While January is certainly not the busiest month of the year for gardening, it is the perfect time to clear the clutter and plan for the year ahead.

·       Improve your soil

In preparation for the year ahead now could be a good time to cultivate your garden soil should the weather allow it.  In this area we tend to have hard clay soil, digging through a good soil conditioner will help break it up improving the soil structure and air flow. Various soil conditioners are available or, you could use farmyard manure which not only improves the soil structure but provides a rich source of organic nutrients (perfect for growing vegetables).

·         Clean your greenhouse

This can be done in the Spring and/or Autumn as well but it’s a perfect job for January if you have little else to do in the garden (assuming your greenhouse is empty).  Cleaning your greenhouse will not only let in more light but reduce the risk of pests and diseases.

·         Prune Apple & Pear trees

Winter pruning should be done only on established trees, usually starting four or five years after planting.  The aim is to create a goblet shaped crown with evenly spaced main branches which allows light to reach all parts of the tree.

·         Get the shed tided up and maintain your equipment

Now is a good time to clean your shed out and sharpen your tools and machinery. We have a tool sharpening service and can also service any petrol machine you have. Now is a great time to get this done and beat the rush in springtime.

·         Plan ahead

You may not be able to do much just now but you can plan out what you want to plant and when. If you buy a calendar, you can update it with all the jobs you want to do.  If you have a vegetable plot design ahead of time where each vegetable will go, most will benefit from regular rotation.

·         Force your rhubarb

Forcing rhubarb involves cutting them off from light to make the stems think they are still underground. This causes them to grow faster and more tender which produces a sweeter taste. Pots can be moved to a dark garage or shed while rhubarb planted in the garden can be covered (normally with a terracotta pot). Forcing can also be done with Chicory.

·         Save any empty egg boxes, they will come in handy next month for potato chitting.

Seeds that can be sown in January

The following seeds can be sown indoors but only using a heated propagator to ensure sufficient heat is maintained at a constant temperature.  They also require enough light or the seedlings may become leggy.

·         Chillis

·         Aubergines

·         Basil

·         Geraniums

·         Dahlias

·         Begonias

·         Petunias

·         Onions

Delphiniums can also be sown but they do benefit from a period of stratification by keeping the trays in a fridge for a number of weeks prior to being placed in a heated propagator.

Bare root plants can be planted anytime from October to March as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.