Baby it’s cold outside! Maybe that chill retains your ideas far from the garden, but winter is really a perfect time to fix your mind on the outside. There are tasks to be finished, dreams to be outlined along with housekeeping chores you are going to want to get done this month. Join me as I walk you through an easy record of gardening tasks.
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1. Grow an orchid. Orchids are the ideal plant to purify the winter blues. They bloom mid-winter and are very happy in a sunny window. They generally grow under the upper canopy of jungle trees, so a little bit of colour is just perfect for them. The blossoms last weeks and weeks, and upkeep merely takes several ice cubes per week plus a repotting every few years.
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You can even try growing an edible orchid. Did you know that you can grow your own vanilla plant? That’s right — it’s a kind of orchid. When this puppy grows large enough it’ll grow vanilla beans. Yum.
Amy Renea
2. Grow sprouts. Just because you can’t grow plants out doesn’t mean there is a moratorium on growing them inside. What is good this time of year? Sprouts! Sprouts benefit most of their energy from the seed itself, so that they do not need as much lighting as full grown plants. Boost your lentil, radish or wheatgrass sprouts for healthy additions to your diet this winter.
That little dab of green is also a welcome respite from the arid brown fields of grass and leafless trees.
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3. Plant your pantry. Sprouts aren’t your only option. Try planting potatoes that have sprouted in your pantry. If the potato is sprouting, it will grow!
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This is just another pantry planting success story: Simply cut the top of your pineapple leaving two inches or so of flesh. Plant it with all the leaves right at the level of the ground, and in a few months your pineapple will probably be growing a completely new plant.
Should you look closely at this photo, you can observe the old foliage expansion turning brown towards the base of the pot. The new expansion is that the lush green leaves you see in the foreground.
Amy Renea
4. Plant your scraps. Have you been eating lots of root vegetables this winter? Cut a generous part of the tops and replant them inside. You will surely get tender beet greens to eat and you might have the ability to grow full-fledged beets if your bud is in a glowing, south-facing window.
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5. Plant and bulbs. The window of opportunity has passed for planting spring-blooming bulbs outside, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up bulb planting altogether. It’s possible to locate clearance amaryllis (pictured) and paperwhite bulbs at this time at your local nursery or home improvement store. Snap them up and plant them quick! If they are not soft and rotting, they will grow!
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In a few months, you will have beautiful blooms gracing your windowsills.
Here’s the Way to grow bulbs indoors
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6. Assess on summer bulbs. In case you’ve cannas, glads and other summer bulbs drying in your cellar, now’s the time to give them a quick check. Make sure none of those bulbs or tubers are rotting or covered in mold. If they are, throw them out immediately before they infect the others in your heap.
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7. Make plant markers. Whether you’re planting seeds, houseplants or pantry plantings, be sure you mark the pots! Otherwise you will absolutely forget which marijuana holds what. Take just a little time to make your plant markers stylish. You will be living with them in your home for at least a few months, so select markers or make your own that match with the style of your decoration. This is how I make my mark.
Amy Renea
8. Sow winter seeds. You might have decided against growing sprouts inside, however you will want to have a jump on the growing season by winter sowing your favourite annuals. Whether you stored seed from last autumn’s harvest, or bought them, now’s the time to break out the strands and seed trays and plant.
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Unlike rationale, planting seeds in the snow is natural. Many seeds need the thawing and freezing of winter to crack through their outer shells, leaving them ripe for spouting in the spring.
To learn more about winter sowing, you may go to wintersown.org.
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9. Prune your summer flowering plants. Pruning is an essential chore this time of year for your summer-blooming shrubs and trees. Pests and disease are held at bay by the chilly, and you can see the full construction of this leafless plant, which can help you make precise cuts. Cut out branches that are crossing, broken branches, dead wood and limbs that obstruct a view.
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The most important thing to remember while pruning is to leave your spring-blooming trees and shrubs alone. They should be pruned after they bloom in late spring. Do not prune star magnolias (pictured), redbuds or dogwoods, or you will be cutting the gorgeous blooms.
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10. Winter compost. It is a little bit harder to compost in the winter as a trek into the compost pile is a lot more unpleasant than it’s in the summertime. Instead, collect your scraps, place them in the base of an outside pot and cover with soil. When the pot is full, add to the main compost pile. Note: This is just a way for winter, when cold temperatures help keep critters off.
What are your chores to complete this winter in your garden? Are you really making big design plans for the spring? Share your ideas, plans and photos below!
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