February in the garden

February 2023

We may actually be able to be in the garden or close to it this month. Inside we can trim and fertilize herbs we wintered over. An application of half strength indoor plant food will regenerate healthy growth.

After Valentine cards have been opened and the last chocolate in the box is gone it is time once again to survey jobs outside.

The evidence of marcescens, the holding on of leaves this winter, may soon give way to the phenomenon known as abscission, the letting loose of leaves. If the ground is soggy however, try to wait until it firms up before you rake. Repeated trips and equipment across your lawn may compact the soil, interfering with optimum growth.

Sharpen your tools and inspect the stability of your ladder before you tackle taller plant material. If you are renovating a small tree, cut no more than a third of its growth. Further pruning should be done in subsequent years. Large tree care however, is a job for professionals. This guide line is for deciduous trees not confiners. Pruning does not include toppings trees. DON’T DO IT!

If you simply cannot wait to plant your veggies, some varieties of peppers can be started in February.

Usually, toward the end of February, dormant spray can be applied to fruit trees to help control insect infestations and some diseases. Information from your local nursery or garden center is helpful in understanding application. Be sure to READ THE LABEL and ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

To combat leaf curl on peach trees lime sulfur spray, if applied before the buds swell, is effective.

Check shrub branches for damage from mice or voles. These critters gnaw on the bark under the snow. Removal of damaged plant tissue discourages disease and improves the plant’s vigor. These uninvited residents also thrive in the plant’s debris so remove these nesting places. Your spring cleaning can include under shrubs as well.

Don’t be fooled by warm sunny days in February. Those sneaky cold nights can do a lot of damage to tender transplants. Wait until the soil temperature is, consistently, at least 40 degrees. Seeds such as beets, carrots, kale, lettuce, onions, peas, broccoli, seed potatoes and radishes have a better chance of germinating,

Beans, corn, cucumber, melons, peppers, squash, pumpkin and tomatoes shouldn’t be transplanted or seeded in the ground until the night time soil temperature is at least 60 degrees. So we have at least a few more months to wait.

In the meantime, a really good read, with lots of gorgeous photos, is Marie Iannotti’s book, The Beginners guide to Heirloom Vegetables. Marie, a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator and Master Gardener program coordinator will entice you with her introduction, descriptions and planting tips for heirloom vegetable gardening.

Please contact the WSU Spokane County Master Gardeners

@http://spokane-county.wsu.edu/spokane/

or call 509-477-2181 for more information