🌱 What can you sow in January?
Spring onions & onions (from seed) Start these slow-germinating seeds indoors in seed trays at the end of the month. An early start will ensure strong seedlings that you can plant out in early spring.
Peppers & eggplants These heat-loving plants need a long growing season. Sow them indoors in modules towards the end of January. Keep them warm (20–25°C) and bright, and they'll reward you with strong plants that can be planted out from mid-April.
NB: Everything we sow in January is kept indoors to achieve the right germination temperature. Even onions and spring onions need around 15–25°C to germinate well. We only transplant them into the garden after 6–8 weeks.
🌿 What can you transplant in January?
Do not transplant anything this month The garden is at rest, and so are your beds. Use this quiet time to tend, prepare, and plan for the busier months ahead.
🛠️ Activities for January
Buy your favorite seeds for the coming year → Think back to what you loved growing (and especially what you didn't!). This is the perfect time to plan your garden and get excited about seeds you want to sow again or experiment with. Browse through seed catalogs, dream for a moment, sketch your beds, and enjoy the anticipation.
👉 Later this month, MOES Tuinen will be offering a collection of organic seeds from De Bolster, among others, in the lounge.
Stop watering (if you haven't already) Most beds already have sufficient moisture. Always test the soil with your finger before watering directly. Wet, cold soil can do more harm than good.
Clear the beds and harvest the last crops Remove fallen leaves and spent plants to keep the beds tidy and reduce pests and diseases. Healthy beds now ensure a smooth start to spring.
Weed on mild days A warm, sunny winter day? Winter weeds are easier to remove when the ground is soft. A little effort now will save you a lot of work later.
Check for snails in hidden places Check under planks, around wet spots, and in the corners of the beds. My lettuce and winter salads are also full of small snails that hide perfectly among the leaves. Checking early helps prevent damage in the spring.
Clean and sharpen tools, sticks and supports → Sometimes the hardest job (and I'm guilty of it myself!), but well-maintained tools make gardening so much more enjoyable.
Check and improve supports for taller crops → Ensure that taller crops such as cabbages and overwintering peas are firmly established for healthy growth in spring.
Supplement No Dig beds with compost Do you have empty spots in your garden? Apply a thin layer of 2–3 cm to protect soil life and improve its structure. Our favorite tip? Worm compost from MOES Tuinen and lava meal. Our gardening secret is actually quite simple.😊
