Garden Tip:
It’s time to plant potatoes! Prepping Seed Potatoes: Cut up any potato larger than a lime and thicker than your thumb. Make sure there are at least 2-4 “eyes” (buds) per piece. Allow potato pieces to callous, and dust with Sulfur to prevent decay. Planting in trenches: Dig trenches 6” deep, put Cotton Burr Compost in the trench and place potato pieces cut side down 12-18” apart in trenches, then cover up with compost and soil. Soil should be loose and drain well. If temperatures should fall below freezing, place straw around plants. Harvesting Potatoes: When potato plants are large and have begun to flower, you may be able to harvest the “new” potatoes. New potatoes are thin skinned and sweet. When potato plants are yellow-colored and wilted, you will need to pick all of the potatoes.
Pruning in February:
Prune Bush Roses. Remove half of top growth, both by reducing height and by removing weak, internal canes. Each cut should be just above a bud that faces out from the center of the bush to encourage open growth. More info available from Neil Sperry
Weed Prevention:
Corn Gluten Meal is an organic pre-emergent to prevent weeds from germinating in the soil. Hi Yield Dimension is a great synthetic option available to stop weeds from sprouting. Apply Ferti-lome Weed Free Zone to kill winter broadleaf weeds that have already sprouted in your lawn – though most of these will die anyway once the weather changes.
Feeding Time:
Fertilize your vegetable garden with MicroLife 6-2-4 early in the month to encourage strong new shoots. Fertilize cool-season turf (fescue and ryegrass) with 21-0-0.
It’s time to plant fruit trees, grapes and berry vines!
Planting now will help your plants get established before the hot summer months. Be sure to add Cotton Burr Compost to your existing soil when planting and fertilize with MicroLife Citrus & Fruit 6-2-4.
Check out D&L’s February Love On Your Lawn Specials to save on several products mentioned above!
