Hot Topic
Seed starting - If you are planting from seed, then you need to get some of your spring plants started indoors for early transplanting. This includes peppers, tomato, and summer squash can all be started indoors. Use organic potting soil and you will want to provide a source of light (either natural or fluorescent) and a heat pad for seed starting is recommended for faster propagation. Sow directly outdoors your lettuce, onion, peas, radish, carrots, cabbage, beets, cauliflower, chard, spinach, and turnips while soil temperatures are not above 45 - 50 degrees.
Do List
- Time to plant bare root fruit trees (apricot, plum, apple, peaches). Choose low chill hour ( 1hr at or below 45 degrees), 250 or less hour varieties for best results.
- Harvest ripe citrus.
- Add compost and volcanic rock to your garden soil.
- Add mulch to bare soil.
- Prune fruit trees before bud break.
Don’t List
- Don’t pick grapefruit yet, they get sweeter if left until spring.
- Don’t delay weed control.
- Don’t prune frost damage, wait until February.
- Don’t water your lawn at night.
- Don’t ignore pest problems.
Planting
Note: White fontlisted items identify "Ideal" planting time items
Note: Asparagus is best planted in a single row.
- Vegetables
- Seeds
- beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, chard, collards, eggplant, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, green onions, peas, potato, radish, spinach and turnips
- Transplants
- artichoke, asparagus, kohlrabi
- Herbs
- Borage, Calendula, Chamomile, Chives, Cilantro, Dill, Feverfew, Rosemary, Thyme
- Flowers
- Alyssum, Begonias, Black-eyed Susan, Chrysanthemum, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Gaillardia, Geranium, Nasturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Poppy, Snapdragon, Society garlic, Stock, Sweet Peas, Viola
- Fruit
- Pineapple Guava
- Bare Root
- Apple, Apricot, Blackberry, Fig, Peach, Pear, Plum, Pomegranate
Recipes of the Month
- Asian Chicken Wrap – Really quick to make using that fresh cabbage from the garden and good for lunch or dinner.
