Spring Gardening Starts During the Winter
Even though it's still cold outside, February is a great time to get your garden started. Watch our video on things to do in the garden in February for lots of great information.
Seed Starting and Planning for the Summer Garden
- February is a good time to start your heat loving, slow growing vegetables like peppers, eggplant and tomatoes so that they'll be nice and big to transplant out in the garden.
- It's also a great time to start cold hardy plants for your spring garden that prefer to be transplanted such as cauliflower, kale or broccoli.
- Try the seed planting calculator in our online Resource Center to figure out the best planting dates for your area.
- Plant your seeds in soilless seed starting mix such as our QuickRoot and make sure to give your seedlings sufficient heat, light and water for healthy, sturdy growth.
Bare Root Perennial Vegetables, Berries and Fruit Trees
If perennial vegetables, like rhubarb or berries are on your list of what to plant, February is a great time to do so.- Check out groworganic.com for all the perennial vegetables
- Berries
- or Fruit and Nut trees available at this time.
Orchard and Vine Care
If you haven't already done it, February is a great time to prune your grapes. Check out our video on how to prune your grapes. It is also not to late to do your dormant pruning of your apples, pears, peaches, or nectarines. Many of your fruit trees are ready for the third dormant spray. February is the time to do it before bud break. Watch our video on Peach Leaf Curl if you have questions.
Miscellaneous Gardening Chores and Planning
Winter is a great time to take care of your tools and get them ready for the spring. Clean, sharpen, then oil them so that you don't have to waste precious time when it's time to garden. Taking good care of your hand tools, long handled tools, trellises, fences, and other supplies will help them last longer and work better. If you don't already have a drip system installed, now is a good time to research and design your irrigation and fertigation systems. Check out our videos on both topics. Map your spring blooming bulbs for next year's planting scheme and also to avoid digging in to areas with planted bulbs. February is a great time to zap all those little newly formed weeds with the Flamer. Watch our video on organic weed control for more information.
In February that's when our County sprays the roadside with some pretty strong chemicals like glyphosate (RoundUp). Be sure and check with your County roadway maintenance department to find out how you can prevent spraying on your property. And most importantly enjoy the first signs of spring in February with your Daphne, Camellia and some of the early flower bulbs like crocus or Paper White Narcissus!
Start A Gardening Club
Bonus: Gather some friends and start a gardening club. It is a great way to stay connected, have fun, and share tips locally in your community.
Now let's look ahead to March!