Winter vegetables can grow all winter, provided the temperatures don’t drop too low. Keep some covering handy, and if temperatures are predicted below 28°F, you should protect them with an overturned box, pot or row cover.
Check out which garden chores we recommend doing this month:
- Order seeds and start planning your spring garden! Take some time this month to reflect on your garden from this past year. What worked well? What didn’t work? You may wish to keep a gardening journal or notebook.
- In your journal, take an inventory of the plants in your landscape. Note their location and past performance.
- Monitor rainfall; water as needed. Pay special attention to plants that have been newly planted and container plants.
- Clean your garden if you have not already done so this season. Cleaning your garden before spring will help minimize insects and disease. Avoid adding diseased plants to the compost.
- Expose over-wintering insects to the cold by tilling garden crops when the soil is on the drier side, and incorporate compost into the soil.
- Fertilize winter annuals monthly on a warm winter day.
- Protect plants when the temperature drops below freezing. Find tips for freezing temps below!
- Cut asparagus back if you have not already done so.
- Remove bagworm bags from trees. Removing them now can cut down the number of bagworms you get in the summer.
- Mulch strawberry beds, and avoid covering the strawberry crowns.
- Give birds plenty of food and water.
Find all the details and get some great advice in the January Garden Guide.
Contact your agent for advice that’s specific to Carroll County, Arkansas.