February is a pivotal month on the farm. It’s a time when we get the first glimmer of Spring, though it is still right in the middle of winter. It’s a month when we have our hands on almost every type of flower we will grow throughout the year. Its fleeting days bring a little more sunshine in the evenings and the first sprouts in the soil.
This February feels a bit more sweet (and a lot more busy) than most. Our days are filled with seed shipping, sweet pea planning, book editing, dahlia dividing, and bulb watching. After a wonderfully successful seed sale, Scott and I have been busier than ever packing boxes and envelopes full of seeds for your gardens. It’s so special to see little pieces of our farm scattered across the country and it fills me with excitement to imagine all the beautiful gardens tucked into your yards.
As soon as one event ends, another one is already on the horizon. Our tuber sale is a little over a month away in March. I’m going to be honest and say it’s one of the most stressful months preparing thousands of tubers to be shipped off. This year, our tuber sale feels even more special, because we will be offering our first ever introduction. It’s something I’ve worked toward and dreamt of and am thrilled it’s almost here.
February also brings the first round of seed starting, with sweet peas tucked into their cells and other early-sow seeds on the racks. It’s the time of the year when Spring, Summer, and Fall flowers all coincide; the last of the bulbs getting snuck in, the first of the annuals sowed, and the dahlia tubers being divided. I love this time of year when you can imagine and plan your year of growing all at once.
Before the business of spring planting hits, it’s also the time to lay the garden’s foundation for the year. Topping up the soil, adding new beds, weeding out rows, and putting up the sweet pea trellises. When we get the odd sunny day like we did this weekend in the PNW, it’s all hands outside prepping for the months to come.
February Garden To-Dos:
- If you are lucky enough to have flourishing Hellebores in your garden, this is the time to enjoy them! Our hellebores and snowdrops are poking up through the ground as the first of the blooms this year.
- It’s the perfect time to map out your flower beds for the year and create a planting plan. Collect your seed packets, and make a calendar of when to start seeds. It’s also a great time to map out your dahlias, and shop for any tubers you may want to add.
- Sweet peas, snapdragons, milkweed, lupine, yarrow and poppies are all flowers that can be started under grow lights around this time of year. For specific sow times, check your seed packet and know your growing zone and last frost date.
- While you have the time, add any new garden beds you may want to build! It’s also a great time to top off existing beds with compost to prepare for spring planting.
During this busy time of year, I hope that you’re finding time to daydream about the flowers to come and are finding enjoyment in the planning process. There is something just as magical in the garden prep as there is in the harvest- having something to hope for and to look forward to.
“I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow.” —David Hobson
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have personal experiences or expertise. However, I can provide information and knowledge on a wide range of topics based on the text provided. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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February as a Pivotal Month on the Farm: The article describes February as a crucial time on the farm, where there is a glimmer of spring despite being in the middle of winter. It's a month when various activities take place, such as seed shipping, sweet pea planning, book editing, dahlia dividing, and bulb watching.
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Seed Shipping: Seed shipping refers to the process of packing and sending seeds to customers who have purchased them for their gardens. The article mentions that the author has been busy packing boxes and envelopes full of seeds after a successful seed sale.
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Sweet Pea Planning: Sweet pea planning involves organizing and preparing for the growth of sweet pea flowers. In this context, it likely includes activities such as selecting varieties, determining planting locations, and planning for the optimal timing of planting.
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Book Editing: Book editing refers to the process of revising and improving a written manuscript or publication. The article mentions that the author is involved in editing a book during this busy period.
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Dahlia Dividing: Dahlia dividing is a horticultural practice of separating dahlia tubers or rhizomes to propagate new plants. This process helps maintain the health and vitality of the dahlia plants and allows for the creation of additional plants from existing ones.
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Bulb Watching: Bulb watching involves observing and monitoring the growth and development of bulbs in the soil. This activity can bring excitement as the first sprouts emerge, indicating the arrival of spring.
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Tuber Sale: The article mentions that a tuber sale is approaching in March. Tuber sales involve offering tubers (underground storage structures) of plants, such as dahlias, for purchase. Customers can buy these tubers to grow their own plants.
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Seed Starting: Seed starting refers to the process of germinating seeds indoors or in controlled environments before transplanting them into the garden. The article mentions starting sweet peas, snapdragons, milkweed, lupine, yarrow, and poppies around this time of year.
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Garden Planning: Garden planning involves mapping out flower beds, creating planting plans, and organizing the layout of the garden for the year. The article suggests collecting seed packets, making a calendar for seed starting, and mapping out dahlias during February.
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Maintenance: The article suggests using this time to add new garden beds, top off existing beds with compost, and prepare for spring planting. Maintenance tasks like weeding and preparing the garden's foundation are important before the busy spring planting season.
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Hellebores and Snowdrops: The article mentions that Hellebores and snowdrops are the first blooms of the year. Hellebores are perennial flowering plants, and snowdrops are early spring bulbs. The mention of these flowers suggests that they are currently emerging from the ground in February.
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Quote by David Hobson: The article ends with a quote by David Hobson, expressing the joy and reasons for growing plants.
I hope this breakdown provides a clear understanding of the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or need further information on any of these topics, feel free to ask!
