If your green thumb is getting twitchy inside a pair of mittens, shuck them and grab a pair of gardening gloves instead. There is plenty to do now to get ready for the outdoor gardening season.
While the flurries are flying outside, curl up inside and browse seed catalogues and gardening books.
Anita McDonald, co-owner of Kuhlmann’s Greenhouse, says January is a good time to start thinking about what you want to do come spring. “Decide what you want to plant, order seeds online or stop by a greenhouse and pick up seeds. And get supplies together such as trays, and potting soil, for starting plants indoors.”
Just don’t wait too long to get seeds or you might be disappointed. Jim Hole of Hole’s Greenhouses sees popular seed varieties sold out by the end of February with the rush to get them planted indoors.
Get a head start on gardening by starting plants indoors. Some plants can be started in January, such as geraniums, impatiens and begonias.
But most seeds are planted in February. “The mistake some people make is starting too early,” says McDonald. “February to mid-March is the usual time frame for seeding. The seedlings will be ready for transplanting around the May long weekend.”
A wide selection of annuals can be started indoors in February or March, including the ever-popular petunias and marigolds.
February is a good time to plant spring bulbs like lilies, dahlias, and gladiolas in a pot of soil and set in a sunny window.
By March, you’ll want to seed vegetables and herbs indoors. Oregano, basil and sage can be seeded at the beginning of March, while tomatoes, peppers and eggplant should be planted mid-March.
Grow lights can help kick start your plants. You can set up a grow-op in your basement on a table with grow lights that are kept on 24/7. Hole says kits like the SunBlaster use high-efficiency bulbs that kick out a lot of light energy, but minimal heat. And they’re not just for your seedlings. It can be used for growing microgreens.
“Microgreens are a popular trend,” says Hole. “You can plant beets, spinach, Swiss chard, lettuce, and harvest it when you see the first leaves on the plant. They’re great to use in salads or as a garnish and, with grow lights, you can have a continuous supply throughout the winter.”
The best time to prune is between November and March when trees go dormant. “Prune fruit trees especially – apples, plums,” says McDonald. “Just pick a day that is warmer.”
Admire your garden in summer and winter with a few well-chosen plants. Kevin Napora, landscape designer and master gardener, says evergreens are a good base for your winterscape; you can then build on that base with four-season ornamental grasses and shrubs like ninebark and barberry that have burgundy coloured bark. “Mountain ash has lovely red berries that the birds love,” Napora adds. “Highbush cranberries and rosehips on shrub roses both add pops of colour.”
