Winter Gardening
There are many tasks that you can do during the winter months that will help you to be prepared when winter ends and springtime arrives.
Gardening is a year-round hobby not to just be done when the weather permits you to be outside from Spring through Fall. We will put together a list of projects and tasks that will fill your time during the winter months, making you a better gardener enjoying the cold winter months.
Month by Month Best Winter Gardening Projects
November’s best project list
Now is the time since you have put your garden to bed, to take stock of your tools and winterize them for use in the Spring. For any tools that are broken that cannot be repaired, it is best to throw them away and make a list of tools to repurchase. If they can be repaired add them to your project list.
Clean tools, this is the opportune time to clean your tools for storage during the winter to make sure they are in top condition for use in the Spring.
Sharpen tools, to make your tools work properly they need to be sharpened throughout the year but now is a great time to have them prepared for your future garden tasks.
Garden recap for the previous growing season. Now is the time since it is still fresh in your mind to make note of the successes and not-so-successful plants and production from your garden. By doing this now it will help you when you start to plan out next year’s garden.
December’s best project list
Seed Catalog requests time for the next year’s gardening, most seed companies will make available their seed catalog in December or January.
Take inventory of the seeds remaining in your inventory to know what you need to repurchase. It is also important to date your seeds so that you know how old they are. If you have older seeds that are not propagating very well it is time to dispose of them.
January’s best project list
Now is the time to order your seeds with the popularity of gardening if you wait until spring to order them you might miss out on some of your favorites.
Plan your garden by designing where you will plant in the Spring so that you know how much room you have to plant. Also, it is important to rotate your crops so it is very valuable to document where you planted the previous year.
Take inventory of your indoor seed starting equipment to make sure everything is ready to use, lights, seed domes, trays, and planting pods.
February’s best project list
Purchase seed-starting soil and seed pots so that you can start planting your seeds indoors.
Sharing seeds you have collected from your garden is a great way to meet other gardeners and exchange seeds with your new friends. You can do local searches to find seed-sharing groups or you can reach out to local nurseries to see if they sponsor or have details about local seed-sharing exchanges.
Start planting seeds indoors.
Sow pea seeds directly in the garden as soon as soil can be worked.
Recap for winter projects
To be a successful gardener and be able to enjoy gardening year-round, the use of the wintertime gardening project list will help to fill those cold winter days.
How to winterize and sharpen garden tools
Clean them by using a course metal brush to remove all debris on metal parts, next use a damp rag to wipe off, and if needed use vegetable oil or mineral oil to finalize the cleaning process. for the wood handles use sandpaper to remove any rough spots or splinter and then use linseed oil to protect the handle. Once this is done you should store them in a dry location.
- Course metal brush
- Heavy grit sandpaper
- Fine sandpaper
- mineral oil or vegetable oil
- linseed oil
- Rags
How and what is needed to sharpen garden tools, best to use a file or sharpening stone on the beveled edge of the clippers or shears working in a circular motion. If you are sharpening a hoe or shovel the same process is needed. If you have access to a grinder you can sharpen tools with this equipment.
- sharpening stone
- metal file
- vise
- heavy grit sandpaper
- grinder
- mineral oil
- Easy to use and carry: the pocket knife sharpener works well on restoring and honing all sorts of garden tool, knife, scissors, etc.; Portable folding design fits in the pocket or tool bag, convenient to store and carry around
- Material: the garden tool sharpener is made of titanium plated diamond whetstone for durable use, lightweight ABS handle for comfort; Honeycomb surface can sharpen garden implements faster than conventional stones
- Double-sided diamond design: the diamond sharpening stone features double-sides diamond design, coarse 400 grit for quick edge setting, extra fine 600 grit for honing; No oil is needed, just sharpen dry or with water
- Wide application: pointed tools will make better cuts and require less effort to power through cuts; Due to portable design and lightweight, this camp sharpening stone fits for outdoor activities, camping, garden, kitchen, sports or industries
- Package includes: 1 x black garden knife sharpener and 1 x orange garden knife sharpener, a nice choice of gift for garden lovers, campers, outdoor sports lovers, adventurers, and so on
- Full carbide construction for durable use
- Restore and hone all sorts of knives, garden implements, scissors, tools edge, etc.
- Compact & portable design with pen clip
- Soft grip rubber handle for comfort. Built-in lanyard hole
- 3 YEARS Warranty and Superior After-Sale Service: Sharpal headquarters in CA, US with overseas branches in Germany and Australia, aiming at providing consumers with an easy and cost-effective way to obtain a sharp edge. Manufactured and field-tested to the highest standar
- 400 grit diamond electroplated round side for worn or damaged edges
- 600 Grit Finer side to maintain a polished edge and keep your tools working like new
- Tapered design provides maximum access without removing blades
- Slip resistant TPR comfort grip requires very little pressure (15-20 strokes) to sharpen to
- Easy to use
- Can be used in field
- Can be used in shop
- works with all tupes of blades and axes
- easy to
Best garden planners
To help you organize your garden area for best results it is important to map them out to calculate the space required for each plant and to keep track of future crop rotation.
Garden Planner [Download]
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Easy to Use - just drag on the plants onto the design
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Create Plans, Images and Garden Notes
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Drawing and Design tools - draw out pools, paving, fences and more
- Easy to Use - just drag on the plants onto the design
- Create Plans, Images and Garden Notes
- Drawing and Design tools - draw out pools, paving, fences and more
- Chart Provides Both Indoor and Outdoor Seeding Dates for 22 Commonly Grown Garden Veggies, (Chart Size = 51/8 x 81/2).
- Comes with listing of Local Frost Dates, USA and Canada (Has a Sliding Frost Line)
- Gives Seed Quantity, Seeding Dimensions: Planting Depths, Distance Between Rows & Between Plants, Essential Tool for any Gardener, and for Homesteading!
- Includes a Companion Planting Guide, Sunlight Requirements, Min. Soil Temps, Expected Yield. Over 300,000 Sold! Get One For A Friend! ........Free Shipping as a Letter, Standard US Postal Service, Delivery can take up to 15 days, (First Class Letter, No Postal Tracking Number.) Note:Chart is less useful in southern California, South Florida and South Texas where frost is not a critical gardening facto
- Drafting Kit: Ruler, Pencils, eraser and sharpener and circle template
- Circle template for creating landscape symbols and designs
- Durable 5 Foot measuring tape and liquid filled compass for garden layout
- 40 Sheets premium Garden Design Graph Paper with built-in scale settings
- Detailed full color, 24 page Garden Design and Style Gu
- Add custom text here
- Add custom text here
- Add custom text here
- Add custom text here
- Add custom text here
Best seed companies
See my article on the best seed companies to help you grow the best and most productive garden. I have put together an extensive list of seed companies to supply all parts of the U.S. Canada and throughout the world.
How to start seeds indoors
Seed starting should be about 6-8 weeks prior to your last frost date, it is a good idea to find the best time to plant your garden by knowing your expected last frost date (This can vary so don’t take the date as the exact day but check the 7-10 day outlook for your local area). Follow seed packets for depth to plant seeds. Be sure to keep them watered!
When starting seeds indoors be sure your light is on for at least 12-16 hours for best results.
Essential items for starting seeds indoors.
- Organic high-quality seed starting mix (See my recommendations)
- Grow light with a timer
- pods for seeds
- Tray with Dome
- Heat Mat
I hope that this list of winter projects will entice you to take on some of them and if you have others please share with me.