January is the perfect time to look back at last year’s garden and make plans for the coming spring. Though the landscape may be frozen and covered in snow, there are still plenty of tasks that savvy homestead gardeners can get a jump start on now. Taking time for garden planning and preparation in January will pay off all season long with a more bountiful, beautiful, and easy-to-manage garden.
Below, you will find a comprehensive January gardening to-do list covering all the key jobs you should tackle at the start of the new year.
Assess Last Year’s Garden
Before diving into new plans, take some time to look back on what went well and what could be improved from your garden last year. Ask yourself the following assessment questions:
- Which crops/varieties performed well? Which disappointed?
- Did you battle certain pests or diseases?
- What will you plant more or less of?
- Did you have enough/too much produce for eating and preserving?
- What will your rotation plan be?
- Does your layout need revising for better light or access?
Jot down some notes so you can refer back to this evaluation as you map out the new garden layout. Think critically about any problems you want to correct to make the upcoming growing season your best one yet.
Take Stock of Stored Crops
Make an inventory not just of leftover seeds, but also any crops from the garden preserved for winter and early spring use. This includes:
- Root cellars/cold storage areas
- Canned goods like sauces, soups, pickles
- Frozen produce and herbs
- Dried fruits, vegetables, herbs
- Apple sauce, jams, jellies
- Ferments like kraut, kimchi
As you take stock of provisions, check for any spoilage and compost unusable produce. Organize storage areas so oldest canned/preserved items get used first.
Make notes on scarce crops that did not last the whole winter to expand planting more of next season. Take into account which perennial herbs died back that should be replaced. This inventory not only prevents waste, but informs your upcoming seed orders.
Prune Fruit Trees & Berry Bushes
January is prime time for pruning fruit trees and berry bushes while they are dormant. This stimulates healthy new growth that leads to greater yield come summer and fall harvests.
It’s best to prune on a mild day when temperatures are above freezing to avoid damage to branches and tissue. Always sterilize pruners between each plant with rubbing alcohol to prevent disease spread.
For fruit trees:
- Eliminate inward facing branches that rub against each other
- Remove water sprouts growing straight up from the trunk/branches
- Cut out crossing branches to allow better air flow and light penetration
- Shorten overly long branches and thin crowded areas
- Cut back top third of tall branches on stone fruit trees
For berry bushes:
- Remove dead floricanes that fruited this past season from raspberries
- Shorten side shoots on blackberry and tayberry canes
- Cut back tops of black and red currants by a quarter
- Remove weak gooseberry stems to assist ripening
These pruning sessions not only boost productivity, but help control disease and pests by improving overall tree and bush health. The cuttings can go straight into the compost pile or chipper.
Start Seeds Indoors
Though outdoor planting is months away, January is the ideal month for starting certain seeds indoors that require a long growth period before they can transition outside come spring.
Good seeds to start now include:
- Onions
- Leeks
- Celery
- Peppers
- Eggplants
- Herbs like parsley, thyme, sage
You’ll need grow lights, a heating mat, portable greenhouse, or a bright sunny window for seed starting. Use sterile seed starting mix in containers or trays fitted with drainage holes. Follow the directions on seed packets for proper planting depth and watering needs.
Pay close attention to the “days to maturity” and the recommended weeks of indoor growth before hardening off and transplanting outside after the last spring frost date. Nurturing seedlings now leads to much faster maturity and harvests later on.
Make a Seed Order Wish List
January is the month when many popular seed companies release their annual catalog filled with exciting new varieties. As you go through your inventory, make a wish list of seeds and plants you hope to order for spring planting. Consider:
- New varieties you want to try
- Crops that performed well to plant more of
- Perennials to replace ones that died
- Cover crops for soil health
- Flower varieties to attract pollinators
Make special notes by crop type (fruit, vegetable, herb, cover crop) to keep the list organized by planting zone in the garden. This makes putting together the actual seed order easier since companies often organize alphabetically by plant type.
Prioritize “must-have” staple crops, then add secondary novelty varieties that pique your interest but won’t break the bank. Take advantage of winter sales to stock up on essentials. Waiting too long may lead to sold-out favorites.
Improve Soil Composition
While pruning in the orchard and berry patch, clear any dropped fruits, berries, debris from the aisles to add to the compost pile. Fallen produce that overwintered could harbor pests and disease. It’s best not to leave old plant material around the dormant garden.
You can also take soil samples now for testing to see nutrient levels and composition. Mail-in kits provide key info on:
- Soil pH
- Nitrogen levels
- Potassium
- Phosphorous
- Micronutrients
This data helps identify deficiencies to amend the soil. Lime raises pH while sulfur lowers it. Manure, coffee grounds, and compost boost nitrogen. Wood ash adds potassium. Soft rock phosphate contains phosphorus.
Beyond standard fertilization, adding organic matter in the form of aged manure, leaf mold, finished compost, hay, or straw gives texture, drainage, and water retention. Healthier soil equals healthier plants.
Plan Next Season’s Layout
Finally, pull out the garden maps and start sketching out next year’s layout. Use notes from the old garden assessment to make improvements. Take crop rotation into account so families of plants are not repeated in the same beds (which can exacerbate pest and disease issues).
Consider adding new raised beds, vertical growing structures, or converting more lawn to food production areas. This is also the time to plan landscaping enhancements like pathway materials, fences, trellises, and irrigation lines.
Having the majority of plotting and planning done now makes spring planting less hectic. You already know which crops are going where and when to start seeds and seedlings both indoors and out in the garden. Getting prepared in January sets you up for gardening success!
January Gardening To-Do List
☐Evaluate what worked and didn’t work in last year’s garden
☐Take stock of root cellar/cold storage preserved crops
☐Prune fruit trees and berry bushes
☐Start onions, leeks, peppers, and other long-season seeds indoors
☐Make a wish list from seed catalogs to order favorites
☐Improve soil composition based on testing
☐Plan out layout, crop rotation, new additions for garden
What other essential January gardening tasks happen around your homestead? Let me know what to add to this winter to-do list!
