JANE SCOTTER, Head Market Gardener at Heckfield Estates, shares her biodynamic wisdom for the quiet start of the year. Guided by the rhythms of nature and the cosmos, Jane explores what to plant in January and February to prepare for the growing season ahead.
She also delves into the Three Kings preparation, a biodynamic tradition held on 6th January (twelfth night) using a mix of gold, frankincense and myrrh sprayed around the boundaries of our land as a gesture of reverence and a way to honour the ongoing connection between humanity and nature.
With practical tips and timeless practices, Jane inspires a deeper connection to the soil and the cycles of life.
WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE LAND AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR?
JANE SCOTTER: At this time of year, we’re fully focused on bedding the plants down for winter. This involves mulching them with compost and manure which will over the winter feed the roots and help to promote healthy growth once spring arrives. We also cut back old spent stems to make way for new shoots that will appear in the spring. The plants are now in their dormant stage, so we’re essentially caring for the plants for their rest period through the winter.
IS THE SOIL EVER TRULY DORMANT, OR IS THERE MORE HAPPENING BELOW THE SURFACE?
JS: The soil is never dormant. Beneath the surface, the soil remains full of life—teeming with worms, insects, and other organisms that are crucial to maintain its vitality and life force.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING NOW TO NURTURE AND PREPARE THE SOIL FOR SPRING?
JS: This is the ideal time to prune and shape trees and shrubs whilst they are in their winter dormancy. We cut out and remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches, encouraging new healthy growth to form, we shape the plants, ensuring good air flow and beautiful form. It is best to do these tasks on milder days, not when temperatures are around freezing.
WHAT SHOULD WE BE PLANTING NOW?
JS: Now is the time to plant bare-root trees and hardy perennial shrubs such as roses. Good soil preparation is key allowing us to bed the plants in carefully. These thrive allowing the roots to settle in before spring growth begins. We will soon be planting Damask roses for use in future Wildsmith formulations.
WE’VE JUST CELEBRATED THE THREE KINGS' PREPARATION. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS MOMENT IN THE BIODYNAMIC CALENDAR?
JS: The Three Kings Preparation is a symbolic and meaningful ritual in the biodynamic calendar. It reflects the story of the Three Wise Men who presented offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus—gifts chosen for their deep symbolic value. In this context, we offer our gratitude to the land we tend and care for throughout the year. By walking the boundaries of the land, we express thanks and carry thoughts of goodwill to the earth and its elemental forces.
