Get Growing Subscription – January

HELLO KEEN GROWER

Welcome to your guide for your January ‘get growing’ seed subscription!

Here’s what’s inside your box this month:

• Chilli Biquinho Red
• Dwarf Pea Tom Thumb
• Celery Utah

Chilli Biquinho Red

Sowing info

An early start can help increase your harvest as pepper plants can be slow to mature. Start under grow lights in January or end of January without lights. Requires warmth to germinate and grow on (an unheated greenhouse will not be warm enough). When pepper plants reach about 20cm in height, pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushy growth. From pinching out time, feed weekly with a quarter strength organic feed.

Growing info

Continue to pot on each time roots appear out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot until planting out after last frost. Peppers love heat, so will always perform best in the greenhouse or polytunnel.

→  Blog – How to Sow and Grow Chillis

Dwarf Pea Tom Thumb

Sowing info

Sow seeds in module trays or lengths of drainpipe filled with peat free compost. Once plants are around 20cm tall, they can be planted out or slid down the drainpipe into their final position with minimal disturbance. Due to their ability to withstand cold temperatures, peas can be overwintered in the drainpipe in the greenhouse before planting out in early spring.

Growing info

No support required here. May require netting if pigeons are a problem for you. Regular harvesting will encourage the plant to continue producing loads of peas, ready to harvest in 7 to 8 weeks.

→ Blog – How to Sow and Grow Peas

Celery Utah

Sowing info

Celery is a slow grower so an early start is advisable. Sow from January to March on the surface of moist peat free compost and cover. Keep at a constant temperature of 21-25C until after germination, which takes up to 15 days. Transplant when large enough to handle into trays or individual modules. Grow on steadily in cooler conditions before planting out after all risk of frost has passed, allowing 30cm between plants each way and making sure that the crown of the plant sits at ground level.

Growing info

Celery requires a moist soil at all times to avoid the stems becoming tough. Water celery plants frequently, particularly during hot dry periods. If grown in a block, plants are naturally self blanching.

→ Blog – How to Sow and Grow Celery

Garden Jobs for this January

• Plan and Prepare for Spring Planting: January is a great time to research and plan your garden for the upcoming season. Order seeds, decide on plant varieties, and prepare your garden layout. You can also start organizing your tools and ensuring they’re ready for use when the weather improves.
• Prune Dormant Plants and Trees: If the weather is mild, prune any deciduous trees and shrubs while they are still dormant. This helps encourage healthy growth in the spring. Be sure to remove any dead or damaged branches.
• Protect Plants from Frost: If you live in a cold climate, continue to protect vulnerable plants from frost. This can include covering them with fleece, using mulch to insulate the roots, or moving potted plants to a sheltered area.