Winter is a cold time of year. But, it is also a time of year when you can start growing several plants and vegetables in the garden.
There are many good reasons to start growing vegetables in your garden.
Growing vegetables in your garden can be rewarding, as you get to create and grow your own food. It also can be cheaper than buying food.
Many people are also in 'lockdown' to, and might be bored and looking for something new to do. So, why not try and grow your own veg? Growing your own vegetables will give you something new to do, and help pass the time.
There are some vegetables that you can plant in January.
Let's look at the vegetables that you can plant in January in the UK!
Chillies
Chillies are great, as they add a tasty flavor to many dishes.
In January, the seeds of chillies can be sown. To grow chillies, plant 2-3 chilli seeds in a small plant pot; plant the seeds at about 0.5cm below the surface.
A greenhouse is a great place to grow chillies, as chillies need a warm environment to grow. However, you can also grow them by putting them on a windowsill in the house, or in a sunny spot in the garden.
Chillies take a long time to grow, so they won't be ready for a while. Chillies are ready to harvest in the late summer and Autumn, between July and October.
Aubergines
Aubergines (or, egg plants), are another type of vegetable you can grow in winter.
Aubergines are bigger than chillies, therefore, you will need more space to grow aubergines if you want to grow them. Aubergines are another tropical vegetable, therefore, they need heat to be able to grow.
To grow aubergines in the UK in the heat, you can use a propagator. Or, you can help the seedlings grow by putting them in a greenhouse, or a windowsill.
Aubergine seeds are planted between January and April, they will then be harvested between July and September.
When planting the seeds, make sure that they are well-spaced from each other; there should be around a 40cm gap between each aubergine seedling.
As we move into February, and as days get longer and brighter in the UK, there will be more options are to what vegetables, fruits and plants you can grow.
There's not much you can plant in January, as the weather is cold and the dark nights are long, however, you can plant aubergines and chillies in January. Starting with one or two of these vegetables can be good practice for sowing and planting other vegetables and fruits. Seeds are relatively cheap, which is one of the reasons you should try growing your own fruits and vegetables.
Another reason to grow your own fruits and vegetables is that it's healthier and more environmentally friendly. It's healthier because you know what is going into the food - you don't need to consume fruits and vegetables which have been sprayed with harmful pesticides, which also helps benefit the environment and wild animals. More land could be given to wildlife, if we grew our own foods in our gardens too.
Growing food in your garden can also be rewarding, help us stay connected to the earth, and gain more appreciation for the seasons.
Late winter is a great time to start growing and preparing what foods - fruits and vegetables - we can grow in our gardens in the coming weeks ahead!
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