January in the Gardens
By the Gardening Team
It can be hard to muster the energy to do anything in the first weeks after Christmas - especially in the garden when the daylight hours are short and the cold bites but there are some essential jobs that can’t wait until spring.
Divide rhubarb before new shoots appear
Here at Thyme we have several large plants that keep the Ox Barn kitchen stocked. Split the plant by digging around the root and lift the whole plant from the ground. Next, cut the crown into sections making sure there are one-to-three buds. Replant the freshly-cut sections in a sunny patch immediately - before they dry out. Older plants have tougher roots and an axe may be required.
Sow sweet peas under cover, between October and April
If you didn’t get around to it before Christmas, there’s still time. Sweet pea roots need room and generally plastic root trainers are recommended. However, a sustainable alternative to this is loo rolls. At this time of year, sweet peas will need to be placed on a windowsill to germinate.
Prune currants, gooseberries and raspberries
Pruning techniques differ from plant to plant, and currant to currant. We have approximately 60 blackcurrant bushes here at Thyme, and there are a lot of blackcurrants on the pudding menu come August. To prune blackcurrants, remove about a third of the old wood at the base and take away any damaged, diseased or crossing branches. With a currant bush, you are looking for an open structure so that the sun can get to the berries to ripen them.
Mulch fruit trees, bushes and cane
This year we are using a rich mushroom compost. Well-rotted compost or manure are also good options.
Harvest roots like parsnips, beetroot and Jerusalem artichokes, and thee last of the brassicas: kale, brussels sprouts and swedes
The Ox Barn is currently serving our crop deep-fried with truffle mayonnaise! And Burns Night is coming up to enjoy some swede recipes! Due to a relatively mild winter so far, Florence fennel, Swiss chard and chicory leaves may still be of use.
Avoid working outside when it’s wet!
Walking on the ground will compact the earth. A rainy day is the perfect time to clean and oil gardening tools or tidy the garden shed.
Sort and order seeds
There is nothing more lovely than sorting seeds for the year ahead. Each packet holds the promise of fresh green vegetables or summer blooms. We have ordered new varieties of peas, beans, tomatoes and beetroot. On the flower front, for the cutting garden, we have ordered mainly annuals: cosmos, zinnias and Californian poppies.
What will you be planting this year?
