January in the Houston Kitchen Garden
You Can Plant a Lot in Houston in January
Happy New Year!
And it is literally happy in Houston. While much of the country can only look at seed catalogs in January, we can keep planting all month long.
January’s focus is primarily on tending what was planted back in November and December. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of things you can plant this month. Many Cool Season plants are best planted in succession every two weeks in order to have continual harvests into the beginning of our first Warm Season in March.
January is the month we’re all thinking about our health and the kitchen garden can be the source of your new healthy habits. The fresh vegetables that you can harvest and the sense of wellbeing that you gain from gardening can set you up for a great year. So let the garden be the kickstart you need for a fantastic new year and make this one the happiest yet.
Plant Delicious Greens in Houston in January
You can grow loads of greens this month in Houston, and we mean LOADS!
Arugula, romaine, buttercrunch, spring mix, kale, swiss chard, mustards…should we keep going?
These greens hold up under cooler temps and actually thrive in Houston’s winter. In fact, most of us in Houston grow greens from October all the way until early April
Most of these greens do best when started from seed planted directly in the garden but you can plant small plants as well.
Whatever you do, don’t miss this opportunity to grow your own greens. Once you taste just harvested garden salad, you won’t be able to go back to the grocery store stuff.
You Can Plant Root Crops in Houston in January
Root crops like radishes, carrots and beets all grow well in January as well. These plants do best when planted by seed directly in the garden.
Spacing out your seeds is a critical first step to be sure your root crops have plenty of space to spread out and grow to their fullest potential underground.
Once planted, be sure to give your root crops consistent water in a space that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
You can check to see if your root crops are ready to harvest by checking around the top of the plant to see if you can feel the ‘shoulders’ of the root plant starting to emerge. As soon as you’re happy with the size of the root, you can harvest!
Be sure to enjoy these harvests before April as many of these root crops will become bitter and tough when the weather warms.
Plant Peas and Fava Beans in Houston in January
Finally, you can also grow loads of peas and fava beans this season in Houston. We love growing peas and beans along our trellises during the cooler months of the year.
Plant these plants asap to enjoy a harvest before the warmer spring weather arrives. These plants can be planted about 4” apart from one another when you have strong trellises that can support their vining nature.
Harvest peas and fava beans as soon as you see the first pods appear to ensure continuous growth and lots of productivity.
Tending the Houston Kitchen Garden in January
The focus in the garden this month is tending all the plants we planted in November and December.
Make a habit to get out in the garden at least once a week to prune your herbs and greens.
Trellis your peas and beans to help them grow and increase your horizontal growing space.
Fertilize monthly! The best way to fertilize is by adding fresh compost. You can also use other fertilizers; make sure to use one with high nitrogen for your leafy greens, and one with high potassium for your root crops!
Frost Tips
Water your garden the morning before it freeze, then turn off your sprinkler system to your garden - you don’t want it watering while it’s freezing.
Cover your beds with frost cloths in the late afternoon or early evening before it’s expected to freeze to trap in the warm-ish air.
Most important: really secure the frost cloth at the soil level with garden stakes or clips. Use way more than you think you need! The goal is to have the garden tucked in so cold air does not have access to your garden.
Uncover your plants as soon as the sun is up and it is not freezing.
You Can Garden Year Round in Houston
Houston is such a great place to garden because the gardening never stops. Helping you set up, plant and grow your own garden is our passion. And we’d love to start growing with you this season.
Click below to schedule a consult so you’re ready to grow in the coming season too.
Here’s to making the most of every month in the Houston garden!