February gardening

From Gardening Wiki

There are February days when little or no snow lies on the frozen ground. Then is a good time to spread on it some manure, to be soaked into the soil by later snows. If it has to be wheeled, or carted, over the lawn it can be done at that time without ruts being left on the turf. Where plants are green above ground, as not a few perennials are, place the manure around them, not on them. In February, too, take the pruning shears, out doors between snows and cut off from the shrubs branches that the winter storms have broken, or any that show unmistakable signs of being dead. Throw them into a wheelbarrow as you go along, to save a second handling, and at the same time gather up fallen twigs and other refuse ; then make a pile of the rubbish in a suitable place for the first spring bonfire. In your garden wanderings look for the green spears of the snowdrops; if they show, favor them by pushing aside a bit their blanket of dead leaves.

February Gardening Calendar for Northern Gardeners

Sweet Peas may be sown in pots in the greenhouse or in frames if they are intended for exhibition. Keep Violet plants clean, and begin taking runners for the supply of new plants for next year. Stakes and labels may be got ready for Spring and Summer. Collect hotbed material. Spray fruit trees against San Jose scale.

February Gardening Calendar for Southern Gardeners

In all the central and upper South prepare and fertilize the soil ready for planting Early Irish Potatoes from middle to last of the month. Sow seeds of Lettuce in a well prepared bed for transplanting in March for the early Spring crop in the open ground. Sow seed of the Copenhagen Market Cabbage and the Succession to follow the Fall-set plants of the Wakefield. In the latter part of the month sow the wrinkled Peas. Sow early Milan Turnips. Level the early Cabbage ridges after the middle of the month and cultivate clean and use side dressings of Nitrate of soda 150 Ibs. An acre to push the early growth. Sow Leeks in seed bed. Sow seed of the Prizetaker Onion in frames early in the month for transplanting later. Sow in the open ground the latter part of the month seed of the New England Globe varieties of Onions in heavily fertilized soil. These will make full sized Onions the same season. The Bermuda Onions can also be grown by the transplanting method, or will make good crop sown in the open ground. The first week in the month sow Seed of Earliana and Bonny Best Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers in a well made hotbed under glass. Give them plenty of air in sunny weather or you may cook them. Plant Asparagus seed and set roots. Sow early Beets and Spinach and Early Horn Carrots.