FEBRUARY PLANTING GUIDE

February weather can be volatile in Orange County gardens. It could rain all month, be chilly at night or be sunny and mild. Despite the variation, this is the month to plant a wide array of flowers, vegetables and herbs.

Wait four to seven days after heavy rain before planting. The soil should be moist but not soggy. If you are unable to garden because of wet weather, store bare-root plants in a cool location and keep the root ball moist.

Now is the perfect time to select and order seed for spring and summer crops. Many mail-order companies carry a wide variety of new and unusual vegetable and flower seed.

Buying now ensures you’ll have the seed on hand next month when you can begin planting many warm-weather crops outdoors, or you can start seed indoors now.

FLOWERS

Alyssum

Bachelor’s button

Begonia

Bromeliad

Calendula

California poppy

Candytuft

Carnation

Chrysanthemum

Cineraria

Columbine

Cyclamen

Delphinium

Dianthus

English primrose

Forget-me-not

Foxglove

Fuchsia

Gerbera daisy

Geranium

Iceland poppy

Impatiens

Kalanchoe

Flowering kale

Larkspur

Lupine

Nasturtium

Nemesia

Pansy

Salvia

Schizanthus

Snapdragon

Statice

Stock

Sweet pea

Viola

Wildflowers

*

BULBS/TUBERS

Tuberous begonia

Crocosmia

Dahlia

Dwarf canna

Gladiolus

Lily

Ranunculus

*

BARE-ROOT

Artichoke

Asparagus

Berries

Flowering trees

Fruiting trees

Maui onion

Shade trees

Rose

Rhubarb

Strawberry

*

VEGETABLES & HERBS

Arugula

Beet

Bok choy

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Cabbage

Carrot

Cauliflower

Celery

Cilantro

Collards

Cress

Dill

Endive

Horseradish

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leek

Lettuce

Mint

Mustard greens

Onion

Parsley

Parsnip

Pea

Potato

Radish

Rutabaga

Salsify

Shallot

Spinach

Swiss chard

Turnip