As the first month of the year, January includes numerous peasant rules. Find out what weather rules apply in the event of thunderstorms in the winter month.

In a nutshell

  • Peasant rules through transmitted observations over generations
  • partly scientifically justified
  • often apply

Peasant wisdom in January

"January must crack if spring is to laugh."
If there is a lot of thunderstorms at the beginning of the year, a sunny, mild spring can be expected. Some plants can be placed in the garden bed earlier. This is purely about thunderstorms and not about rain, which brings other forecasts.

Notice: There is a fundamental difference between rain and thunderstorms. In some cases, however, thunderstorms are included in the meaning of pawn rules if rain comes with the thunderstorms.

"When January lets rain fall, spring lets it freeze."
Thunderstorms usually bring a lot of rain with them. If you haven't planted any winter-blooming bulbs up to this point, you should do it as soon as possible, because heavy frost is imminent.

"If the beginning and end of the month is nice, it means a good year."
Storms, thunderstorms, cold and snow in the middle of January give hope for a productive year and good plant growth.

"Fog in January, bring a wet' spring."
If, in addition to a lot of cold rain and thunderstorms, fog often spreads in the first month of the year, there will be above-average wet springs for the following two to three years. Then it is particularly important to get seeds firmly into the ground so that they do not float away. This is one of January's Farmer's Rules, backed by science.

"If there are no thunderstorms and rain in January, frequent fog predicts a beautiful spring."
Contrary to the farmer's rule mentioned under point 4, fog without thunderstorms/rain means ideal weather for planting and transplanting in spring. In addition, the term "beautiful" stands for a rich harvest year.

"If January is very wet, the winemaker's barrel remains empty."
Wine is demanding in terms of weather. Rain and thunderstorms in January point to an above-average wet year, which will affect vine plants.

Weather Rules in January

"Rain in January puts the seed at risk."
According to this farmer's rule, heavy rainfall and frequent thunderstorms mean that the following months will be just as wet. If the soil moisture is too high, there is an increased risk of mold from seeds, the seeds will swim away and there is an increased risk of mould. It is then all the more important to ensure that the soil is well drained and, ideally, that there is drainage so that rainwater can run off.

"January rain brings double sprout but only half fruit in the barn."
A high level of soil moisture at the beginning of the year and, according to other farming wisdom, a damp but also beautiful spring. Seeds then germinate much better. However, too fast germination also results in less fruit formation - and therefore less yields.

"If January is damp and balmy, spring will be dry and harsh."
When the temperature is well above freezing and there is a lot of rain/thunderstorms at the beginning of the year, more sensitive plants should definitely be given a wind-protected place in the garden in spring. Otherwise, harsh winds could break off the delicate stems of young plants in particular.

"If January is wet and warm, the farmer likes to become poor."
A dry spring is hereby forecast. The seeds of potatoes, corn, sugar beet and summer grain are quickly wasted if the soil is not kept from drying out with a watering can or sprinkler.

"In January, Rumble of Thunder fills up bins and crates."
As already described under point 1, severe thunderstorms in January are good for the seed and for the crop yields. These peasant rules in January are based on empirical values from the last few centuries.

Notice: According to the weather rules, January thunderstorms are only considered positive for spring if their number is within a manageable range. Too many thunderstorms and the resulting high soil moisture tend to indicate a less productive gardening and growing year.

Peasant Rules in January

"If thunderstorms rage in January, then there's not much to praise for the year."
If there is a moderate thunderstorm in January, the weather rules predict a bad planting year. Here you should pay attention to well-tried, robust plant varieties, especially when growing yourself.

"When it rains around New Year, it often snows around Easter."
This farmer's wisdom is particularly important for the pre-breeding of early germinators and early bloomers. If it rains/storms on the 1st or 2nd day of January and this predicts snow at Easter, pre-breeding should not be started too early. In warm conditions, the pre-cultivation grows too quickly and becomes more sensitive, which can lead to less fruiting.

"As the weather was on Macarius, so September will be: cloudy or clear."
Macarius is on 02.01. If there is a thunderstorm that day, the outlook for the whole of September is the same - cloudy and wet. If you want to prepare your garden for winter, you should not plan this for September. This should be taken into account, especially when lawning, because dry soil is required for scarifying, for example.

"But if it rains or snows, the grain gets expensive."
On January 25th, various religions celebrate the so-called Pauli conversion (memorial day of the Bible). This farmer's rule states that damp weather due to rain, thunderstorms or snow on that day is unfavorable for the cultivation of cereals. Crop yields fall and farmers' prices rise accordingly.

"If it thunders in January, the crowd of barrels increases quickly."
If it rains a lot in the first month of the year, this can have negative weather influences on the grape harvest. But if it "only" thunders and thunders, this farmer's wisdom announces a very bountiful wine harvest. Therefore, the purchase/provision of more barrels is recommended. This peasant rule for January originally comes from the Czech Republic.

"January thunder over the field, still brings great cold."
According to this weather rule, when a thundering thunderstorm extends directly over a field/growing area, colder weeks will follow. The last winter vegetables should then be harvested beforehand.

"As the weather was around Vinzenz, it will be all year round."
Saint Vincent's Day is January 22nd. He was a martyr between the third and fourth centuries and patron saint of wine growers. If it thunders, lightning and rains on this day, according to historical accounts, Saint Vincent wants to tell the winegrowers what the weather will be like during the growing season. As the weather is on that day, so it will be until the grape harvest.

frequently asked Questions

What exactly are pawn rules?

Farmer's rules in January are collected experiences from mostly farmers. They are usually based on times centuries ago and even go back to the lifetime of Aristotle. This had already tried the scientific exploration of weather rules. In Europe, further development began in the Renaissance period. The "results" of the weather rules have been passed down through all subsequent generations to the present day. They are often dismissed as superstitious predictions, but in fact, every year some come true.

Why can peasant wisdom be beneficial for gardening?

If you want to plan for the long term, pawn rules can be helpful. There is no guarantee that it will happen exactly as the weather rules predict. But if that's the case, you can prepare well in advance. See the article above for some inspiration, such as harvesting winter vegetables and planting early flowering bulbs. If the prediction doesn't come true, you have nothing to lose. But if it is, you acted in time.

Are there farmer rules for all other months as well?

Yes. Each month is accompanied by peasant wisdom intended to forecast the weather for the following months. Some also refer directly to plantings and harvests and only indirectly describe the expected weather.

Category:

Garden maintenance