Janus , who lends his name to the month of January , was the dual - faced papist god of gates and doors . He also was address the god of beginnings as it was commonly believe that you needed to go through a door or gate in ordering to enter a Modern place or beginning .
The god was depicted as looking forward and backwards at the same time – forward towards new beginnings and back towards the yesteryear . It ’s an appropriate symbol for this month as it ’s a time when gardeners are remember about last year ’s garden to look ahead to the unexampled growing time of year .
If you are like many gardeners , you credibly keep notes on one-year seed and plant purchases , past garden successes and failure , and even new thing to try . It ’s a safe idea to critique these before you bulge plan your seminal fluid and equipment orders . mapping of preceding garden will help you rotate plants and forfend overcrowding when planning spacing of plantings .
January is a good time to lead off a garden journal or even just a file where you could stack away clause clip out of paper and magazines , or lists of theme you desire to examine in the garden . A beneficial place to get a few unexampled ideas is by lead a course of study or joining a garden club . Most gardeners love to talk about gardening and wo n’t mind sharing some of their tested and true methods and products with you . Or apply to the University of Vermont Extension Master Gardener computer program . For more information , visit send an e - post to master.gardener@uvm.edu .
Next , check the seeds you saved and stored from last year ’s garden . Discard anything that is moist , diseased , moldy , or in otherwise bad condition . Look over what ’s bequeath , and determine what you need to parliamentary law .
You also should take a look at squash , white potato , root crop , and other vegetables and fruits in winter memory . Although condition may have been idealistic when you harvested and store them in the dip , the cold , wet winter may make that locating too wet or dampish . pitch anything that has spoil or has soft spots . The same goes for summertime flower light bulb like dahlias and gladiolus that you saved to plant this year .
As many avid nurseryman have discovered , it ’s wise to to plan your seeded player order with other gardeners . This will countenance you to make unnecessary money while mature a wider variety of crops and flowers . In addition , some come companies tender discounts or gratuitous seeds for early shuttle and/or large orders . Just do n’t shine into the sand trap of ordering more than you may use . That ’s where the notes you kept from preceding years will be utile .
If you ask to replace a tiller or need to add a few new gardening tools to your armory , start comparison shopping in January . concede , some of this equipment wo n’t be useable for purchase in garden center for a few more month . But by studying catalogs and magazines , talking to friends , and even surf the net now , you will have a better idea of what you want and wo n’t waste valuable time in the spring settle what to buy .
The same goes for landscape painting plants . Although you would n’t be able to plant them now , even if you could purchase them , this “ down time ” in gardening is pure for design . Start thinking about what you demand to fill in gaps in your landscape or what new plant you ’d like to try out . It may aid to take a walk around your holding to visualize where landscape melioration are needed or where you might put in a novel flower bed . Think about colouration , odor , texture , and shapes . Then reconnoiter out company that impart what ’s on your wish inclination .
No yard or garden is complete without statuary , gazing balls , sundials , and garden whimsies that make the outer space uniquely yours . Shop now for what you ’ll need in the springtime to accessorize your lawn , garden , and blossom bottom . apply your resource .
This January get originative in the shop . Build a squash racket house or a birdhouse or two . Paint garden piece of furniture . Construct unreal light set - ups for develop houseplants or protrude transplants indoors . Or install a compost bin in your basement , sum a handful of scarlet worms to flex your veggie table fighting into racy compost for the garden .
Other activity for January : visit the Vermont Farm Show at the Barre Civic Center , Jan. 29 - 31 ; start an amaryllis light bulb for spring salad days ; re - read a favorite horticulture leger or commence a Modern one that you receive as a vacation gift .
PLANNING THE SPRING GARDEN AND OTHER JANUARY GARDENING TIPS
ByDr . Leonard PerryandLisa Halvorsen
Extension Nursery and Greenhouse Crops SpecialistUniversity of Vermont
