League City Area News Online: Gardening

Gardening: Pansy Image Pansies bloom during cool weather when many other annuals have faded away. Fertilize fall-planted pansies again in February to promote blooming. Photo Credit: William M. Johnson

February is a busy month for gardeners, with both indoor and outdoor activities. While the last few weeks have been unseasonably warm, we are not out of the woods yet as the weather could easily turn cold.

Upcoming Gardening Seminars

Saturday, February 11: "The Secrets of Home-grown Tomatoes Seminar" by Master Gardener Sam Scarcella, 9-11:30 a.m.

Saturday, February 18: "Growing Hybrid Tea Roses Seminar" by Master Gardener Jon Johns, 9-11:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 4: "A Garden for Butterflies Seminar" by Master Gardener Anna Wygrys, 9-11 a.m.

All seminars will be held at the Galveston County Extension Office located at 5115 Highway 3 in Dickinson. No fee but pre-registration is required (281-534-3413 Ext. 6, or GALV3@wt.net). Visit website listed below for more information.

Indoor activities consist of several excellent educational opportunities and outdoor activities include a variety of gardening chores:

The Secrets of Home-grown Tomatoes Seminar on Saturday, February 11, 9-11:30 a.m.

Anyone–yes anyone–can grow totally terrific homegrown tomatoes. And early February is the right time to make preparations for producing homegrown tomatoes. To get the best start and to avoid common pitfalls, take time to attend this seminar.

The seminar will be presented by Texas Master Gardener Sam Scarcella, on Saturday, February 11, from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. at the Galveston County Extension Office in Dickinson. It is free-of-charge but pre-registration is requested due to space limitations (GALV3@wt.net or 281-534-3413, ext. 6).

An Introduction to Growing Hybrid Tea Roses Seminar on Saturday, February 18, 9-11:30 a.m.

Texas Master Gardener Jon Johns will present a program on hybrid tea roses from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Topics include variety selection, planting, fertilizing, insect pest and disease management. Demonstrations on pruning and propagation will also be provided. The seminar is free-of-charge but pre-registration is requested due to space limitations (GALV3@wt.net or 281-534-3413, ext. 6).

A Garden for Butterflies Seminar on Saturday, March 4, 9 to 11 a.m.

How do I establish a butterfly garden? What do butterflies eat? Do butterflies need to drink? When do butterflies sleep? What is this caterpillar eating all my butterfly weed plant? If you have asked these questions, then you can get the answers to these and other questions by attending a program presented by Texas Master Gardener Anna Wygrys from 9 to 11 a.m. The seminar is free-of-charge but pre-registration is requested due to space limitations (GALV3@wt.net or 281-534-3413, ext. 6).

Pansies

Put a light application of fertilizer on established pansy plants. Use one pound of 13-13-13 or similar fertilizer per 100 square feet of bed area. Repeat the application every 4 to 6 weeks. Dried blood meal and cottonseed meal (3 to 4 pounds per 100 square feet of bed) are also excellent types of slow-release fertilizer for pansies.

Lawns

Yes, most area St. Augustine lawns are dull brown in color because of our periods of rather cold weather. However, do not fertilize St. Augustine lawns now in the hope of making it green up faster. St. Augustine lawns should not be fertilized this time of year until after the grass starts to actively grow; otherwise, if you fertilize now you will be benefiting winter weeds and some of the nitrogen will be lost before lawn growth starts.

Raised Beds

Consider building a raised bed for the vegetable garden if the existing garden site has poor soil drainage. Rainy weather can make such raised beds well worth the effort when it's time to plant in spring.

Vegetables

Transplants of broccoli and cabbage should be set out before February 15. Beets, carrots, collards, Swiss chard, lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, mustard, English peas, radish, spinach and turnips can be planted throughout the month of February.

Stone Fruits

Fertilize stone fruit trees by late February. The general recommendation for fertilizer for bearing stone fruit trees is to apply two cups of a balanced fertilizer per inch of trunk in February. A second application is recommended in during mid-May. A fertilizer such as 15-5-10 (commonly used for lawns) is suitable for use on fruit trees and also for shrubs and landscape trees. Spread fertilizer evenly under the drip line but keep six inches away from the trunk.

Sweet Corn

The spring vegetable gardening season will be in full swing next month. However, sweet corn can be planted from mid-February on to get an early harvest of tasty corn-on-the-cob. If you’re a sweet corn connoisseur, plant at weekly internals thereafter up to mid-June to extend the harvest season.

