Winter Gardening: Now's the Time to Get a Jump on Spring Planting

Whether or not your neighborhood is under a blanket of snow, your garden may seem pretty dormant this time of year. But make no mistake: your perennials are preparing themselves to spring forth as soon as the weather warms up. Melissa, a member of our team, was just telling us about the lovely garlic shoots she saw peaking out of the ground after a brief snow melt. The "dead" of winter is actually the perfect time to prepare for this year's vegetable and flower gardens and get a head start on spring. Even winter gardens have a job to do! Read on to learn what you can be doing to help your garden get a jump start this year.

The US has a wide range of climates, and your January gardening tasks depend on the climate in your neck of the woods. The USDA has mapped out "hardiness zones" as a guide for which plants can grow in each area, and these zones also work well as guides for garden scheduling. Check out the USDA's website if you're not sure which zone you live in, and use these tips from Organic Gardening Magazine to make January a productive month for your garden.

This zone includes parts of Northern Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana. For zone 3, January is a good time to organize your seeds, order seeds, and take cuttings from your fruit trees to store in the freezer for April grafting.

If you live in zone 4, which includes parts of the upper Midwest, some of upstate New York and parts of New England, now is a good time to order the seeds for any slow-growing plants such as geraniums or onions, in time to start them indoors next month. It’s also a good time to draw out your garden plan. Many gardeners skip this step, but a well-arranged garden plan can make all the difference between an OK garden and an awesome one.

Zone 5 includes much of the Midwest, such as northern Illinois and Indiana, Iowa and the lower half of Wisconsin. If you live in zone 5, take advantage of this time by starting from seed hearty perennials such as snapdragons and pansies. This is also a good time to check for plants that have “heaved” out of the ground because of the freeze-thaw cycle–Melissa took advantage of a snow melt to check her garlic, which is a frequent victim of “heaving” due to its relatively shallow planting depth. This is also a good time to stock up on any potting mix and other supplies you may need.

Zone 6 covers most of Ohio, as well as parts of Kansas, Missouri, Oregon, Washington State and Nevada. January in zone 6 is a good time to order new seeds and discard those that are too old. Under lights indoors, start seeds for snapdragons, pansies, delphiniums and begonias. At the end of the month, start seeds for leeks, broccoli, cauliflower, onions and cabbage. Rake heavy snow off of your shrubs, and start mapping your spring garden.

Zone 7 includes parts of Oklahoma, Kentucky and Tennessee. January is a good time in zone 7 to start pulling up winter weeds such as wild onion, which can sap nutrients from your garden's soil. If you're starting seeds indoors, now is a good time to start seeds for perennials or slow-growing annuals, such as geraniums or coleus. Outdoors, you can start sowing larkspur or Shirley poppies.

Zone 8 includes most of California, Texas, the Southeast, and the Pacific Northwest. For zone 8, January is a good time to sow seeds for annual flowers and herbs. You can also sow radishes, carrots, beets, garden peas and bok choy into the garden, and cover them with a protective layer of dark compost. If you have any root crops still in the ground, protect them with a layer of mulch. This is also a good time to purchase strawberry plants, fruit trees and asparagus roots.

Zone 9 includes parts of southern Georgia, East Texas and North Florida. January in zone 9 is ideal for sowing seeds indoors for peppers, tomatoes, geraniums and eggplant, and for harvesting radishes, Brussels sprouts and carrots. It's also a good time to prune vines, bushes and fruit trees.

Zone 10 covers the southern portions of Florida, Louisiana and Texas. If you live in zone 10, January is the right time to spray bromeliads and roses with compost tea and mulch your peas. Sow winter squash and pumpkins into the garden, and cucumbers and watermelons in pots. Snipping flowers off of young citrus and tropical fruit trees will help them grow, and leave you with lovely, fragrant flowers for your home. Because January is dry in zone 10, be sure to keep your garden well watered.

While you're outside, spray Wet & Forget Outdoor on outdoor surfaces to get a head start on tackling moss, mold and mildew, algae and lichen. When the temperature is above freezing and the affected surface is dry and free of snow, apply Wet & Forget Outdoor to your deck, patio, driveway, or other outdoor surface, and let Wet & Forget do the work to start preparing your outdoor areas for summer and fall fun.