VEGETABLES

  • It’s never too late to add nutrients to the garden. Add straw, hay, green manure crops, sawdust, kitchen scraps or whatever is on hand.
  • Where snow still covers the ground, add your amendments, letting the spring thaw help break down the additives. Till or spade in added materials during any weather breaks.
  • Start cabbage and onion seeds for early transplants.
  • February is ideal cold frame weather. The sunny days sprout seeds quickly, forcing rapid growth.  A dark manure tea watered in every other week, gives ample nutrients.
  • Pre sprout asparagus seed. Mix seed with 20 parts sand to one part seed. Wash the mix with warm water 3-4 times a day and use folds of damp paper towels or cloth as a sprouting bin.  Sprouting occurs in a week to 10 days. Transplant sprouts into temporary pots until the weather breaks.
  • Work aged manure into garden pea patches. Plant peas as soon as soil thaws and is workable. Mulch rows well and water weekly during dry periods.
  • Start Eggplant and Pepper.
  • Check stored vegetables for rot.

ORCHARD AND FRUITS

  • Continue pruning when wood is not frozen. Save apple clippings for bloom-forcing indoors. 
  • Prune grapes.

TREES AND SHRUBS 

  • Check and repair winter storm damage the first chance you can.
  • As soon as wood thaws, tree and shrub pruning can be started.

LAWNS

  • De-thatch old lawns if needed before feeding high nitrogen fertilizers.

FLOWER GARDEN 

  • Check perennial beds for heaving from severe frosts. Repair damage if possible, or mulch with straw or evergreen boughs until soil can be worked.
  • For a good supply of chrysanthemums for late-fall bloom, divide old plants, setting out new shoots. Give new plants a mulch layer for frost protection.
  • Start petunia and begonia.

HOUSEPLANTS 

  • Force some spring bulbs for early indoor blooms. Extend life of Valentine roses by asking if they were conditioned. If they were, recut stems on a slant and place in cold water. If they haven’t been conditioned, recut stems and place in hot water. The hot water opens up conducting tissue and allows for better water absorption. Once water cools add preservative provided by florist, following instructions on the packet.
  • To continue poinsettia culture, water when soil becomes dry and begin to fertilize at every third watering with a balanced fertilizer. Continue this culture through March.