January Gardening In Mississippi

The tradition is to plant peas on the first day of the year, but it's important to consider the weather as well.

Peas should be planted at two different depths - one shallow depth about as deep as your thumb, and another deeper depth of about six inches.

Peas are nitrogen fixers, so there is no need to fertilize the pea beds. The peas themselves act as a natural fertilizer.

Raking up the leaves and using them as mulch is a great option. You can also create a compost pile or use a composter to turn the leaves into nutrient-rich soil.

To take a soil sample, dig at least 6 to 12 inches deep with a shovel and collect small samples from different areas in your garden. Mix the samples in a ziploc bag and send it off to be analyzed by an extension agent.