January Garden To-Do List
January feels like the garden’s deepest breath—a pause between seasons, where the potential of spring waits just beneath the surface. We made it through the longest night of the year, so YAY we have increasingly more daylight as the month progresses, but it’s still cold and quiet in the garden. The excitement of the New Year can be directed toward dreaming, planning, shopping, and preparing for a few more weeks, ensuring that when temps warm up, we’re ready to dig in to a productive and enjoyable growing season. With that in mind, here’s your January to-do list for Middle Tennessee gardens:
Dream Big
Get inspired: Let yourself imagine what your ideal garden could look like, even if it feels far away. Some design books we are loving right now: The Food Forward Garden by Christian Douglas and Garden Wonderland by Leslie Bennett and Julie Chai. Jot down wild ideas—they might spark realistic goals for the future.
Set up your journal or planner: Choose a new garden journal to keep your dreams and plans organized for the year ahead.
Planning and Reflecting
Review your 2024 garden journal: This is Step 0.5 for planning if you didn’t do this last fall. Take time to reflect on last year’s wins and lessons learned. What grew beautifully? What struggled? Your notes will guide this year’s plans.
Create a planting plan: Map out what you’ll grow, where it will go, and when to plant it. Consider crop rotation and companion planting for optimal results. Plant Partners by Jessica Walliser is a great book for information on beneficial plant relationships that inspires our planning decisions. You can also schedule a consultation for expert help walking you through this process.
Inventory seeds: Check quantities, expiration dates, and conditions. Discard any seeds that look damaged. Start shopping for new varieties that excite you.
Order supplies: Restock seed starting trays, soil, compost, and any tools you’ll need for spring planting.
Assess infrastructure: Is it time to repair or add raised beds, trellises, or a bird bath? January is a great time to plan for these projects.
Indoor Growing
Start seeds: It takes a decent amount of time and equipment, so this isn’t a project for everyone, but starting your own seeds indoors can be very rewarding. In January, we begin cool-weather crops indoors, such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and onions, to transplant in early spring.
Grow sprouts and microgreens: Sprouts really are for everyone. These quick-growing greens bring fresh, nutritious flavor to winter meals.
Try forcing bulbs: Amaryllis and paperwhites bring life and color indoors. (Not a fan of the paperwhite fragrance? Go all in on amaryllis!)
Winter Garden Care - For Sunny Days When You Are Itching for the Garden
Protect perennials: Check mulch around perennials to ensure it’s 3 inches deep to protect roots. Add mulch if needed.
Turn compost: On warmer days, give your compost pile a turn to keep it active.
Harvest and Use Stored Food
Enjoy overwintered crops: Kale, spinach, Swiss Chard, Brussels sprouts, radishes, and leeks may still be thriving, especially if you are using row covers. Keep harvesting. I’m going for 52 weeks of harvest this year. It’s lofty goal, but even one harvest a week of crunchy kale counts!
Use stored produce: Make soups from squash, sauces from frozen tomatoes, or herbal teas from dried garden herbs. Even if you don’t have a winter garden to harvest from, it’s totally possible to eat from your garden year round. Nothing stored up? Make a note in your journal if you’d like to try canning, dehydrating, or freezing your bounty this summer.
Critter Watch
Feed the birds: Keep feeders stocked and bird baths ice-free with a de-icer. Bare branches provide a perfect view of your feathered visitors. I’m so obsessed with my smart bird feeder.
Check for pests: Even in winter, pests like voles or insects can lurk. Keep an eye on overwintering plants and soil conditions.
January may be a quieter month, but it’s far from inactive. Use this time to enjoy the slower pace while setting the foundation for a vibrant growing season.
