Womens Thoughts

Country Diary by Salt and Pepper (season-ings?)

January

Did you know we are 4 weeks behind time in the growing season, this year, due to the coldest winter for the last hundred years?

(For that reason we are writing this piece as though it were the end of January – let’s hope temperatures increase sooner rather than later)

Snowdrops are the flower of the month for January (Carnations are the birth flower) and they are also the first flower that everyone notices at the beginning of a new year. Their leaves are purposely structured to be able to push through the coldest of soil.  Aunty Planty, http://www.auntieplanty.com/ , suggests “If you didn’t plant any bulbs last autumn, and wished you had, then visit the garden centres now and sink pots of flowering bulbs into the ground or tubs and window boxes to give you instant colour” Just beware to harden any plants off first as we are likely to have a bit more snow and ice in the next two weeks.

Thank goodness for evergreen trees and hedges! Have you ever noticed the inner aspects of evergreen plants remain dry, when the snow falls? At least the wild birds have somewhere to shelter.

Now is the time to scarify your lawns, ridding them of moss (add it to your compost bin); to trim the hedges before the birds start nesting, and cut back on dead stems in the borders, careful not stand on emerging spring flowers. It is still very wet underfoot and cold, so spend the time assessing what structurally needs changing in the garden, i.e.; paths; veg plots; raised beds; fruit cages; greenhouses, creating a pond – the ideas are endless.

If you have a sunny windowsill or conservatory, seeds planted in trays can be encouraged to sprout. Use and old egg trays or cartons to chit the potatoes in readiness for warmer weeks ahead.

Related articles:-

Springtime Gardening 

Kitchen Gardening