January 2018 garden notes

Celery table decoration (with bought pumpkin), Jan 2018

Roots

The only real vegetable harvest for the month came from 2017's Roots bed:  celery.  Getting a little tired of just celery!  But still a few plants left at the end of the month, probably to finish in February.  A few beets also still in the ground, but not expecting anything from them at this point.

Garlic definitely growing in 2018's Roots bed, and possibly shallots, too (hard to tell, as I planted them right next to each other, and mulched them with leaves and garden debris).

Sowed a tray of onion seed in the kitchen window.

Peas and beans

I counted about 26 broad bean (dwarf variety) sprouted, most between 2-4 inches tall by the end of January.

Brassicas

Winter cabbages slowly growing heads, as are spring cabbages (though most are much smaller).  Broccoli tall and lush, kale shorter but still leafy.  Brussels sprouts still standing but the remaining sprouts are too small.  Young cauliflower plants grown a little.  None of these harvested in January.

Miscellaneous

Leeks still standing;  sowed some new seeds indoors.  Winter salad leaves grown back after chicken damage, so we had a salad or two.  Chard slowly recovering from earlier chicken damage.

Fruit

A bit of damage to the white, red, and black currants and the yellow raspberry from felling our mature sycamore tree.  Red and black should spring back fine, though white and yellow are both newer and still small, so we'll have to see. 

Took about six cuttings from the black currants and lightly pruned the gooseberries.

Moved a couple errant raspberry canes to the main raspberry patch.

Perennials and herbs

Artichokes putting out plenty of new growth from the base, despite repeated frosts and light snow.  A little new growth on the rhubarb (will not harvest this year, in order to let it get bigger).  Moved chive patch into the main herb patch:  starting to sprout up again.