January Garden Ramblings - Happy 2016!
Happy 2016, ya'll!
So looking forward to this great, new gardening year ahead, a fresh start with so much potential...
Is shaping up to be a crazy fun and busy year, with lots of changes, and big goings on ... most exciting of all, I get to plan a wedding!
My baby girl is getting married this summer, at my nursery! The pressure is really on, to have loads and loads of lovely colour, hanging baskets, roses, and flowers everywhere.
Her colour scheme is cream and silver with varying shades of purple, ranging from lilac to aubergine. Soft, faded dusty, kind of antique looking. This apple sure did not fall far from the tree, eh?
I'm really looking forward to all the planting and fussing, but a bit worried about the prospect of another dry and hot summer ahead and how to keep things looking fine while being water conscious.
Be prepared to see lots of basket and planter workshops at the greenhouse this year, with lots of white and purple flowers to choose from ; ) No, no, no, just kidding! Though there will likely be a lot of purple around, there will also be lots of other colours to choose from, as always. Probably even more of a selection than ever, as I am seriously stoked about flowers this year!
To see this year's basket and planter workshops at the greenhouse, please see HERE!
So, what's a gardener supposed to do in the month of January when just itching to get going?
Garden tasks...
- Prune your fruit trees, gooseberries, and other fruiting shrubs.
- Spray fruit trees (apples, pears, plums) and fruiting shrubs (grapes, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries) with dormant oil or a dormant oil/lime sulpher mix. This spray will kill off over-wintering pests and fungal diseases. While you are it, spray your roses and cotoneaster hedges, as well! Do this on a plus degree day when temps are not supposed to dip below zero for 24 hours.
- Get out and remove those weeds on dry days. Get them now before they are out of hand in spring.
- Pinch back winter pansies.
- Put out birdseed wreaths, fill feeders, have water for the birds to drink, and clean out birdhouses in preparation for spring.
- If you have not already done so, prune your roses, taking out the 3 D's (dead, damaged or diseased) and cutting them back so that they will not get damaged by heavy, wet snowfalls.
Greenhouse tasks ...
- Wash pots and seed starting equipment.
- Begin to tidy, clean, and organise the glass house, greenhouse, cold frame, garden shed, etc.. for the season ahead.
- Take cuttings of your geraniums, fuchsias ...
Indoor tasks...
- Journal your thoughts and ideas for the gardening season ahead.
- Pick out a colour scheme for your planters, baskets, and annuals. Did you see the 2016 Pantone colours of the year? So very soft and pretty! Check them out HERE!
- Plan ahead. What do you want to grow this year? What do you like to eat? What do you want to 'put up' or can/process, what do you want to store or freeze?
- Check back on your notes last year to see what was successful and what was not. What to grow more of, less of, or not at all.
- Then go through your seeds, do an inventory. Make a list of what you need. Take this list with you to the greenhouses and Seedy Saturdays!
- Order on-line, too.
When ordering or buying seeds, keep in mind that the drought is supposed to continue this year. Pick drought tolerant and/or heat-resistant varieties for the garden.
Some heat tolerant varieties ... Slow-Bolt cilantro, Queen of Crunch lettuce, Matilda lettuce, Portuguese and Lacinato kale, Catalina spinach.
I also really like the thought of growing mini veggies in pots, things like lettuce, spinach or cilantro that easily bolts in the heat. Grow in pots and pull into the shade when the heat sky-rockets!
Some mini varieties ... Tennis Ball Lettuce, Tom Thumb lettuce, Garden Babies lettuce, Tom Thumb peas, so many more...
What to sow and grow this month ...
Do NOT sow seeds too early! This newbie mistake causes stretched out plants and garden failures... here is a list of what you can start this month....
Out in the garden...
Icelandic and Shirley poppies, larkspur, foxgloves.
Under row covers or in your cold frames ...
Radishes, lettuce, mustard, rocket, mache, Swiss chard, broad/fava beans.
In the greenhouse from seed...
Parsley, coriander, and chives (with bottom heat).
Cleome (finicky, do not cover seed, follow directions on packet), sweet peas, geraniums, petunias, coleus.
Leeks, onions, artichokes, cabbage, lettuce.
Hot peppers, eggplants, broccoli ... but no earlier than end month!
So looking forward to this great, new gardening year ahead, a fresh start with so much potential...
