A food gardener's monthly plan for January
January is a time for new beginnings. For gardeners, it's the perfect time to start planning and preparing for the upcoming growing season. There are a number of things you can do in January to get your garden ready for spring planting. Here are eight tasks that will help you get your food garden in order this month.
Daydream about your garden
Enjoy viewing Seed catalog or online seed company
Make a list of your favorite foods you would like to grow
Inventory of seeds
Test seeds for viability
Create a Garden Map
Create a Planing Schedule
Order seed start supplies
Daydream about your garden
January is a time for new beginnings, and what better way to start the year than by daydreaming about your garden? Imagine all the beautiful things you'll be able to grow this year. Think about the colors and flavors of the fruits and vegetables you'll be able to enjoy all summer long. Let your imagination run wild and dream up some delicious dishes you can make with your fresh, home-grown produce.
Enjoy viewing Seed catalog or online seed company
One of the best ways to get excited about the upcoming growing season is by browsing through a seed catalog or online seed company. Seeing all the beautiful varieties of fruits and vegetables available is sure to get your imagination running wild. You can spend hours dreaming about all the delicious dishes you'll be able to make with your fresh, home-grown produce. So take some time this month to enjoy looking at seed catalogs or online seed companies. It's a great way to get excited about the upcoming growing season.
Make a list of your favorite foods you would like to grow
When it comes to gardening, one of the most fun tasks is deciding which fruits and vegetables you want to grow. There are so many different varieties available, it can be hard to choose just a few. But that's what makes gardening so much fun trying new things and expanding your horizons. If you're not sure where to start, why not make a list of your favorite foods?
Making a list of your favorite foods is a great way to get started on your garden planning for the year. It can help you narrow down the variety of fruits and vegetables you want to grow, making the process easier and more fun. So take some time this month to think about all your favorite dishes and write them down. You'll be able to use your list as a helpful guide for planning your garden.
Inventory of seeds
As you read through your seed catalog or online seed company, take some time to inventory the number of seeds that you have left from last year's growing season. You want to make sure that you have enough seeds on hand before placing an order for new ones. If you find that you don't have as many as you would like, you can confidently order more seeds for this year's garden knowing that you'll have enough on hand.
Test seeds for viability
Even if your current inventory looks good, it's still a good idea to test and potentially save some of your seeds from last year's garden. To test your seeds, place eight to ten of the most mature seeds you have in a damp paper towel. Roll it up and place it inside a plastic baggie so that it doesn't dry out. Put the bags into a warm area such as on top of or next to your refrigerator and check them daily for sprouting. If some don't sprout within a week, you can discard them.
Test your seeds for viability as soon as possible after the growing season ends. If you wait too long to do it, and some of them start to dry out or go bad, they won't be good for planting next year. So make sure you test and save some of your seeds as soon as possible.
Create a Garden Map
One of the best ways to make sure everything goes smoothly in your garden is to create a map before you start planting and caring for your vegetables. It's also helpful to plant gardens by theme such as color, flavor, or type. So take some time this month to do that and you'll be able to enjoy the benefits all season long.
Create a Gardening Schedule
Before starting your first garden, it's always helpful to create a timeline or schedule for getting everything done. You can use this schedule as an outline of the steps you need to take each week to get ready for planting and caring for your vegetables. It's a great way to be well-organized and have a plan in place before it's time to start planting, so take some time this month to do that.
Order seed-start supplies
Lastly, one of the best ways you can prepare your garden for growing is by ordering seed-start supplies as part of your planning for the year ahead. You'll want to get them by the time it's time to start planting your seeds indoors, so make sure to place an order early in January. By doing this, you'll have everything you need for a successful garden season.
In conclusion
January is a great time to start planning for your garden season. By taking some time this month to dream about your garden, test seeds for viability, and create a map and schedule, you'll be well on your way to having a successful growing season. Make sure to order seed-start supplies early in the month so that you have everything you need when it's time to start planting. We hope you enjoy all the benefits of a food garden throughout the year!
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