Monty Don shares 'painful' January gardening mistake he learnt 'the hard way'

04 January 2024 , 14:51

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Despite the bad weather, there are lots of gardening jobs that can be done in January (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images)

Avid gardeners will be itching to get outside now the festive period is officially over.

And while this winter has seen excess rain, 94mph gales of wind, and freezing temperatures - January is a great time to get ahead of your gardening duties. British horticulturist and BBC presenter Monty Don says the new year brings with it day-to-day seasonal jobs every gardener can make a start on.

Planting tulips, pruning fruit trees and decorative shrubs, mulching, and garden composting are all jobs that can be done in the miserable weather - even if we prefer to stay wrapped-up warm inside. However, the expert has shared a 'painful' gardening mistake he made one January, and has urged fellow gardeners to avoid falling into the same trap.

Writing on his eponymous blog MontyDon.com, the TV gardener explained how salad crops are commonly sown in the first week of January. "I always use organic seed where possible," he said. "These will include rocket, mizuna, Little Gem and Tom Thumb lettuce and curly endive. This feels like a positive, creative way to start the year."

Don added that with frost outside, it is best to sow the seeds using 'peat-free compost' and let them germinate on a 'heated mat in the greenhouse'. They won't be ready to be planted into soil in a greenhouse until the beginning of February, and should harvest in March-May.

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"If you do not have a greenhouse or tunnel then wait a while before sowing seed," he warned. "I have learnt the painful way that being too soon with seed sowing is usually more likely to lead to problems than being too late."

Monty Don is well known for his BBC show Gardeners' World (BBC Studios)

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Meanwhile, gardeners have been warned roses will be 'significantly' damaged if not cared for properly during the Winter months. If you want those beautiful summer blooms, experts at Hayloft say you need to 'deadhead' roses correctly to help them maintain a bloom for 'as long as possible' in the summer.

To do this, the spent flower stem needs to be cut back down to a leaf with five leaflets, using a pair of secaterus. "This encourages the rose to strengthen the stem and gives more energy to the other flowers," the pros said. Pruning the roses and reducing its height will help the flower when exposed to windy conditions.

Commonly known as 'wind rock' heavy guests, as seen across the nation this week, can loosen the roots in the ground and cause damage. Pruning roses should take place in January and February and will 'stimulate' growth for the warmer months.

Liam Gilliver