Though some of you beginner gardeners might be confused to hear this, January is actually an excellent time to fertilize your plants. This is so that the plants have sufficient nutrients stored for the wintertime and can have strong growth in the coming growing season.
My mom was the first one to tell me about this “hack”, and before I learned it, I would only fertilize my plants during the growing season and hold off in the winter.
Ever since I started fertilizing them in winter, my plants have grown much more vigorously and developed stronger root systems.
Why Fertilizing In January Matters
Although it isn’t necessary, fertilizing in January can have a positive effect on your plants, especially if they happen to be actively growing during this time.
Wintertime fertilizing matters because, in a way, you’ll be “reenergizing” your plants with essential nutrients before they go on to face lower temperatures and harsher conditions.
Fruit Trees To Fertilize In January
Apple Trees:
Generally, the best time to fertilize apple trees is in spring. But, if you live in a region that experiences rather mild winters, your apple trees would definitely appreciate a few fertilizer feedings in January.
Pear Trees:
Again, the general consensus is that pear trees benefit the most from fertilization during spring. However, in regions with moderate climates, there’s nothing wrong with preparing your pear trees for the harsh upcoming winter with a little fertilizer action in January.
Citrus Trees:
Citrus trees (orange, lemon, or lime) greatly benefit from fertilizing in January as it provides them with essential nutrients during their early spring growth phase. Not only will your citrus trees bloom vibrantly but also produce large fruit yields once the weather begins warming up.
Stone Fruit Trees:
Fertilizing stone fruit stress like peach, plum, and cherry can help strengthen their root system and get them well prepared for winter dormancy. You’ll essentially be providing your stone fruit trees with nutrients that they can store for better spring growth.
Berry Bushes That Benefit From Winter Feeding
Raspberries:
Raspberries benefit the most from fertilizing in spring. Though it isn’t necessarily “wrong” to feed them in the wintertime, there’s still some chance that the berries will get damaged by frost.
Blueberries:
Blueberries can definitely benefit from some fertilizer action in the winter. Just try not to go overboard with the fertilizer and read the manufacturer’s instructions on the package before application.
Blackberries:
Experienced gardeners like to fertilize blackberries after pruning them in winter. A slow-release shrub fertilizer will be the most beneficial here.
Strawberries:
Though strawberries become dormant during wintertime, you can still fertilize them if you believe there’s a deficiency that needs to be addressed.
Early Vegetables To Feed In January
Garlic:
Feeding garlic with fertilizer in January helps ensure the soil has the essential nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy bulbs. Early fertilization also promotes healthy root growth as well as larger garlic bulbs.
Onions:
While onions typically prefer fertilization around the fall time, there’s nothing inherently wrong with fertilizing in January. It can help improve soil structure, strengthen the root system, and help the onion bulbs grow bigger and healthier.
Spinach:
Spinach is known to be a “heavy feeder”. You must fertilize it in January to meet its nutrient requirements before it’s exposed to lower temperatures. Well-fed spinach will produce fresher, more vibrant leaves that also taste a lot better.
Kale:
Kale is a leafy green that absolutely thrives in the cold wintertime. However, it will need consistent fertilization to encourage it to keep producing crisp, healthy leaves even in colder temperatures.
How To Fertilize Properly In January?
Final Words
While not all plants benefit from fertilizing in January, some will thrive more than you’d expect and reward you with exceptionally large yields. Just keep in mind that wintertime fertilization depends on the type of plant and the situation you’re using it in.
The plants that do benefit from fertilizing in January will begin to show positive changes immediately or as soon as spring begins and temperatures start warming up slightly.
