January

(Published in Postimees supplement "Maaelu" January 2015)

Finally it arrived – that wonderful silence and light with a saving blanket of snow.

The vigilance regarding the suitability and cold resistance of new plants, lulled by the recent warm winters, will certainly bring gardeners/gardeners back to earth with their two feet on the ground this winter. The weather that began in December and gradually became colder will test many plant species that have arrived in our gardens as “borderline” plants and have perhaps overwintered quite successfully so far. The situation is made especially dangerous by the fact that the harsh cold plagued the snow-free land for quite a long time. Probably, the excessive love of order, or the embarrassing scraping of fallen tree leaves and dried herb tops from the autumn beds, could also have been omitted this year - in a snow-poor winter, they provide essential protection for the roots. Fortunately, the long-awaited fluffy snow blanket arrived just before the harshest frosts. Whether this will be enough will become clear in the spring. It is worth being patient in the spring at least until Midsummer and holding back the desire to dig up and conduct research in the soil - doing so can damage the growth buds hidden in the soil and still lose the plant. However, you should not be discouraged by failures - you have become richer in experience and, thanks to the created space, you have the opportunity to try something new and exciting. Besides, there is no bad without the good - the number of pests that got out of control due to the lack of proper winters will probably be thinned out again by this time.

In the meantime, it is a good time to review your seed reserves, because you could already start sowing seeds from colder regions that require cold treatment under the snow. You could still wait to sow plants from warmer regions. Seeds offered by large seed companies have already undergone cold treatment if necessary. Since it is also possible to purchase seeds offered by collectors from different parts of the world via the internet, you should research the conditions necessary for germination of each specific species. Research as much as possible about the natural origin and growing conditions of the plant you are interested in in advance. When purchasing new seeds, you should also keep in mind the possibilities and growing conditions of your garden. This way, you can create a garden that is as easy to maintain as possible, hand in hand with nature. Plants that are suitable for the same conditions will also look more natural in planting. However, this is not a strict rule if you like challenges and know how to create a suitable growing environment for the desired plants.

Now is also a good time to bring pots of flower bulbs or rhizomes ready for planting in the fall into the warmth. And although the weather is still too cold to cut fruit trees, you can still bring a few branches indoors to plant in a vase. Blueberry, forsythia and hawthorn branches can also be coaxed into bloom quite quickly.

Despite the pleasant peace and rest that prevails in nature, it is a good time to take a critical look at your houseplants. The worst of the darkness is over for now, and as the days get longer, some houseplants start a new growing season quite early. Make sure that the dust is wiped off the plant leaves, cut off damaged and yellowed leaves - stressed plants are more likely to be attacked by pests. Get the soil and pots ready in time for plants that need to be replanted. In case of problems, it is wise to plant earlier rather than too late.

Keywords for January:

shovel snow around young fruit trees to prevent mouse damage

Carefully shake heavy snow off tree branches to prevent breakage

do winter sowing

check out the houseplants

heat the pots prepared for cooking

Make a plan on paper for the planting work planned for spring in the garden.