Pruning

The ideal time period to prune most landscape trees is during the winter season when trees are dormant. Major pruning of landscape trees should be completed in February.

New Trees and Shrubs

When buying plants, the biggest is not always the best, especially when dealing with bare-root plants. The medium to small size trees (4 to 6 feet) are usually faster to become established and more effective in the landscape than the large sizes. Don’t fertilize newly set out trees or shrubs until after they have started to grow, and then only very lightly the first year.

Gladiolus

Begin planting gladiolus bulbs. Space planting dates at 2- week intervals to extend the flower season.

Potatoes

Irish potatoes can be planted until mid-February. Good soil drainage is a must as Irish potatoes will not tolerate “wet feet.”

Dr. Johnson is a horticulturist with the Galveston County
Extension Office of Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas A&M University. Visit his web site at http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/galveston/index.htm

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Gardening: Bananas - August 1, 2004 article

Gardening: August Gardening Calendar - August 16, 2004 article

Gardening: Trio Of Extension Programs Includes Pear Tasting, Master Naturalist Class & Rose Seminar - August 20, 2004 article

Gardening: Prepare Now For Fall Gardens - August 26, 2004 article

Gardening: September's Garden Calendar Includes Fall Pecan Field Day - September 2, 2004 article

Gardening: Ornamental Grasses - September 8, 2004 article

Gardening: Don't Let Landscape Become A High-Maintenance Nightmare - September 22, 2004 article

Gardening: Oct. 10 Plant Sale & Seminar To Feature Butterfly Gardening - Butterflies Bring Color, Motion to Garden - October 2, 2004 article

Gardening: Plant It And They Will Come: Getting the Butterflies of Galveston County to Grace Your Yard - October 2, 2004 article

Gardening: Rose Propagation & Seasonal Decorating Workshops To Be Held - October 13, 2004 article

Gardening: Extension Office To Sponsor Open House On October 29, Seasonal Decorations and Onion and Garlic Workshops - October 20, 2004 article

Gardening: Extension Office To Sponsor Open House On October 29 and County Pecan Show - October 27, 2004 article

Gardening: November Is Pansy Time - November 6, 2004 article

Gardening: County Pecan Growers Display Their Successes - November 11, 2004 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Questions On Fall Crops - November 17, 2004 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Q&As For November - November 28, 2004 article

Gardening: Gardeners' December Checklist Includes Citrus Show On Dec. 9 - December 3, 2004 article

Gardening: Citrus Show A Huge Success With 185 Entries - December 19, 2004 article

Gardening: Trees and Shrubs - December 23, 2004 article

Gardening: Cold Weather Impact - January 4, 2005 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Checklist For January Includes Several Educational Programs - January 7, 2005 article

Gardening:Announcing the 2005 Galveston County Master Gardener Training - January 13, 2005 article

Gardening:Peach & Plum Growers' Workshop To Be Held Saturday, January 29 - January 19, 2005 article

Gardening: Gardening for Texas Wildlife - January 28, 2005 article

Gardening: Wide Variety of Citrus to Be Available at February 5 Fruit Tree Sale and Home Citrus Production - January 31, 2005 article

Gardening: Fruit Trees Of The Gods Featured In February 5 Master Gardener Plant Sale - February 2, 2005 article

Gardening: "If I Were A Tomato, I Would Want To Be Grown In Texas . . . Galveston County, That Is!" Workshop to be held February 12 - February 9, 2005 article

Gardening: February Is Rose Pruning Time...Attend Rose Care Seminar to Learn How - February 16, 2005 article

Gardening: Extension Activities At The Home & Garden Show On Feb. 26-27 - February 23, 2005 article

Gardening: March Gardening Calendar Includes Seminar On Butterfly Gardening - March 2, 2005 article

Gardening: Gardeners' Q&As From The Galveston Home & Garden Show - March 10, 2005 article

Gardening: Extension Offers Program On "Living To Be 100 . . . A Commonsense Approach." - March 16, 2005 article

Gardening: Program On Plumeria Offered On March 26- March 29, 2005 article

Gardening: Garden Checklist For April Includes Pecan Field Day - April 6, 2005 article

Gardening: Hints On Harvesting Vegetables For Peak Flavor - April 15, 2005 article

Gardening: Fresh Blueberries From Your Home Garden Seminar On Saturday, April 23 - April 22, 2005 article

Gardening: Learn About Weed Control - April 27, 2005 article

Gardening: Home Gardening Chores and
May 14 Home Fruit Growers’ Tour - May 5, 2005 article

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