Some (probably quite normal) people wouldn't even consider gardening in the depths of winter but I am not one of those people. I need to garden year round, in a similar way I suspect to the need in some people to regularly practise yoga. Gardening is a tonic, it fills me with happiness in a way that no other hobby does. So unless the weather is torrential, I throw on some layers, make myself a flask of tea and get out there.
The truth is there isn't that much to do right now, and lots of jobs can easily wait for March or April. However I like to get a head start if I can, and honestly, I enjoy the slower pace and anticipation of what's to come, especially as I know in a couple of months I will be rushing around like a mad thing trying to get everything done.
I also like being out in the fresh air; there is no nicer feeling than being productive in the garden while the cold gently nips at your nose and cheeks. Even if I'm just spending a couple of hours on the sunny patio, washing pots and tools in warm soapy water, or listening to a podcast or two while I potter about in the greenhouse, I feel revitalised when I go back inside.
So I thought I would share some jobs I will be doing this month. Perhaps if you are also itching to be outside and get your hands dirty, but need a bit of inspiration, then this blog post will deliver.
1. I'm planting snowdrops
I have been meaning to plant snowdrops for years. The crisp white of their flowers next to their bright green foliage is so fresh and uplifting. I think technically you are either meant to plant snowdrops as bulbs in autumn or plant them when they have finished flowering (known as 'In the Green') in mid spring. I am doing neither, I am planting them now because they are in flower now and they're making me happy. I'm planting them under my crab apple tree so they get light shade in the summer, but can be seen clearly when they flower in the winter. If snowdrops aren't your thing, why not plant something else? As long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged, hardy plants can be planted now, giving them a chance to establish well before the hot weather arrives. You may want to jazz up a dull looking border with some pretty perennials or interesting shrubs. Or fill a container with sweet, pastel-coloured primroses and pop it by your front door, so you remember spring is on the way whenever you arrive home.
2. I'm sowing broad bean seeds
After experimenting with growing vegetables last year and loving it, I am planning to use this year to grow as much as possible, which means starting my seed sowing early. Broad beans can be started now, and I am sowing them with glee, because I love broad beans. I've planted them in modules in the greenhouse just for ease, but you can direct sow them now, as long as the soil is workable. I've also started carrots and leeks, and I will sow sprouting broccoli towards the end of the month, as well as jalapeños and peppers on my warmer kitchen windowsill. It's all go here!
3. I'm chitting seed potatoes
Despite the slightly dubious word for it, chitting seed potatoes is actually pretty straightforward. Chitting means to encourage seed potatoes to shoot before you plant them. You do this by leaving them in a light, cool, frost-free place for a month or so and let the little shoots on them grow. Then when they are about an inch long and the risk of really cold weather has passed, you plant them out. It seems that placing seed potatoes to chit in egg boxes is a bit of a widely practised gardening ritual, but you can put them in any receptacle of your choosing. I've bought an early variety of seed potatoes called Duke of York, which I will plant next month in the greenhouse and keep in there until mid spring. Hopefully by early summer I will have lots of little new potatoes to harvest.
4. I'm pruning and tidying
Pruning some shrubs is best left for spring, when the risk of severe cold weather is lessened. However if I can prune and tidy now, it saves me a big job later. I have been meaning to tidy this border for ages, as you can see from the image above it's a bit of a mess. I have hard pruned the shrubs in the foreground to allow light to get into the centre of the bed, which I hope will benefit the rose planted there. I have cleared the debris, plant pots and leaf matter, and any weeds I could see. I have also used this time to reorder the bed and add in some other plants. I planted bulbs in the autumn, but if you wanted to add spring flowering bulbs, now is the last chance to do it, although they may flower a little later than expected. Finally I have mulched the whole border with bark chips. This makes it look tidy, suppresses weeds and keeps plant roots warm. See below for the after shot- it all looks a bit severe now, but in a couple of months it should come to life and look much fresher.
5. I'm planning
I use winter to plan, and this is probably the most fun task of all, because I mentally take myself to spring and summer, and imagine how the garden will be looking then. I plan what vegetables I'm hoping to grow and where I am going to grow them, I make a list of all the ornamental plants I want to add, and which plants I want to switch to a different location. I analyse which beds are looking a bit boring and consider which plants I can incorporate that will add winter and early spring interest. Then I cosy up by the fire with my laptop and make pinterest boards and shopping lists of seeds, plants and tools. It may be dark, dank and cold outside, but in my heart it's spring.
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