mtp
Feb 12th, 2008
Feb 12th, 2008
10 Jobs for Feb
Ah - there’s nothing like a good hard frost to remind you that it’s still winter!
We’re all itching to get out there and start ‘doing’ but remember that there’s nothing to be gained by sowing early - later sowings will always catch up once the weather warms up and you risk losing everything to frost if you’re too eager now. That said, there are jobs that you can be getting on with in Feb. Here’s 10 for starters.
- Chit your Potatoes (put them in a light, frost-free place and watch them sprout)
- Plant some Garlic - in pots if you like
- Force some Rhubarb - the crowns do better if they are at least 3 years old
- Plant some fruit trees - make sure to dig a nice big hole and put plenty of organic matter at the bottom
- Plant a few Onion sets - leave some for early Spring too
- Prepare a seed bed - you’ll be using it a lot quite soon
- Draw up a plan of action
- Continue buying seeds - like we ever stopped?
- In mild areas (like the South West of England) sow Summer Cabbage, Spinach, Radish and Broadbeans - under cover of a cloche naturally
- Dig a bean trench and fill it with rotted compost or kitchen waste
If you have any more suggestions for February jobs, add em to the list.
Such excellent advice! I always remind myself that fruit trees of all sorts need a long period of cold in order to produce enough hormones to form the fruit buds for the next year.
It’s also worth getting a start on germinating the slow ‘uns like parsley, celeriac and even parsnips. Personally I always germinate them on damp paper in an old ice cream tub under the kitchen sink. Then transplant them into pots next to your chitting spuds as soon as the tiniest sprout appears. One caveat though on chitting - it’s a wee bit early for most of us to chit maincrop although for earlies and second earlies now is a good time
Another wintery job is to clean glass on cold frames and greenhouses. All those jobs - should keep us quiet!
Our potatoes are in their wooden crates outside the back door, although they can’t quite decide if they like the weather enough to start sprouting. Perhaps we shouldn’t have put ALL of them out. I suppose I should also be more patient and maybe stop peering at them every day and pretending that I can see a little more green than the day before.
Otherwise, I am pleased to report that we are doing well from your list! I would like to see one of these lists every month, please! Our very first radishes are growing (and the slugs are enjoying them a lot), and I put in some spring onions too - instead of a cloche we have used old windows laid over the raised boards along the edge of the bed. It seems to be working. In went the fruit trees last weekend, too.
Oh yes and another handy tip is, after painstakingly sowing a tray of leeks, don’t put it on the windowsill. And especially don’t open the window in a sunshine-induced rush and knock the whole tray all over the bedroom carpet. Do you think they will germinate there? I am looking forward to harvesting my very first leek from beside the bed….
A great list - happily all ticked off in my case. Just about to go and sow some early carrots…
Love the webb site it was a family member who spotted it first and now passed it onto me. I have an allotment and were now in to our second year. i seem to be having problems in growning parsnips which i start of at home first any tips please
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