February is an odd month here in the South. It's still winter, and we can have some of our coldest and iciest weather as fronts sweep down across us from the frozen north, as we refer to the northern states. In between cold fronts the days are starting to warm up, teasing us into thinking it's Spring already. Dreams of ripe red tomatoes and savory peppers start to appear and we get out into our gardens and pull weeds, lay new compost on the beds and even prune some of the dead vegetation from perennials that will resprout in a month or so.
You see, it's not really Spring yet. The days are still short, although they are getting longer each day. The sun is still shining from the South of us and is not too strong. Many folks in the South are still tending their winter vegetable beds and harvesting nutritious greens, root crops such as turnips, beets and radishes and enjoying fresh broccoli, kale, collards and cauliflower.
It's not even too late to plant some of the above mentioned crops. I just direct seeded some broccoli, snow peas and chinese cabbage in one bed. I know there will be time for these crops to grow and mature before the hot weather sets in.
If you live in the South or West of the U.S., now is a good time to look at the vegetable garden and decide what you're going to plant for Spring and Summer crops. It's also the best time to get the weeding and soil preparation done so when it is time to plant, and the seedlings are ready, all you have to do is plant, not prepare.
You can start seeds, too, if you have a place that will keep them warm and give them enough light to grow strong and sturdy. There are so many varieties of tomaotes and peppers to grow and enjoy. The selection of seed is much greater than almost any selection of plants you'll find in a nursery, other than perhaps a specialized nursery, or on-line, of course.
You can start seedlings of cucumbers and summer squash, too, if you like. Although don't plant them out until the soil has warmed. Snap beans will have to wait until the soil is warmer, too, or when you plant, the seed may rot in the cold soil before it germinates.
Many herbs can be started now outdoors in the milder climates. Several of the favorites don't grow well in the heat and must be grown now through the end of Spring. Dill, cilantro, chamomile and chervil are wonderful herbs to grow in the cool temperatures of winter.
Herbal cool season flowers such as violets, pansies and calendula can be planted and grown now. In fact, calendula is the Herb of the Year for 2008. I know I've written a couple of newsletters on it because it's one of my favorites. You can find more information on calendula here.
Another great mild season winter and early crop for the garden or containers is lettuce and other salad greens. Mesclun mixes are popular in the grocery produce section by the pound or in bags. If you live where the winters are mild, you can easily grow these greens yourself. Seed them pretty close together every 2 to 3 weeks and harvest by the cut and come again method when the leaves are 2 to 4 inches tall. That way, you'll have a new crop always coming in.
You can purchase mesclun and lettuce mixes in seed packs or use seed of individual varieties and make your own mix. Arugula, mustard, mizuna, escarole, endive, kale and spinach can make up a spicy mix, while lettuce, beet leaves, tatsoi, spinach and kale make a mild mix. Experiment and see which types of greens you like the best.
Northern gardeners are still in the middle of the frozen winter, I know, but you need not be left out of the fun of an early, cool seaon garden. You can start the salad mixes early indoors, or even grow them to size indoors and harvest them for a nurtritious salad. Other plants can be started indoors and are hardy enough to plant out even a few weeks before your last average frost date. Dill, cilantro, violets and chervil can take a few degrees of freezing temperatures for a few hours and still thrive.
I guess putting up with long, hot, humid summers is a trade off we in the South make to be able to enjoy our winter gardens. But, anyone can enjoy the benefits of the healthy greens that grow in the cooler temperatures of Spring and early Summer.
It is not how old you are, but how you are old. -Jules Renard, writer
(1864-1910)
Until Next Time,
Good Growing to You,
Cindy Meredith, proprietor
The Herb Cottage
442 CR 233
Hallettsville, TX 77964
phone & fax: 979-562-2153
http://theherbcottage.com
International Herb Association
Calendula Notes
Calendula Newsletter
Tasteful Garden
Papa Geno's