocket, baby spinach, basil, parsley and koriander).

Many of the Raised Beds are covered with snow. Under the snow things are however happening. A thick layer of grass clippings, leaves and other organic material is covering the soil and providing a nice environment for the worms to work and build a great soil for the spring.

It’s time to start some seeds for early spring harvest, first in polytunnel and then outdoors. I make sure not to start everything now, only things that requires and early start or can handle cold spring climate.

Winter sowing outdoors in raised beds

– Spinach, spinach, spinach
– Radish
– Rocket
– Early fast growing Carrots
– Pea Shoots
– Climbing spinach

Some pictures from last year:

More information on winter sowing, check out this post: Methods for Winter Sowing

Winter sowing outdoors in trays (for summer transplant)

– Kale
– Cabbages
– Broccoli
– Pak Choi
– Parsley

Some pictures from last year:

Winter sowing in Poly Tunnel

– Lettuce
– Dill
– Spinach
– Savoy Cabbage and Pointed Cabbage for early polytunnel harvest (in may/june)

Sowing indoors

– Chilli
– Peppers
– Artichokes
– Eggplant
– Pea Shoots
– Herbs (will stay indoors and grow under grow lights in my basement to provide fresh herbs in early spring)

Some pictures from last year:

Transplanting Chillies
I’m sowing chillies in december or january and transplanting them in january or february. I’m not a huge fan of growing chillies – but since I can’t wait to do some gardening in January, I’m always thankful to have them around this time of the year.

Some pictures from last year:

Seed sorting

I’m usually done with most planning already, and now it’s time to plan what varieties to grow and to order the seeds that I need.

Some pictures from last year:

First thing started this year is chilli, pepper, eggplant and artichoke.

Seeds are started in a “plug box”.

I keep them in room temperature until they have sprouted.(Later, I move them to the basement after first transplant.) To make them extra warm and comfortable I add some grow lights for them. Any lamp will do. This year I use red grow lights.

9th of January is a nice and cold day – but still not snowy. Garden is resting and a few things like Kale is still going strong.

The greenhouse is covered with ice on the outside, but the soil is not frozen inside. Will be great to start the sowings in here in a few days!

Indoor: Starting batches of basil, parsley, lettuce and rocket to grow indoors in the basement.

Chillis are coming along nicely indoors.

I have started transplanting a few and are moving them to the basement after transplant.

Weather has been good for Winter Sowing and half of my planned early outdoor sowings are done.

I’m being a bit lazy with the outdoor pea shoots this year and are trying to just scrape the snow of and sprinkle the peas on top of the frozen ground. Let’s follow up later this spring how it works out!