Being able to pick a fresh lemon off a tree in your home or garden is not just a dream. We have outlined the best citrus plants to use for container grown plants that move outside during the summer growing season; and back indoors for the winter. It is not difficult when you understand the few requirements – mostly a source of bright light, proper watering and regular fertilizing. Pick your favorite and start the new year with a fun project. Why Grow Citrus in Zone 5? Benefits Fresh, homegrown citrus fruit.  Decorative evergreen foliage and fragrant blossoms.  Suitable for indoor and container gardening. Challenges:  Cold temperatures limit outdoor planting.  Requires frost protection and proper care indoors.   Top Citrus Cultivars for Our Area Lemon Varieties Lemon, Citrus limon Meyer Lemon & Improved Meyer Lemon Lime Varieties Bearrs Seedless Lime or Persian Lime, Citrus latifolia Key-lime, Citrus aurantifolia Kieffer Lime, Citrus hystrix Other Citrus Varieties Orange, Citrus sinenesis Tangerine, Citrus reticulata Calamondin, Citris x citrofortunella mitis (a hybrid cross between a tangerine and a Nagami kumquat) Kumquat, Citrus japonica or Fortunella japonica Grapefruit, Citrus paradisio After browsing our citrus collection and picking a citrus plant learn all about how to help your citrus plant thrive in our challenging environment.  Check out our blog post that covers care tips and how to harvest citrus!  Jennifer Brennan Chalet Horticulturist 

While it is not outdoor planting time in January, there is still much that can be accomplished during this slower season to ensure that 2024’s garden will be the best one yet. This checklist has ideas of what you should be doing this month to help your garden for the upcoming growing season; and, also ideas about indoor plant maintenance that should be done in January. Outdoor Garden:   1. January Garden Planning:  Initiate a gardening journal to review last year's successes and challenges.   Sketch out a master garden design plan, considering crop rotation and optimal plant placement. Chart seed and plant varieties for efficient planning and record-keeping. 2.    2. More Garden Planning:  Explore seed catalogues for new varieties and make a list for early purchase.  Consider adding more planters, raised beds, and vertical gardening structures.  3. Garden Maintenance:  Add mulch to insulate beds, focusing on areas with depleted mulch.  Check for frost heaves and gently press raised areas down if needed.  Prune and scatter Christmas tree or evergreen branches around the garden.  4. Wildlife Friendly:  Fill bird feeders with high-oil seeds and add a Niger thistle feeder for finches.  Ensure a consistent source of unfrozen water for birds with a bird-bath heater.  5. Garden Tools: Assess and repair gardening tools, cleaning, sharpening, and oiling moving parts.  6. Seed Starting Materials:  Clean and organize seed starting supplies, ensuring you have enough for the upcoming season.  Stock up on row covers and hoop houses for frost protection.  7. Composting in Winter: Continue feeding compost with kitchen scraps, evergreen needles, and newspaper. Indoor Garden: 1. Indoor Plant Maintenance:  Inspect houseplants for health and signs of pests, trimming off any yellow or dead leaves.  Adjust watering frequency based on reduced light levels and lower temperatures.  Provide adequate lighting by moving plants closer to windows or using supplemental LED grow lights.  Increase humidity levels with a humidifier or trays filled with pebbles and water.  Continue fertilizing with a high-quality liquid plant fertilizer.  2. Repotting and Maintenance:  Hold off on repotting unless absolutely necessary, preferably waiting until March.  Clean plant leaves gently to remove dust and improve photosynthesis.  3. Temperature and Drafts: Protect houseplants from cold drafts and excessive heat from heating vents or radiators.  4. Propagation and Pruning:  Consider propagating new plants from cuttings if suitable for the species.  Prune leggy or overgrown growth to maintain plant shape and health.  5. Special Care for Blooming Plants: Continue caring for flowering plants based on their specific needs.  6. Planning for Spring: Research and gather information on new plants or care routines for the upcoming spring season.  Remember, while these guidelines generally apply to most houseplants in USDA Zone 5 during January, it's crucial to consider individual plant species and their specific care requirements for the best results. Happy gardening! Jennifer Brennan Jennifer Brennan is the Horticulture Information Specialist, advising and coaching gardeners at Chalet for over 30 years.

As winter sets in, it's time to prepare your garden for the colder months. Here's a comprehensive December gardening to-do list to ensure your plants and tools are ready for the winter chill. 1. Tool Maintenance:  Start by giving your garden tools some TLC. Clean them with a wire brush, and apply a light coat of oil to protect them from rust. Sharpen the edges of hoes and spades. Clean, readjust, and sharpen the blades of pruning tools. Don't forget to lightly sand handles and apply linseed oil or paint them in bright colors for easy spotting in the grass. Shop tools.  2. Lawn Equipment Care: Prepare your lawn mower or tiller for winter by draining the fuel tank or using a stabilizer, if you can't drain the fuel. With the unusual cold weather, consider servicing your equipment  now to avoid the busy spring repair season. Store the equipment without gas in the tank by running it dry. 3. Mulching and Protection: Apply a fresh layer of mulch to planting beds to regulate soil temperature during unpredictable winter swings. Focus on perennials, shrubs and newly planted trees.  For root crops like potatoes, parsnips, carrots, parsley, and leeks, add a thick layer of straw to protect them during winter, allowing for a staggered harvest. Shop Mulch. 4. Bird Feeder Maintenance: Clean bird feeders with hot soapy water (avoid bleach) to avoid disease transmission. Provide high oil content seeds like Black Oily Sunflowers and Safflower Seed for high-energy nourishment to help birds during sudden freezes. Ensure access to unfrozen water by using a bird bath heater or refilling water regularly. Shop birding. 5. Ice Melt Alternatives: Avoid rock salt (sodium chloride) for melting ice on sidewalks and driveways. Choose products made of calcium chloride or potassium chloride to minimize plant damage. For traction, use sand, kitty litter, or wood ashes sparingly. This will avoid introducing excess salts or pH imbalances. 6. Garden Planning: Start reviewing and expanding your garden notes for next year. Use this time to plan for the upcoming growing season while the memories of the current one are fresh. 7. Tree and Shrub Protection: Water fall-planted woody plants until the ground freezes. Cover the root zone with 3-4 inches of organic mulch to keep the soil frozen and prevent premature waking. Use tree guards, wraps, or hardware cloth to protect against animal damage (rabbits, deer). Prune weak branches to prevent snow damage. Be cautious with mulching around newly planted trees to prevent vole damage. 8. Sun and Wind Protection: Guard against sun scald by wrapping trunks with light-colored material or using light colored trunk protectors which will reflect the sun's rays. Be mindful of winter burn on evergreens caused by winter sun and wind. Plant them in protected areas or create windbreaks. 9. Adjusted Garden Planning Document how plants responded to the unusual weather this fall and plan adjustments for next season. Review seed catalogs and research winter sowing for perennials or hardy vegetables. 10. Post-Freeze inspections After freezes, check for frost heaving in perennials or bulbs and gently press dislodged plants back into the soil. Secure loose mulch or garden fabric blown by sudden wind events. By addressing these tasks with the weather in mind, your garden will not only survive the winter but will also thrive come springtime. Take advantage of the downtime to plan and prepare, ensuring success in the next growing season. Jennifer Brennan Jennifer Brennan is the Horticulture Information Specialist, advising and coaching gardeners at Chalet for over 30 years.