Is shaping up to be a crazy fun and busy year, with lots of changes, and big goings on ... most exciting of all, I get to plan a wedding!
My inspiration colours for this year...
This pic from swoonedmagazine.com
My baby girl is getting married this summer, at my nursery! The pressure is really on, to have loads and loads of lovely colour, hanging baskets, roses, and flowers everywhere.
Her colour scheme is cream and silver with varying shades of purple, ranging from lilac to aubergine. Soft, faded dusty, kind of antique looking. This apple sure did not fall far from the tree, eh?
I'm really looking forward to all the planting and fussing, but a bit worried about the prospect of another dry and hot summer ahead and how to keep things looking fine while being water conscious.
Lots of basket workshops this year...
or have your own fun DIY party with 5 to to 11 of your best friends.
Be prepared to see lots of basket and planter workshops at the greenhouse this year, with lots of white and purple flowers to choose from ; ) No, no, no, just kidding! Though there will likely be a lot of purple around, there will also be lots of other colours to choose from, as always. Probably even more of a selection than ever, as I am seriously stoked about flowers this year!
To see this year's basket and planter workshops at the greenhouse, please see HERE!
So, what's a gardener supposed to do in the month of January when just itching to get going?
Garden tasks...
- Prune your fruit trees, gooseberries, and other fruiting shrubs.
- Spray fruit trees (apples, pears, plums) and fruiting shrubs (grapes, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries) with dormant oil or a dormant oil/lime sulpher mix. This spray will kill off over-wintering pests and fungal diseases. While you are it, spray your roses and cotoneaster hedges, as well! Do this on a plus degree day when temps are not supposed to dip below zero for 24 hours.
- Get out and remove those weeds on dry days. Get them now before they are out of hand in spring.
- Pinch back winter pansies.
- Put out birdseed wreaths, fill feeders, have water for the birds to drink, and clean out birdhouses in preparation for spring.
- If you have not already done so, prune your roses, taking out the 3 D's (dead, damaged or diseased) and cutting them back so that they will not get damaged by heavy, wet snowfalls.
Greenhouse tasks ...
- Wash pots and seed starting equipment.
- Begin to tidy, clean, and organise the glass house, greenhouse, cold frame, garden shed, etc.. for the season ahead.
- Take cuttings of your geraniums, fuchsias ...
Indoor tasks...
- Journal your thoughts and ideas for the gardening season ahead.
- Pick out a colour scheme for your planters, baskets, and annuals. Did you see the 2016 Pantone colours of the year? So very soft and pretty! Check them out HERE!
- Plan ahead. What do you want to grow this year? What do you like to eat? What do you want to 'put up' or can/process, what do you want to store or freeze?
- Check back on your notes last year to see what was successful and what was not. What to grow more of, less of, or not at all.
- Then go through your seeds, do an inventory. Make a list of what you need. Take this list with you to the greenhouses and Seedy Saturdays!
- Order on-line, too.
Pic from awaytogarden.com
When ordering or buying seeds, keep in mind that the drought is supposed to continue this year. Pick drought tolerant and/or heat-resistant varieties for the garden.
Some heat tolerant varieties ... Slow-Bolt cilantro, Queen of Crunch lettuce, Matilda lettuce, Portuguese and Lacinato kale, Catalina spinach.
I also really like the thought of growing mini veggies in pots, things like lettuce, spinach or cilantro that easily bolts in the heat. Grow in pots and pull into the shade when the heat sky-rockets!
Some mini varieties ... Tennis Ball Lettuce, Tom Thumb lettuce, Garden Babies lettuce, Tom Thumb peas, so many more...
What to sow and grow this month ...
Do NOT sow seeds too early! This newbie mistake causes stretched out plants and garden failures... here is a list of what you can start this month....
Out in the garden...
Icelandic and Shirley poppies, larkspur, foxgloves.
Under row covers or in your cold frames ...
Radishes, lettuce, mustard, rocket, mache, Swiss chard, broad/fava beans.
In the greenhouse from seed...
Parsley, coriander, and chives (with bottom heat).
Cleome (finicky, do not cover seed, follow directions on packet), sweet peas, geraniums, petunias, coleus.
Leeks, onions, artichokes, cabbage, lettuce.
Hot peppers, eggplants, broccoli ... but no earlier than end month!
Cat on a hot poly roof ; )
Happy garden planning!
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