The Dead of Winter

January, 2014

PICKAWAY TO GARDEN

The Dead of Winter

By Paul Hang

I don’t mean by that phrase me, and people like me, who sleep a little later, sit in our chairs a little longer, watch more TV, wear more clothes, move a little slower and begin to show a pallid complexion. I also don’t mean those plants that are dead like annuals or appear dead like most perennials and our deciduous trees.

No the dead of winter usually means a time. A time during winter when it seems the season has deepened as deep as it can. There is no date on the calendar when we reach the dead of winter, although it usually happens in January or February. It is a feeling brought about by how cold it has been, how long it has been since the sun shone and perhaps how much snow we have shoveled. Another strange thing about the dead of winter is that often we are wrong about it. At its best we realize it has already past because we seem to be over it. At its worst we realize that what we thought was the dead of winter wasn’t because it has dragged on and on.

It has only been about two weeks since the beginning of astronomical winter on the winter solstice, December 21st. That’s when we reached the bottom of the sunlight trough. And, unbelievably, according to my thermometer, we reached 66 degrees on my way to bed that night. Since then the amount of daylight has been increasing, but not the temperature, however slowly. The time of sunrise has remained about the same while the time of sunset has been slowly coming later. The days are getting longer. By the end of the month the sun will set a half hour later than a month ago.

Most plants display a physiological process called phototropism which causes them to turn toward the light. We notice this in our houseplants as they grow towards the light coming from our windows.  Also without enough light plants become weak and “leggy.” Although we don’t share the same hormones or processes with plants we share the love of light. Some people suffer from a condition called SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, which causes depression and is directly related to a lack of strong light.

The good news is the dead of winter is when winter is on its last legs, when it is giving its last gasp. The dead of winter begins the death of winter. January and February are surely our longest months psychologically if not numerically. February reminds me of being at the supermarket; the shortest line is always the longest. So whenever you have that feeling of the dead of winter it is a sign that we are coming out of the trough. Look around and see that life goes on, even among the plants. Be of good cheer, we are all in this together.

Things to do in the garden:

The list of things to do in the garden has gotten shorter. Things we can do about gardening can fill your idle hours, if you have any.

Review last year's garden. Draw a map while you can still remember what grew where.

Check your supply of old seeds. Are they expired? Do you want to reorder that variety? Read your new seed catalogs and begin to plan next year's garden. It's not nearly as much work. Order seeds and plants of new varieties now. They usually sell out quickly.

Read a book on gardening. A good reference book is, What’s Wrong With My Plant? (And How Do I Fix It?), by Deardorff and Wadsworth.

Believe it or not, by the end of the month, you can begin to grow members of the Allium family; Onions, Leeks, Garlic and Shallots from seed indoors. You can get ready by getting your seed starting supplies together. Make sure you provide plenty of light.

The days of mild weather (there will be some) of 50 degrees allows biennial weeds to get a head start. These plants can be most easily controlled now but be careful to read the directions on the label. Herbicides containing glyphosate such as Round Up can be used as long as the plants are growing. Better yet dig them up.

Cut back on watering your houseplants and don’t fertilize until March or April when growth begins as the amount of light lengthens. If your poinsettias are looking ragged throw them on the compost heap. In my opinion it is not worth trying to get them to bloom again for the next holidays.