January is a good month to do a final inventory of your seeds for the season and purchase any missing seeds. Today I purchased:
- Blot Pepper
- Ajvarski pepper
- Manganji pepper
- Tobago Seasoning Pepper
- Chinese Red Noodle Bean
- Nkruma Tenten Okra
- Violaceo di Verona Cabbage
- Giant Noble Spinach
The biggest January task for me is re-reading those seed packets and taking notes of any special considerations. Why do this in January? Cold Stratification. Cold stratification -exposing seeds to cold temperatures, generally 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Purpose is to provide the seeds the dormancy conditions needed which will allow the seed to germinate after the dormancy period ends. Seeds which need cold stratification will have that requirement noted on the seed packet. There is both moist and dry cold stratification, as well the timeframe can be several weeks or a few months depending on the seed type. To ensure I have enough time to get seedlings going and to cold stratify, this is one of the first garden tasks of the season. Additionally, the seeds often require a soil medium to bed with during the chill period.
In my case, I need to cold stratify the following: - Blueberry Seeds. Cold stratify for 3 months with some moist peat. Peat has a slightly lower pH suitable for blueberries.
- Blue Gentian. These flower seeds need 2 months of cold stratification in a moist peat/sand mix.
It can be stressful wondering if the seeds should go in the fridge or the freezer for cold stratification. The goal of the home gardener’s cold stratification process is to mimic the winter conditions the seed in the wild would experience in the habitat that plant is best suited for. In my own example, Gentian is a mountain flower. The seed, in the wild, would cold stratify under snowpack (moist) in a cold environment with freezing temperatures.
Let the instruction on the seed packet be the primary guide. If that information is lacking, do a bit of research to consider the needs of the seed in the wild. Equipment to cold stratify will be a fridge/freezer, plastic baggies, paper towels or some sand and peat moss. For most seeds, it will be recommended to freeze the seeds in a strong/doubled plastic bag with either a moist paper towel or a moist peat or peat/sand mix. Make sure to label the baggies and set a reminder when to remove from cold storage. The timeframe to cold stratify the seeds is generally a month or few.
Another January task is inventory of equipment. The seed starting medium you use, lights, heating pads. Squash vine borer traps, Surround kaolin clay, pots and plant ties. Anything that may be hard to find at a good price once the season kicks into gear, buy now. I do take advantage of season end sales. Yet my wants are bigger than my wallet, so I set things back down in the store when the cart gets a bit too full and put off til spring.
I have already purchased a new mini greenhouse for inside the house (northern gardeners understand ~ha), Surround clay for my fruit trees (LORD that is spendy), seed starting medium and peat pellets.
Tip: Surround branded kaolin clay is expensive and usually only sold in amounts far greater than what a small backyard garden like mine needs. The plum curculio pest got to at least 75% of my apple crop last season. Hence Surround is a must have. Check Etsy. I was able to purchase a small 5lb bag for a reasonable price. Of course, buyer beware, research all Etsy vendors.
I also just purchased more grow lights and another heating pad. Both 2020 and 2021 were unique years regarding garden supplies in particular. I believe 2022 will be the same, anticipating shipping delays and supply hiccups.
If you can afford to, beat the rush and buy what you can now. Please buy local and small biz where you can, and online when you can’t. We are all doing our best.
Tip: Always have some peat, sand and soil mix available year round. For transferring plants between pots or garden plots, for seed starting year round and to have a medium suited for cold stratification of seeds. When you do your soil run, grab an extra bag for later season garden tasks so you are ready when those unexpected soil needs pop up.
This January post kicks off a full harvest bucket of garden content. Thanks for checking in and please check back for much much more.
The End