January sits in the middle of the Coachella Valley’s three-month cold season. Temperature highs linger in the low 70s with lows in the mid-40s. While it is unusual, you might see frost, particularly in the Eastern Valley.
It is an ideal month to make additions or changes in the garden.
What to plant in January
Trees, shrubs, perennials: Bare-root deciduous shrubs and trees. Plant your living Christmas tree.
Flowers: It is the last opportunity to plant bare-root roses, grapes, and deciduous fruit trees. They need to establish roots before temperatures rise. Continue to plant tulips, narcissus, daffodils, and hyacinths.
Vegetables: Beans, beets, carrots, chard, garlic, kale, lettuce, onions, peas, parsnips, potatoes, radishes, shallots and spinach
Chores:
- Prepare garden soil for spring planting by mixing in 2 inches of organic material (compost, manure).
- Hand weed before weedy species go to seed.
- Prune established deciduous fruit trees before they leaf out.
- Prune roses.
Does desert gardening still puzzle you?
Getting plants to grow in the desert can be tough. Desert Area Master Gardeners have experimented with plants and growing systems. They offer a four-session class that introduces desert gardening, including how to grow landscape plants that offer shade but don’t require drought-aggravating amounts of water.
Topics will cover design and layout, irrigation, soil, compost, tools, flowers/shrubs, vegetables, pollinators, native plants, citrus, and palms.
Details:
What: Spring 2023 Desert Home Gardening Class
When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 4, 18, 25, March 4
Where: UC Riverside Palm Desert, 75-080 Frank Sinatra Drive
Host: Desert Area Master Gardeners of Riverside County
Register: RSVP by Jan. 15 to smokyzeldel@gmail.com
Resource:
“Lush and Efficient: Desert-Friendly Landscaping in the Coachella Valley” lists more than 300 plants with over 800 photos. You can pick up a free copy of the 160-page book at CVWD’s Coachella office at 50-501 Tyler St., or CVWD’s Palm Desert office at 75-525 Hovley Lane East (same building where you pay your bill). You can also find the book at CVWD.org/conservation for PDF download.