N&C Midwest January 2014

Well, it's 2014!!!  N&C Midwest is a large region, so we have a bit of variety in our growing zones and season lengths.  Some of you may be able to see some bare ground    and others may be buried under a few feet of the white stuff   .  If your garden is like mine, the only things growing right now are the icicles!  Having moved from a warmer (and looooooonger) growing season area, timing my seed starts    has been one of the hardest things for me.  Now I cheat!  I bought a book   , Gardening in the Dakotas (can't remember the author, will post when I FIND my book) which details what to do each month of the year, for veggies, trees, perennials, etc. It is part of a series available for virtually every state in the US.  As soon as I find mine   , I will give a little more detail as to what I will be doing in January (besides dreaming GREEN).  Chime in and let us all know what YOU will be doing in January in your corner of our big region!

GG Dreamin' Green!   

I'm going to guess here in southern WI things aren't that different than what you have--start seeds a week or two sooner here maybe. I got a grow light I'll be using this year in addition to my cold frame that goes out on the deck in March. I'm starting onions from seed for the first time this year--which will be at the very end of this month. I started some leeks last year and that went well, so I think starting onions will be much the same.

Just for fun I threw a pepper seed from a small red pepper I was eating into a flower growing on our kitchen table. A week or two later I saw a seedling popping up. So I plucked it out and have it growing in a plastic cup on the window sill, if I look very closely I can see the first true leaves starting to develop. Not sure I'll do anything with it, but the things we do in this part of the world where the temp hasn't hit 10F in many days.

Now that the holidays are over and I finally get some me time, Im planning my 2014 garden. These next couple of months I plan to:
-Draw out my SFG boxes and make plans on what to plant where
-Write in seed starting & planting dates in my planner
-Set up my seed starting area, maybe add a couple more lights
-Set up a seed saving area with these little hardware bins we have
-Read up on seed saving, treating pests, preserving, etc.
-Make plans to set up rain barrels
-Order more seeds!
-Look into turning our basement into a root cellar?

Goosegirl wrote:... timing my seed starts    has been one of the hardest things for me.  Now I cheat!  I bought a book   , Gardening in the Dakotas (can't remember the author, will post when I FIND my book) which details what to do each month of the year, for veggies, trees, perennials, etc. It is part of a series available for virtually every state in the US.  As soon as I find mine   , I will give a little more detail as to what I will be doing in January (besides dreaming GREEN)...

I found it!  Month-By-Month Gardening in the Dakotas by Melinda Myers, Cool Springs Press.  The info for timing is based on the average last frost dates of May (first half or second half), add a few extra weeks for the uppermost areas of North Dakota or if your garden is in a frost pocket.  For those of you in the southern part of the region, figure your frost date and adjust your indoor seed starting schedule accordingly - those of us in the north envy your extra month or so of gardening season!

January - Planning

February - Onions if starting from seed

March - Parsley (beginning)
          Cole crops  and eggplant since it takes sooooooo loooooong(mid)

April - Peppers (beginning)
        Tomatoes (mid)
        Onion sets, potatoes, and cool crop seeds - beets, carrots, peas, lettuce,    
        radishes, spinach, turnips, parsnips, chard, kohlrabi, etc (as soon as you
        can work the ground)  This is also the time to put asparagus crowns in the
        ground

May - Put your onion and cole crop seedlings out in the garden (beginning)
        Plant late cabbages, snap beans, and sweet corn seeds in the ground (beginning)
        Start cantaloupe, pumpkins, and winter squash indoors (beginning)
        Plant cantaloupe, pumpkins, and winter squash starts outdoors (end of May, early June)
        Direct seed cucumbers, melons, and summer squash outdoors (end of May)

June - Set out tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and any melons and squash you may have held back because of the weather.
Start sowing any fall harvest crops (end of June)

July & August - Still time to put in some fall harvest crops, but they need to be SHORT season, and count back from your average first frost date to see how late you can squeak in the last few seeds  

Here's wishing all of you a green and productive 2014 Gardening Season!!!

GG   

First, I hope all the seeds that were protected and stored in the fridge from last year are vigorous and viable.  I shouldn't have to buy seeds at all this year. Should be testing them right now I suppose.  Then I'm scaling back efforts with new varieties and grow more of the things that have consistently done well.  The first couple of years was pretty much all an experiment so now it's time to settle down and plan out all the boxes with my favorites. I'm old school and do it on paper with pencils.  Also continue learning more companion planting and put more flowers/herbs inside and outside of the boxes. Finally, learn more about organic pest control measures.  
Goosegirl--You asked us what we'll be doing in January.  It's going to be rather busy with all of these fun things.   
And remembered one more, do I have enough seed starter medium??  

Goosegirl wrote:(snip)

If your garden is like mine, the only things growing right now are the icicles!

(/snip)

LOL!  Can I come visit & play in your snow-box for a while?   That sounds just like my garden!  

And I like that book you posted.  I'm so far North (& up in elevation) that all the "Gardening in New England" type books I've come across are way off for my actual growing season.  The dates you posted for the Dakotas are much more in line with what I have to contend with up my way.   



Glad I could help, fellow snowhead!   

GG

I finally did my tally of yield for my garden; plan to organize that a little better this year as well as create blank sheets of my boxes to fill in as I succession plant.  I have the OH version of your book; should check that out!  I have used it in regards to trees and shrubs but not really for veggies.

Herblover, Don't leave us hanging. What was your tally?

herblover wrote:.... I have the OH version of your book; should check that out!  I have used it in regards to trees and shrubs but not really for veggies.

Check it out - the Dakotas version has done wonders for my planning and planting ability!

GG

I will post the details when I am at home!