It’s not too early to get a head start on fresh veggies. The groundhog may have seen his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter, but it’s not too early to start thinking about a vegetable garden.
February can be a good time to get your hands in the soil and plant some cool-season vegetables. Whether your area sees freezing cold snaps or mild, frost-free weather, you can set your garden in motion now. So, you can enjoy early harvests when warm weather arrives. You’ll need workable soil, and frost blankets and row covers can provide added protection. Here are the vegetables you can plant in February for a bountiful spring:
A winter garden can be successful, but you will need to make a few adjustments to help it thrive. Because of winter’s shorter days and lower temperatures, you will want to plant in full sun. Soil does not dry out as quickly as it does in the summer months, so you won’t need to water vegetable plants as often. Consider planting vegetables in raised beds because the soil warms up quickly and drains well, which is helpful in winter when evaporation is slower.
Warmer regions have the benefit of spring-like temperatures earlier than other areas. In areas where February is still too cold, cold frames and frost blankets can help you get started early in the season and protect seedlings from freeze damage. It’s also a good time to start seeds indoors so they will be ready to go in the ground after the last frost. Whether your area has mild or snowy winters, it’s a good idea to check with your local extension office for help determining what’s best to grow in your area and when.
Kale
Get ahead of the spring harvest by planting kale (Brassica oleracea Kale Group) four weeks before the last frost. This can be late February for coastal areas or later for mountain regions, so make sure you know when the last frost will be in your area. Kale tolerates light freezes, so do not worry if unexpected cold snaps are in the forecast. The cold temperatures can actually enhance the sweetness of kale, so use it to your advantage. Plant in a sunny spot in well-drained, rich, acidic soil. Harvest baby greens 20 to 30 days after planting seeds, and mature kale after 50 to 75 days.
Carrots
Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) are a must for spring harvests, so plan to plant them once the soil is warm and workable. They need moist, loose, loamy or sandy soil that’s slightly acidic to neutral to thrive. Keep the soil moist to ensure a sweet flavour-too little water can make them taste bitter. Spring crops should be planted in early February to late March in parts of the Upper South so they will be ready to harvest before summer heat arrives. They are ready to harvest when the top of the carrot begins to peek from the top of the soil.
Radishes
Radishes (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus) grow quickly, and you can plan for a harvest as early as three weeks after sowing the seeds. They can be planted as early as January, and you can plant new seeds every two weeks for a continuous harvest. Make sure they are planted in full sun in well-draining, loose, loamy or sandy soil. Plant them about a half inch deep and space them an inch apart. They can grow in partial shade, but they will take longer to mature than when they are planted in full sun. You’ll know it’s time to harvest them when their rounded tops begin to emerge from the soil.
Turnips
February is an excellent time to get turnips (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) started for a spring crop since they do well in cool temperatures. If you are not familiar with their mild, peppery flavor, the root can be mashed like potatoes, baked in a gratin, or added to a favourite cozy soup, and the turnip greens can be cooked like collards. Plant seeds outdoors five inches apart in very fertile, slightly acidic soil. Loosen the soil to 12 to 15 inches, add in compost, and plant seeds half inch deep. Row covers add extra protection for spring crops. If you plant more seeds every couple of weeks, you will have continuous harvests. Greens can be harvested after a month, while the roots will be ready in two months.
Collards
While many associate collard greens (Brassica oleracea Collards Group) with Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, they are also a late-spring crop that tolerates frosts and freezes. Light, loamy soils that drain well, such as sandy soils, are best for growing in the spring. Make sure the soil is rich with a potential of hydrogen, pH level of 6.0 to 6.5. Space them about 15 inches apart, and harvest the leaves when they reach the desired size or whole plants when they reach about 10 inches tall, after about 75 days.
Peas
Peas (Pisum sativum) do not like summer heat, so planting them in February ensures you can enjoy them as early as May. Plant them four to six weeks before the last frost, once the soil has warmed, and use a cold frame to protect them from cold, wet soil in colder regions. You can also start the seeds indoors to transfer to the garden once the soil warms. Vining types will need a trellis for climbing as they grow. Full sun and well-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil will help them thrive.
Asparagus
Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial vegetable that can produce year after year, but you will have to be patient waiting for your first harvest. Plant it from mid-January to mid-March in deep soil amended with compost, a raised bed is a good choice. Plant bare-root crowns in 6-inch-deep trenches five to eight inches apart in a sunny spot. As they grow, continue to cover them with two inches of soil until the crowns reach a depth of eight inches. Do not harvest asparagus the first year, and only lightly harvest them the second year. By the fourth season, you can harvest the crop for six to eight weeks.
Active journalism costs huge sums of money. To ensure quality and rich agricultural journalism, the support of readers and friends of the publication is required. Donations can be made in Nigerian Naira (NGN). Kindly provide relevant information during transactions and be assured that funds received will be used judiciously and appropriately. For donation to FarmingFarmersFarms, kindly click the link below, call or send message to: +2348095451987.