As we step into February, we’re approaching the end of winter, and the garden is gearing up for the warm season. Today I’ll be sharing my February garden plan, ongoing projects, and a special tip.
Garden Update:
February marks the transition from winter to spring in Central Florida. While the nights remain pleasant, daytime temperatures are on the rise. Although our winter has been unpredictable, with sudden shifts between cold and warm days, it’s time to focus on the warm-season crops.
What to Plant:
- Warm-Season Crops: Tomatoes, peppers, corn, cucumbers, beans, squash, and watermelon. Consider starting eggplants and cantaloupes too.
- Cold-Season Crops: Arugula, beets, carrots, chinese cabbage, collards, lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, bunching onions, radishes, spinach, swiss chard, and turnip. Some fast maturing varieties of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can also be started.
Note: For a quicker harvest and better heat tolerance, choose fast-maturing or heat-resistant varieties for cold-season crops.
Ongoing Projects:
- New Bed Installation: Adding a new raised bed to the garden.
- Paver Project: Acquired pavers through a fantastic deal on Facebook Marketplace. Plan to place them around trees, flower beds, and a flagpole.
- Pineapple Patch: Creating a pineapple patch around a Sable Palm Tree in the backyard.
- Native Garden Transformation: Slowly replacing non-native plants in the front yard with native flowers like blanket flowers, milkweeds, and purple coneflowers.
Special Tip for February:
This month, focus on everything fruit-related in your garden. It’s an optimal time for transplanting fruit trees, bushes, and plants. Prune them before they break dormancy, and consider feeding them. Use compost or specialized fruit tree fertilizers. For strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, adding a fertilizer like BerryTone is recommended.
Whether you’re diving into warm-season crops or tackling garden projects, I hope February brings joy and abundance to your garden. Happy gardening, everyone!
