On the winter solstice you should plant your garlic. All those old cloves at the back of your larder, just pop them into the ground about 2" deep. Some of them may already be starting to shoot if you have stored them in the dark. Worry not, they will stop growing once planted out into the cold and begin to develop the bulb. For each clove you plant you should obtain a large bulb in return in six months with no additional work. If you store your garlic in the refridgerator you are probably reading the wrong column.

In January, after you have rid yourself of over-indulengencies of the festive season, it being on the whole a cool month it is best not to spend much time in the garden at all. Much better to sit by the log fire and think of warmer climes. Actually there is one thing you could do in the warm: any seeds you are going to sow later in the year, simply sit down NOW and write out labels for them, and keep them by the seeds. That saves a lot of fussing about when you are actually sowing them.

Other utilitarian tasks this month are to order any seeds you yet want unless you have already done this, to clean out the tool and implement sheds and sharpen and repair any tools that may need it. If you really must spend time outside a little maintenance to pathways, trellises and archways, etc. if you have them might be in order.

If you don't have sufficient mushrooms growing naturally, one thing that should now be done is to start your mushroom culture. The manure pile should be well vented by turning it over two or three times letting the heat escape and layered with leaf litter. Then tread it down well so it is thoroughly compacted. Plant 1-2 inches of spore about 8 inches apart all over the pile. Then cover the pile with earth to help retain heat. You will be surprised how many mushrooms can be produced. After all that effort you’d better retire to the fireside with a strong cup of tea, or a large whisky according to personal taste.