Now that the holidays are behind us - and your potatoes are planted (you did get them in the ground, right?-- They should be planted now for optimal harvest in April -- I planted mine January 2nd). It is time to think about when you transplant either purchased or indoor started plants like Tomatoes, Basil, Eggplant, Sweet Peppers etc. The plants which can be perennial here, but need some frost protection.
They produce best is you can get them in ground by February 1st, or thereabouts. BUT you need to cover them during the nights until all frost danger is past. About mid-March in the Valley. The picture about is a cool and cheap option for covering your tender plants. Cheap umbrellas (like Dollar Tree) make adequate greenhouses.
Speaking of frost - the weather is truly a pick-a-factor/possibility. After an protracted warmer fall and early winter, the plants have been as confused as I have ever seen them. So, while I am not sure we will actually get much frost/freeze time this year. "Arizona’s Weather Authority says La Niña typically means a drier than average winter for us. It will likely be a bit warmer, too." --AzFamily - September 2020.
With that said, we can actually get hail in March when the soil begins warming, the upper levels air remains cool and we get wind and rain. So have whatever frost protection handy.
With the non-performance of one of my usual greens and herb bed, I decided to grow more of them in pots and I have a nice selection.
Left to right: Parsley, Chervil, Celery, Cilantro.
Another plant I seeded into a pot in early October is this lovely Black Bell Pepper. The fruit has been small, but I expect them to get bigger with the cooler weather. Peppers do well here, but more so during not-hot times.
And one last picture. About 2 years ago I planted several apple trees from seed. Most of them are in pots, but I wanted to see how a seed-grown apple would do in the ground here. I used the box to show you the original main trunk has lost its leaves. The second trunk grew last year and only now are the leaves turning and I expect them to drop eventually. The tree is healthy. We shall see how it does.
GARDEN TIPS for February
February is the transition time for the garden from Winter to Spring sowing, transplanting and harvesting.
There is still time to get a last batch of carrots, sugarpeas, lettuces and similar in the ground. Choosing short maturity varieties, particularly of the root veggies, will give you more harvesting success as the weather jumps to heat in a couple of months.
February is also the time to start your warm season plants like tomatoes, basil and peppers, to name a few. But they may need some initial frost protection. Keep in mind that they may actually stop growing if there is a cold day or several, which chills the soil. Then they resume when the soil heats back up (an interesting phenomenon I finally caught on to several years ago).
The weird weather of the last couple of years in February/March with high temps followed by overnight chill/freeze (Global Weirding as Karis over at the Valley Permaculture Alliance put it so well), makes for some required diligence in the garden in February and March. It pays to remain more mindful of what the weather will be rather than just sow and try to grow.
February is the end of the primary perennial best planting time in the valley (October - February). What this means is that to ensure the best success for your perennials like rosemary, oregano and fruit trees, it is best to have them in the ground before the end of February and the beginning of our temperature increases.
New to-the-valley residents can be surprised by the common spring joke of "when is spring here?" and the answer is "do you remember that period in early March when it was about 78-83 or so degrees for about 2 weeks? - that was it!"
This of course is due to the sudden rise of temperatures from balmy mid 70s in late February / early March to the 90s by April 1st (or higher - we have had the rare 100+ degree days in late March or early April).
The plants just can't take the stress of dealing with putting down roots while the temperatures soar into the 90+ range in just a few short weeks.
Fertilize fruit trees now -- Use Valentine's day as the target -- (and again in late May (Memorial Day) and early September (Labor Day).
Pecan trees need zinc sulfate, applied at the rate of 1 pound per trunk inch width.
ABOUT FROST
The last frost date averages around February 15th, although we have had frost as late as March 1st or 2nd (usually the result of a late winter storm with hail).
Frost in the Valley at the 1100 or lower elevations is usually limited to ‘soft frost’ where simple sheets or paper placed over sensitive plants (or moving potted plants beneath patios or trees) is sufficient to protect them. Hard/Killing frosts are rare particularly in February/March.
For every 1000 feet over 1100 in elevation the last frost day is moved back 10 days and the possibility of hard (killing) frosts starts to occur. At 2000 feet or lower, this is still a rare occurrence.
Getting your edible seedlings in the ground as early as possible provides longer-produce seasons - especially with plants like tomatoes.
Use homemade 'cloche' covers to protect seedlings -- cut the bottom of gallon milk containers or 2 liter soda bottles - clean very well to avoid mold -- place over plants each night until frost danger is past, remove during the day, or if you need to be gone for several days remove the cap to allow excess heat and humidity to escape.
How do you know if we are finished with frost? There are some examples in nature, but you still need to be prepared to cover sensitive plants through the 2nd week in March.
a. Ant activity in the garden indicates the soil has warmed up sufficiently for them to start gathering food again.
b. If the mesquite trees have started to bud out, it is unlikely to frost after that
c. Be aware that a warm storm can contain some hail through March.
HAIL
Here in the Valley we can have Hail on an expected basis in Spring, early Summer and Fall.
The perfect conditions for Hail are warm OR WARMING soil, cool air mass coming in AND wind.
February and March have the perfect combination of warming soil and a cool system moving in. If you add wind you will generally get hail.
So, while actual frost may not happen keep your frost protection covers and jugs handy in the event of hail to safeguard your new seedlings and transplants.
February Planting
VEGETABLES, FRUITS & HERBS TO PLANT
Artichoke
Asparagus
Basil
Bay
Bean, Lima
Beets
Bok Choy
Cantaloupe
Carrots
Chard
Citrus Scented Marigold (Tagetes Nelsonii)
Collards
Corn
Cucumbers
Epazote
Fruit Trees
Jerusalem Artichoke
Lavender
Lettuce & Greens
Marigold
Marjoram
Melon, Musk Melon
Melon, Winter
Mint
Mustard
Onion, Sets
Onions, Green
Oregano
Peas
Peppers
Potatoes
Purslane
Radishes
Sage
Savory
Spinach
Squash, Summer
Strawberry
Thyme
Tomatoes
Turnips
Watermelon
EDIBLE FLOWERS TO PLANT:
Bee Balm (Monarda Didyma)
English Daisy
Hollyhock
Jasmine Sambac (Arabian)
Pansies
Primrose
Purslane
Safflower
Scented Geraniums
Snapdragons
Sunflower
Sweet Alyssum
Tangerine Scented Marigold (Tagetes Lemonii)
Take care of yourselves and each other,
-- Catherine, The Herb Lady
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