January and new beginnings

The month of January is named in honor of the Roman god Janus, who is symbolic of beginnings and transitions. For many of us, January is a time of optimism, filled with resolutions and plans for the New Year.  Gardeners are optimists by nature and we commonly shrug off our failed harvests with a “Well, there’s always next year”. 

Winter is a time of rest in the garden as our dark, cold, rainy weather does not support new plantings and the crops we have overwintered are few and far between. In her book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver called February ‘The Hungry Month’, and I know in my experience it is the time of the year where my garden is at its lowest production. Shopping in my yard right now is some slim pickings.  

This is great time to reflect on what went well in the garden this year and what might have gone better? Were there some special successes or triumphs?  Did you learn a few lessons and wished you had done something differently? A little planning in the next few weeks can set you up for sucess in 2025! 

Are you a beginner?  Have you always wanted to grow some food but don’t know where to start?  

Consider planning a small herb garden, either in a container or a spot that is easy to access from your kitchen.  Design based on what herbs you use a lot and mix in both annual/soft herbs like cilantro, basil, dill mixed with sturdier and periannual herbs like thyme, sage, or rosemary. 

Or start by designing your own “salad bowl” with a packet of mixed varieties of loose leaf lettuces that you can “cut and come again” and a few fast growing radish seeds placed around the edges!   Both of these types of gardens can be started inside in the window in a few weeks and then moved outside after our last frost (typically mid-March) 

Are you an intermediate? Do you have a small spot and grow a bumper crop of tomatoes every year?  

Consider expanding your growing season into the cooler months. Many plants can be grown in early Spring and allow for succession planting of tomatoes in late May.  Arugula, spinach and kale like the cool weather and can be harvested around the tomatoes as they grow.  Make a second succession plan for late summer while the tomatoes are still producing by underplanting some lettuce and making space for garlic once the tomatoe plants are spent

Or plan out how you can expand your growing space – maybe a second raised bed if you already have one, or mark out a 3 foot x 3 foot sunny spot right now and dig up and cover the grass now to clear the space and plan for amending the soil and planting some vegetables after last frost. 

Are you a professional?  Have a big productive garden with bumper crops?

Consider setting up a seed propagation station with a grow light and heating pad and browse the seed catalogs for interesting varietals you won’t find at the local nursery. Reading those seed catalog descriptions make everything sound delicious….be a one of a kind grower!

Or plan on trying a new crop  – something you have never tried before – perhaps something a little tricker or just something interesting you have wanted to try but never got around to it! Think about quinoa or peanuts?  Maybe ginger or sweet potatoes?  These crops require a little more planning and care but it is so exciting when they work!  

And if not – there’s always next year!  Best of luck getting Good to Grow in 2025!