23 Feb Kickstart Your 2018 Garden!
February is a great time to begin planting and fertilizing. As we have stated before, the only month considered winter in our area is January. With possible frost to mid-February; this month is a great time to get a jump on growing season. You need to take advantage of these mild temperatures as the growing season is on the shorter side. Trees and plants need as much time as possible before our excessive heat shows up.
- A good start is to pull all weeds and use a good weed prevention system to make sure they are gone for good.
- Prune all deciduous trees and rose bushes.
- Any time after the 15th of the month is usually a good time to start planting.
- Fertilizing is also very important this time of year. Keep track of your fertilizing by using a calendar.
- Another way to get a head start on growing season is to plant seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before growing season. This helps provide a more mature plant for outdoors.
Great flowers, plants and vegetables to get started in February
Vegetables:
- Cauliflower
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Lettuce
- Eggplant
- Cucumber
- Tomatoes – see “Did You Know” section
Fruits:
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Pumpkins – these take a while to grow and should be started in February
Flowers:
- Violets
- Snapdragons
- Delphinium
- Candytuft
Did You Know?
Whether you plant tomato seeds indoors for an economical way to grow tomatoes or buy plants ready to be put outdoors, February is the time to get your tomatoes going.
How to plant tomatoes?
- Make sure there is no frost, usually late February.
- Find a sunny spot in your garden, making sure it is a spot that does not form puddles after heavy rain.
- Break up soil to about 6 inches deep
- Use potting soil with added nutrients to plant your tomatoes in
- Keep ground moist. Don’t over water. As plants grow, it is recommended to stake them to keep them from falling order. They need this extra support. Tomato plant branches cannot support the weight of the tomatoes as they grow.