Be-leaf it or not, January is a good time to get gardening. Now is the time to shop seeds, do some routine maintenance, and even sow certain plants.
đ± Spring for seeds
Peruse seed catalogs and grab those springtime favorites that are so popular they tend to sell out come the thaw. Weâre talking seeds like snap peas, radishes, specialty lettuces, and heirloom tomatoes. You can also get your wishlist going for the spring planting of fall bulbs like hostas, gladiolas, and dahlias.
Check out these local spots to nab your favorites:
While youâre at the nursery, grab some seeds that you can plant right now (or, at least, very soon). Use this tool to calculate when to sow some of these early-season crops:
Beans
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Lettuce
Canât wait for that final frost date? Now is a good time to prep your seed trays. Clean and organize your trays, then sow these plants indoors with a growing light to be moved outdoors when the time is right.
đ± Routine maintenance
Every green thumb knows that a garden is more than just its plants. Hereâs your winter checklist:
Trim and tidy | Toss out any plants that didnât survive last year and start fresh.
Take care of your tools | Sharpen your pruners and clean your trowels or treat yourself to a new tool set.
Test your soil | Apply your compost, but donât forget to test your soil to make sure you arenât missing any nutrients. A soil test kit can help you out here.
Prepare for frost | Be prepared for any cold fronts by making sure your watering system is ready for any deep freezes and stocking up on row covers.
Plan your beds | Get out your graph paper and dream up your ideal garden.
What was your most successful plant last year?Lettuce know and you might be featured in an upcoming newsletter.
The Community Table at The Lady | Thursday, Jan. 19-Friday, Jan. 20 | Times vary | The Lady, 1310 Lady St., Columbia | $10-$75 | The Community Table at The Lady is a ticketed event that sets out to capture what Cola Love is all about: a movement bringing people together to help build our local economic ecosystem from a place of love.
History of BBQ Presentation | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Lexington County Museum, 231 Fox St., Lexington | $20 | The Lexington County Museum hosts historian and writer Robert F. Moss for a talk on the history of barbecue in South Carolina and Lexington County.
YLS Oyster Roast | Thursday, Jan. 19 | 6-9 p.m. | City Market Place, 705 Gervais St., Columbia | $40-$50 | Join YLS for a shuckinâ good time at their annual Oyster Roast benefiting United Way, and enjoy a silent auction, open bar, and music by DJ Preach Jacobs.*
Saturday, Jan. 21
West Columbiaâs Meeting Street Artisan Market | Saturday, Jan. 21-Saturday, Dec. 23 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Interactive Art Park, 425 Meeting St., West Columbia | Free | Browse original arts and crafts from local makers along with fresh produce and vendors.
Sunday, Jan. 22
Chinese New Year at Boku | Sunday, Jan. 22 | 12-3 p.m. | Boku Kitchen and Saloon, 916 Gervais St., Columbia | $10 | Boku will be decorated for the Chinese New Year and have a special Chinese New Year menu available on this day along with their award-winning Dim Sum Brunch menu.
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
The Soda Cap Connector includes a stop at Segra Park, located in the BullStreet District. | Photo by The COMET
Exploring the heart of Columbia is filled with Insta-worthy spots, great local attractions â and a struggle to find parking. Toss in the guests youâre hosting or a busy downtown event, and suddenly exploring seems more stressful than fun. Weâve all been there.
Here to help is The COMETâs Soda Cap Connector. It convenientlyconnects to major downtown Columbia destinations, including:
Clutch Coffee â a drive-thru coffee stand â will open on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4716 Devine St., where Taboo used to be.Free coffee will be available on opening day with plans to deliver free coffee to teachers and first responders leading up to the opening. â (Columbia Biz Report)
Biz
Peak Drift Brewing will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new 25,000 sqft production faculty on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. at 3452 North Main St. The production facility represents phase one of the new facility with the 65,000 sqft brewery complex set to open later this year. âïž
Community
Registration is open for the The Columbia Chamber of Commerce Midlands Youth Apprenticeship Program (MYA). The program works to equip students with the skills and experience needed to work in specialized positions and gives students a two-year head start in the job market.
Concert
Koger Center announced the next Live in the Lobby will happen on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. headlined by local folk duo Admiral Radio. Grab your tickets now to see the one-of-a-kind concert series. đ¶
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THE WRAP
Todayâs issue was written by David.
Editorâs pick: Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 20, because The Harlem Globetrotters are making a stop a Colonial Life Arena on their 2023 World Tour. Snag tickets to see this interactive basketball show that will showcase skills, athleticism, and comedy.
Missed yesterdayâs newsletter? See local volunteer opportunities for MLK Day, here.
Connect with us.
Editorial:Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.
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