Grow Your Own In January

In my "Grow Your Own month-by-month" series I will share with you a handy to do list, a list of fruits and vegetables you can harvest and a list of fruits and vegetables you can plant for that specific month.

What to do in your Kitchen Garden in January

If you're anything like me, when the clock strikes midnight on 31 December you immediately start planning all the things you want to achieve in the new year. If you've caught the "grow your own" fruit and veggies bug then you will no doubt want to start planning what you're going to grow over the coming year.

It may look a little bleak in your kitchen garden or allotment during the short, grey days but there is plenty you can be getting on with.

Jobs list

Just get outside and get the lay of the land. It's probably been a while since you spent much time in your garden or allotment.
Has anything got damaged or worn over the last few months of neglect? You can begin making any repairs or preparing space for new beds. Once you've given everything a tidy and a fix you will have a better idea of what space you have available.
Get into planning mode and start thinking about what you want to plant in spring. I always draw out my plot and work out how much space I have to grow in. A garden planner is a nice way to do this.
Spread some compost. Although there's not much growing at the minute, covering beds with compost or well-rotted organic manure will give everything a head start come spring.
If you do have some brassicas or other greens that have survived over winter, give them some attention. Remove any yellow leaves and stake them if they are tall enough to get caught by heavy winds.
If you have rhubarb on your plot then keep an eye out for it's first shoots! Pop a rhubarb forcer over them when they do appear to give them some extra encouragement. By doing this you will have your crop earlier. Forced rhubarb is considered a delicacy!
If you have fruit plants or trees they will appreciate some tender love and care too. Give fruit bushes like currants, blueberries and gooseberry bushes a prune and mulch them to protect them from frost and snow.

Sow now

You can sow some early vegetables indoors towards the end of January including broad beans, some pea varieties and French beans. If you decide to sow them outside make sure that you have protected them from frost with fleece or a cloche.