PAGEY’S SOW & GROW "PATCH" - January

As I sit in my kitchen hurriedly typing an email to Greg (yes I'm late with my copy of Pagey’s tips AGAIN) on Sunday 21st January, the snow falls heavily outside. What on earth can I encourage others (let alone myself) to do in the garden ! Anyway, the weather won't last forever and it's what we can do / prepare for when things improve.
First things really are planning what we are going to grow this year, and then prepping for that . Secondly, we should clean all our pots and tools - sharpening those that need it and then thirdly tidying the garden and adding compost around fruit trees etc that you have pruned back earlier in the winter.

So what are we / you going to grow this coming year.? Get all your seeds out, bin those that are well passed their recommended sow by date and order replacements. If you haven't already sow your onions, leeks, including shallots (banana ones for me this year ) in a propagater and broad beans in the ground. You can also sow winter lettuce now and even some cucumbers in the warmth (indoors) too. Choose what type of spuds you want and order them if you haven't already and start to chit them once you have collected them in February. I kept seeds from my best tomatoes, peppers, chillies and butternut squashes so I will be sowing them in February in the propagater too. All my greens, cabbages, Brussels sprouts, swedes, broccoli I will sow March time so we will talk about them then..        
                                                         
. .So, we have cleaned and sharpened all our pots and tools, Bought the compost we will need, whether it be seed or potting, and ordered all the seeds we will need for the next couple of months. I guess the only other thing we can do is think where we are going to grow our lovely produce (crop rotation important to keep the bugs and nasties in the soil to a minimum) and what nutrients and fertilisers we will need to work into the soil before we sow.

Just writing has given me the urge to think about what carrots and parsnips I will sow in February…but I’ll save that for next month  !

The snow has stopped and I must send this to Greg....I can hear his fingers drumming his table top with his chin firmly placed in the palm of his other hand. It's a Sunday...he will have a large glass of red in front of him...

​Happy days.