A food gardener's monthly plan for February
February is the month to get organized and started on your food garden. If you have not done so already, the best way to get started is plan you garden by day dreaming about your garden, map out your garden, list all of the items needed for planting. You may also want to think about finalizing your seed orders, get your indoor seed start supplies and beginning your indoor seed starts.
To do
Continue to daydream about your food garden
Make a planting list and order seeds
Organize your seed starting supplies
Begin indoor seed starting
Continue to daydream about your food garden
When planning your food garden, it is a good idea to start by daydreaming about what you want it to look like. This can help you get inspired and come up with some great ideas. Once you have a general idea of what you want, you can start mapping out your garden and making a list of everything you need.
Make a planting list and order your seeds
You will need to order your seeds and plan what you will plant. To do this, think about what you want and love to eat and where they come from. This is a great opportunity to explore new foods and ingredients that may be unfamiliar to you. Certain crops can grow in different climates so keep an eye on how much sun or shade each one requires as well as the length it takes for harvest time.
Organize your indoor seed starting supplies
Starting your seeds indoors may give you a head start on your spring garden. You'll need some basic gear to get started: soil, pots, containers, and seeds. You have two options for purchasing or creating your own seed start soil mix. Make sure the container you're using has good drainage and is light in weight.
Pots come in all shapes and sizes, so choose the ones that will work best for your garden. Make sure the pots have drainage holes so the soil can dry out between waterings. You can also use containers such as milk jugs, yogurt cups, or soda bottles with the bottoms cut out, or use seed-starting trays.
To mark your plants easily without using toxic ink on paper tags, try using popsicle sticks or tongue depressors dipped in paint. Write directly onto the sticks with a permanent marker. Or use recycled aluminum can tabs to label pots by punching a hole through the top and threading a ribbon through the hole. Write the plant name on one side and the date on the other.
Mark your calendar with these seed-starting date guidelines:
For cool season crops such as cabbage, parsley, peas, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots and lettuce sow six to eight weeks before last frost.
For warm season crops, such as corn, cucumbers, squash and beans sow four weeks before the last frost. Don't forget to harden off your starts before transplanting them outside.
List of supplies needed for Indoor Seed Starting
Seeds
Seed start soil mix
Containers (pots, milk jugs, soda bottles cut at the bottom, or seed starting trays and germination kits)
Markers/Popsicle sticks/tongue depressors dipped in paint
Seed start shelve set up
Calendar
Begin indoor seed starting
There are many benefits to beginning your indoor seed starts in February. By starting early, you will have a jump start on the growing season and be able to harvest earlier than those who waited until later in the season. Additionally, you will be able to get a head start on weeding and watering your garden, which can be crucial for a successful growing season. Finally, starting your seeds indoors will allow you to extend your growing season, giving you more time to harvest fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden.
There are a few things you can do to ensure that your indoor seed begins are as successful as possible, whether it's your first time growing seeds or not. First, research the plants you want to cultivate and the materials required for them. Second, assess whether you have adequate growing area and sprouting space indoors, which may require the use of a grow light. Finally, review the needs of your plants and make sure you know what to do with them at each stage of their growth.
In conclusion
February is a great time to start your indoor seedlings so that you can have an earlier harvest.
You will need to order your seeds and organize your indoor seed starting supplies.
By planting cool season crops in late winter/early spring, you can have a jump start on the growing season.
Additionally, starting your seeds indoors allows you to extend your growing season and gives you more time to tend to your plants.
Research the needs of your plants as well as what materials are needed for planting.
Then assess whether or not you have enough indoor space for seed starting, which may require the use of a grow light.
Finally, make sure that you review each stage of your plants' growth to ensure that you know what to do during this time.
If you found this post helpful,
would you be a great friend and share it with others?
Psst... When you're ready, here are three ways I can help you start and grow your kitchen garden…
Do not know how get started with your kitchen garden ? Book a garden consultation.
You do not know which growing season you in? Learn the growing seasons of metro west MA. The garden growing seasons calendar.
Want to plan and keep records for your garden but don’t know how? Grab my Grow Your meal plan workbook printable.
Let’s be gardening friend and share garden tips & trick with more gardening friends .
food gardenkitchen gardenwhat to dogarden planfood garden plan for january
