January Garden Planning Guide and Rose Planting Instructions

January is a month that is fairly scarce for harvest other than produce grown in extremely temperate climates or using indoor gardening methods. With a good indoor greenhouse and light setup, you can keep fruits and vegetables available during the cold season.

With Greens Abound, Popeye Still Loves January Crops

There will still be some cold hardy broccoli and greens like spinach and kale. Regardless, January is a good month to tap into any frozen veggies you preserved from your fall harvest.

For fans of flowers, January is a friendly time of year to plant roses just about everywhere in the United States but the East Coast. On the East Coast, roses are planted in mid-spring to early summer and again in the fall.

Rose Planting

To plant a rose, dig a hole in the ground that is slightly larger than the roots or pot that you wish to plant. Add rose bone meal fertilizer to the hole and stir organic material like peat moss into the dirt from the hole.

Take care not to dislodge any soil from the roots as you remove the rose from the pot and gently put the rose roots in the hole, ensuring that the soil and root ball sits fully in the hole. Shovel the soil mixture around the root area of the rose plant until the potted soil is covered or the grafted area of the rose plant is about 1 inch above the soil. Pat the soil around the rose with a light touch until it is seated firmly but not tightly in place. Do not press hard or over pack.

Test Your Soil

If the planting area has ever been near a parking area or driveway, it might be a good idea to test the soil for contaminants before planting a lot of roses in one area. You can contact your local university's agricultural department for affordable resources to help you test your soil.

Plan Gardens and Order Seeds

For gardeners itching to jump into the gardening season as early as possible, mid-January is a fine time for garden planning. Test your soil and order your seeds early to make sure you get a good supply of the crops you need for your spring garden. Do not jump the gun on planting or you may lose plants to frost; carefully check your local climate and weather forecasts and consult with other local gardeners to ensure that your outdoor garden is planted at the best possible time.

Resources:

Rose Magazine: Planting Roses