So what should you be doing with your houseplants or in your garden in January? How about NOTHING!
Days are pitifully short and sunlight weak, so it’s not advised to fertilize, prune, or repot now. However, this is a great time to reflect on the previous year and decide what went right or wrong in your garden while you’re preparing for spring.
Look Back at What Went Wrong and Forward to Spring
If something went wrong, decide what happened. For example, if you had insect problems, look them up to find out exactly what they were and how to combat them. If you had an insect problem last year, chances are that you’ll have them again. This time, because you’ll be looking for them, you might discover them earlier, and that makes it SO much easier to tackle them.
Think Companion Plants
Do remember companion plants and try to incorporate them into your garden this spring. There are certain plants that can help repel certain insects. If you had a problem with squash bugs on your squash, melon, or cucumber plants, remember that nasturtiums, marigolds, radishes, mints (including catnip and oregano) plants have strong spicy odors that squash bugs don’t like.
Tomato Hornworms in Your Garden? Here’s What to Do
If you had a problem with tomato hornworms, remember that dill, parsley, cilantro, and yarrow attract Braconid Wasps, which prey on tomato hornworms. However, look up what a tomato hornworm turns into—a moth that is a pollinator. I do plant basil, oregano or mint to help repel hornworms and a couple of extra tomatoes that are THEIR plants. If they show up, I simply remove the hornworms to their plants.
Look Toward Spring
Now would also be a great time to check out garden stores or even seed catalogs so you can get the varieties you want before they sell out in the spring. This also gives you a little time to look up new varieties. Don’t be afraid to try new varieties. A few years ago, I tried a tomato I’d never tried before, loved it, and now every year, go looking for it.
This is also a great time to remember to get your pruners cleaned and sharpened for spring. As a matter of fact, our Knife Sharpener will be here every Thursday (yes, in the winter, too) at our Farmer’s Market (Thursdays from 10 until 2) inside the Greenhouse.
Have Gardening Questions? We Have Answers!
And you still have plenty of time to look up other gardening questions or bring them to us for an answer!