February Gardening Calendar

Published: January 21, 2016

Ornamentals

• Weeks 1-4: Winter aconite (Eranthis sp.) and snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) are hardy bulbs for shady gardens that frequently push up through snow to bloom now.
• Weeks 1-4: Inspect summer bulbs in storage to be sure none are drying out. Discard any that show signs of rot.
• Weeks 1-4: Enjoy the fragrant blooms of the Ozark Witch Hazel flowering in shrub borders or wooded areas on warm sunny days.
• Weeks 1-4: Take geranium cuttings now. Keep the foliage dry to avoid leaf and stem diseases.
• Weeks 2-4: Sow seeds of larkspur, sweet peas, Shirley poppies and snapdragons where they are to grow outdoors now. To bloom best, these plants must sprout and begin growth well before warm weather arrives.
• Weeks 2-3: Seeds of slow-growing annuals like ageratum, verbena, petunias, geraniums, coleus, impatiens and salvia may be started indoors now.
• Week 4: Dormant sprays can be applied to ornamental trees and shrubs now. Do this on a mild day while temperatures are above freezing.
• Week 4: Start tuberous begonias indoors now. "Non-stop" varieties perform well in this climate.

Vegetables

• Weeks 1-4: Season extending devices such as cold frames, hot beds, cloches and floating row covers will allow for an early start to the growing season.
• Weeks 1-4: Start onion seeds indoors now.
• Weeks 1-4: Don't work garden soils if they are wet. Squeeze a handful of soil. It should form a ball that will crumble easily. If it is sticky, allow the soil to dry further before tilling or spading.
• Weeks 2-4: Sow celery and celeriac seeds indoors now.
• Weeks 3-4: Sow seeds of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage indoors now for transplanting into the garden later this spring.

Fruits

• Weeks 1-4: Check fruit trees for tent caterpillar egg masses These are laid on twigs in tight clusters that resemble an oblong brown lump of gum wrapped around the stem. Prune off these twigs or destroy the eggs by scratching off the clusters with your thumbnail.
• Weeks 1-4: Inspect fruit trees for tent caterpillar egg masses. Eggs appear as dark brown or gray collars that encircle small twigs. Destroy by pruning or scratching off with your thumbnail.
• Weeks 1-2: Collect scion wood now for grafting of fruit trees later in spring. Wrap bundled scions with plastic and store them in the refrigerator.
• Weeks 3-4: Begin pruning fruit trees. Start with apples and pears first. Peaches and nectarines should be pruned just before they bloom.

Miscellaneous

• Weeks 2-4: Maple sugaring time is here! Freezing nights and mild days make the sap flow.
• Weeks 2-4: Begin to fertilize house plants as they show signs of new growth. Plants that are still resting should receive no fertilizers yet.
• Weeks 3-4: Tall and leggy house plants such as dracaena, dieffenbachia and rubber plants may be air layered now.

Gardening Calendar supplied by the staff of the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening located at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, Missouri. (www.GardeningHelp.org)