January

January is the middle of summer and can be hot and dry - it’s all go in the garden!

In January, fruit, vegetable and flower harvests are underway. With warmer weather, there is also a lot of weeding, watering and feeding to be done, especially in the vege garden. 

What to plant

Edible garden

  • Plant out leafy vegetables.
  • Carefully remove laterals (side shoots) from tomatoes so that energy is concentrated into fruiting.
  • Regularly apply liquid fertiliser (or worm tea) to tomatoes and other vegetables to prolong fruiting and encourage healthy growth.
  • Watering thoroughly in dry periods is better than  frequent light sprinklings. Evening is a good time to water.

Flower garden

  • Continue to deadhead roses, annuals and flowering perennials to encourage new growth and extend the flowering period.

What to harvest

  • Summer harvests of beans, tomatoes, salad vegetables, potatoes, chillies, capsicums, eggplants, sweetcorn, cucumbers, courgettes etc.
  • Cut flowers of perennials such as asters, penstemon, dahlia, late lilies, daisies and, of course, roses.
  • Soft fruit, like raspberries and blueberries, may also now be ready for picking.

Shrubs & Perennials

  • Make sure that any recently-planted shrubs, perennials and roses are kept well-watered through drier periods to ensure they establish.
  • Remember to keep container plants well-watered.

Trees

  • Check stakes and ties around trees to ensure they don’t start to rub or grow into the trunk.
  • Keep grass away from the base of trees. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to help with moisture retention and suppress weeds.
  • Water newly planted trees in dry periods to avoid stress.

Lawns

  • If a lawn has been sown or turf laid, it is important to make sure it is kept well-watered through the drier months.

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