Spring and longer days are right around the corner. I should be hoping for a wet one after our dry winter but I am not. It is bareroot season at the nursery. Now is the best selection of fruit trees, grapes, and berries, not to mention the best prices. Most of our fruit trees are in, but as I am writing this our cane berries have not arrived yet. We do expect them by February 1st.
Roses are not due to arrive till week 1 or 2 of February. We can’t get everything, so I like to change it up every year. Look for Burgandy Iceburg, Betty Boop, and Gemini along with a few of the Romantica Roses for some great roses we have not had in a while. Weeks has come out with a nice red/yellow reverse but I can’t say much for the name – Ketchup & Mustard. Could be a real hot dog though… 🙂
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| Burgundy Iceberg | Betty Boop | Ketchup & Mustard |
It’s planting time! Not only is it time to plant your bareroot but this is the month to start your tomatoes and such indoors from seed. Too early for some thing, but I called my seed company and told them we are ready for them. They should be here by February 1st. I think I ordered the Seeds of Change line to get here in early February too. Then get outside to sow your brocolli, greens, peas, and other cool season seeds. Don’t forget to add organic matter to those tired beds. We love the GreenAll Soil Booster but steer, chicken, and/or worm castings are worth considering also along with gypsum and E.B Stone vegetable food. Make sure those pesky critters like snails, slugs, and even birds don’t harvest your little sprouts for you.
Haven’t done your dormant spray on your fruit trees or roses yet? Waiting to finish your pruning first? Better get it done this month, no more procrastinating. I don’t know about you, but all my favorite teams did not make the super bowl, so you might as well head out to your garden and start thinking about the new year.
Get those weeds while they are still small enough to hoe and get a nice layer of mulch down to inhibit more growth and to make the weeding so much easier next time.
Got a bare spot in the yard and over-crowded perennials in another place? Why not dig some up and to fill the bare spot?
It is still early for a good selection of flowering annuals and perennials, but we do have some spots of color if you need to brighten your day. Get the jump on spring and get those cold hardy shrubs planted now and we have several to chose from. We have cool season vegetable starts and February is a great month to get them in.
Plant of the Month
Chaenomeles- Flowering Quince
Flowering Quince
This versatile deciduous shrub is one of the earliest to blossom every year. The most common color around is a coral red, often seen in the older homes of the neighborhood. The growth habit varies with variety, with some growing low and others to 10ft tall and wide. Colors to chose from are white, pinks, reds, and oranges. Most are single flowers, but they do come fully double.
Flowering quince is easy to grow, tolerates both heat and cold, and heavy soil. blossoms attract birds and it is on the deer resistant list. You can prune to shape anytime, even before it blooms to force the branches to flower indoors. There are a few thornless varieties, but usually they usually come with some thorns. The taller varieties are quite useful for hedges and barriers.
All varieties and sizes of flowering quince are 20% OFF in February.
February Specials
- 50% OFF : 2011 Seeds
- 50% OFF: Daffodil bulbs, while they last
- Fill a Flat: Buy 7 jumbo packs of annuals and/or vegetables and get the 8th FREE.
- Soil Booster: Buy 3 bags and get the 4th FREE
- Plant of the Month: Flowering Quince 20% OFF regular price.
Happy Gardening,
Tanya