or how I learned to get ready for spring

February is one of my favorite times in the garden. Spiderwort and some of the first blooms peek their colors above the old brown mulch and herald the promise of warmer weather. Also it is a great time to enjoy your victory garden bounty of greens, broccoli, carrots and other healthy vegetables. Kids often love to get involved in the garden if they know they can eat some things too!

February Garden Tips

Flowers to Plant

Alyssum
Calendula
Centaurea
Dusty Miller
Larkspur
Pansies
Snapdragon
Violas

Seeds to Sow

Beets
Carrots
Corn
Greens – cool season
Peas – English, snap, snow
Potatoes – Irish
Radishes
Turnips

Things to Transplant

Artichokes
Asparagus
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Leeks
Onions – bulb
Tomatoes

Things to Sow or Transplant

Asian Greens
Collards
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mustard
Spinach
Swiss Chard

February Garden To-Dos

Prepare for spring planting

Early in the month, work in 1-2” of compost, an organic, solid, high-nitrogen fertilizer, and a source of trace minerals to vegetable and flower beds so you’ll be ready when the planting fever hits. For best results, mix the compost and trace minerals in about 6” deep, then scratch the fertilizer into the top 2” of the soil. Whether your bed is new or established, give your plants a boost with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.

Fertilize

Be sure to feed new and existing plants with your favorite organic fertilizer. Leafy greens benefit from nitrogen, while flowering and fruiting plants need more phosphorus.

Apply corn gluten to control spring weeds

Corn gluten provides nitrogen and prevents seeds from germinating. Learn to use it to prevent springtime weeds in the lawn.

Water deeply, especially before freezes

Dry plants are more likely to suffer freeze damage than well-watered ones. Be careful not to overwater; plants use water more slowly when temperatures are cool. Use row cover to protect tender plants and seedlings from freeze.

Prune roses

Valentine’s Day means it’s time to prune roses! Sometime during the middle of February, shape your rose and give it some TLC in the form of compost and a high-phosphorus fertilizer to promote blooms.

Maintain fruit trees

Prune immature fruit trees if needed. Spray apples, peaches, pears, and plums with an all-natural fungicide when the buds begin to swell. Spray for plum curculio with dormant oil.

Remove winter debris

Cut woody perennials such as Esperanza and Firebush down to 12” segments. When new growth appears at the base, cut the old stems nearly to the ground to eliminate unsightly dead sticks. Removing leaves and tidying other winter debris helps eliminated breeding grounds for bugs and springtime pests. Put it in a compost pile to recycle it into a rich nutrients.

Garden Tips courtesy of The Natural Gardener.