I know what you’re thinking: “Christy, it’s January. Have you seen those single-digit temperatures? I can’t start my garden yet.”

You’re right. This isn’t the time to dig your fingers into the earth. That’s not even an option for many of us. No, it’s not time to plant the garden, but it’s the perfect time to start planning your garden.

We’re exploring a lot of garden planning topics in the January issue of Food Gardening Magazine. Planning tools and apps (including good ‘ole pen and paper!), soil testing, and how to plan a garden based on what you enjoy, are some of what we’ve been thinking about here.

Plus, we’ll head into the kitchen to enjoy some favorite recipes. And we’ll look ahead to which tomato plants we might want to grow, as well as hot peppers! It will be time to start those seeds before you know it!

So go ahead and explore the January edition of Food Gardening Magazine! Here is a sampling of what’s ahead.

Food Gardening with Amanda articles—Food Gardening Network’s Senior Editor and Producer Amanda MacArthur is one fabulous food gardener! She takes gardening seriously, makes it fun, and delivers some great content—including companion videos to show you, not just tell you, exactly what to do. Check out these helpful articles from Amanda this month:

• How to Plant a Food Garden According to Your Palate: If you’re not growing the types of veggies you like to eat, what’s the point? Your compost and your neighbors can only take so much zucchini!
• Garden Planning Tools and Apps: Make garden planning easier than ever with one of these tools or apps! From simple layouts to detailed maps, these tools can help you create the garden you dream of.
• How to Propogate Rosemary and Other Herbs Indoors: Learn how to propagate rosemary in water or soil, and how to use adjusted techniques for other herbs. Hint: It’s easy and fun.
• 3 Easy Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes: These homemade salad dressing recipes for Honey Lemon & Feta, Roasted Red Pepper and Shallot, and Green Goddess Dressing can be made in no time at all, and make any salad taste better!
• A Salad Garden That’s a Little “Extra”: This article comes from our sister publication, GreenPrints Magazine. In this story, writer Barbara Vosburgh reminisces about a lovely spring day when she introduced her preschool daughter to gardening. The results were … mixed!
• “Heirloom” Garden Planning Tools: From Pen and Paper to Companion Planting: Sure, apps and gardening tech are helpful. But anyone can use these five timeless gardening tools—no downloads or forgotten passwords required.

And this issue of Food Gardening Magazine includes details on three featured foods this month—concurrently with publishing this issue of our magazine, we’re also publishing and updating three gardening guides on hot peppers, tomatoes, and oregano. As a premium member of Food Gardening Network, you get full access to the magazine and these gardening guides:

Hot Peppers: Hot peppers have a long growing season, but if you like some spice in your life and kitchen, it’s worth the wait. Peppers will grow in containers or in the ground, so even if you are a balcony gardener, you can grow peppers if you want! To learn more, check out the Hot Peppers Gardening Guide.

Tomatoes: The tomato is the queen of the garden. Of all the fruits, herbs, and vegetables you can grow, the tomato is by far the most popular. Of course, one taste of a homegrown tomato and it’s clear why. Discover more about the many varieties of tomatoes and how to grow them in The Everything Tomato Guide!

Oregano: I’m not sure there’s a savory dish out there that doesn’t benefit from some oregano. You already know it has a starring role in pizza and pasta sauces, but it’s equally delightful on a grilled cheese sandwich, in a pot of beans, or in a tomato soup. Oh! It’s also incredibly beneficial in the garden. Learn how to grow your own oregano in our Oregano Gardening Guide!

In this edition of Food Gardening Magazine, you’ll find Gardening Guide Close-Ups that focus on hot peppers, tomatoes, and oregano to help get you started with these three foods and our gardening guides. These articles give you valuable tips and advice about these three foods, and you’ll have instant access to the premium gardening guides themselves, too. Be first to read these Gardening Guide Close-Ups and get a head start on how to grow and use these foods:

• What to Do with Hot Peppers After a Big Harvest: A garden full of ripe peppers is a beautiful thing. Peppers are vibrant red and yellow gems in a sea of green. But how many hot peppers can you eat in one sitting? If you have a big harvest, here are 10 ways to make the most of those peppers.
• The 10 Sweetest Tomatoes to Plant: Just about any tomato is delicious. However, some are more acidic or savory than others. Some tomatoes are known for tartness, while others have a distinct smokiness. There’s a tomato for everyone! If you prefer your tomatoes on the sweet side, though, these 10 are for you.
• Oregano: How to Unlock its Unique Flavor: I love oregano on my pizza as much as anyone. I also had a LOT of oregano this year. If your garden is similarly producing pounds and pounds of oregano, try some of these ideas.

And then there are the recipes you’ll find in these gardening guides! Here are some of my favorites that are tasty, unique, and easy to make:

• Chile Rellenos Stuffed with Chicken: You don’t have to wait for a meal at your favorite restaurant to enjoy one of your favorite appetizers! Personally, I like these with some Pepper Jack cheese, but they’re good with Monterey Jack or Queso Blanco.
• Balsamic Bruschetta: I don’t think bruschetta gets the recognition it deserves. It’s simple and tasty, and if you want something for a party that everyone will enjoy, this is a go-to!

We’re also happy to announce there’s a new tab on our site for Gardening Kits! This is where Gold Members will find:

• Printable Garden Planning Calendar Kits
• Printable Garden Planning Kits
• Printable Recipe Card Kits

Check them out now, and download your favorites!

I hope you enjoy the January 2024 issue of Food Gardening Magazine as much as we’ve enjoyed making it. We’re so happy to have you here! Now let’s start planning that garden!

Happy harvesting—and happy eating!

Christy Page
Editor & Publisher

P.S. Please enjoy this issue of Food Gardening Magazine, and let me know what you think about it by commenting below with your feedback! Your input is valuable to us and can help us make improvements.