February in the Texas Garden
To my fellow Texas Gardeners . . .
Are you itching to get your hands in the dirt? Me too! For me, February means that spring is just around the corner. Below are some great gardening goals to set for this month. The name of the game is preparation!
Keep your frost covers handy if you’re putting anything in the ground this month. We can still get freezes here and there through early spring. This month, keep tending to your cool season vegetables and harvest any that were damaged by a January freeze to make room for spring seeds. Just like last month, you’ll need to cover quite a few of these if temperatures get below 20 degrees.
As always, don’t plant everything!
Plant what your family loves & you enjoy growing.
February Planting Guide:
Transplants: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Asparagus Crowns, Brussel Sprouts, Leeks, Rhubarb, Kohlrabi, Radicchio, Scallions, Spinach, Stevia, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Parsley, Mint, Dill, Fennel, Anise, Rue, Kale, Onion Sets, Potato (Valentines Day is usually suggested for Texas)
Direct Sow (plant seeds): Artichoke, Spinach, Carrots, Beets, Lettuce, Mustards, Peas, Radish, Scallions, Fava Beans, Asian Greens, Kale
End of February: Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Parsley, Parsnips, Spinach, Turnips
Start Indoors: Sweet Peppers, Bell Peppers, Celery, Shallots, Eggplant, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Celery, Chives, Eggplant, Oregano, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Basil, Collards,
Fruit: Apples, peaches, pecans, pears, pomegranates, persimmons, figs, almonds, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
Purchase onion bulbs to transplant through Mid-February. Our local feed store usually carries them, check with yours.
Prep Potatoes for Planting through Mid-February.
I have a blog post about growing your own potatoes HERE
Plant Trees, Native Shrubs and Evergreen Ground Cover
Bulbs & Roses
Add color to your pots & garden: pansies, violas, snapdragons, calendula, stock, larkspur, ornamental kale, bluebonnet transplants, poppies.
February Gardening Tasks:
Prune fruit trees, grapes and blackberries.
Order all spring and summer seeds. My favorite place for seeds is BAKER CREEK SEEDS. Again, I only purchase what we love! If it’s not a favorite, I buy it from the grocery store.
Prune freeze damaged perennials.
Harvest freeze damaged crops to make room for spring transplants and seeds.
Prune rosemary and oregano.
Divide and move perennials.
Prep your garden beds by adding compost and mulch.
If you’d like to see a planting list for your specific area, the Almanac gives a comprehensive guide.
Find it HERE.
