Judy's Garden Calendar February
The main focus for the gardener in February is
on keeping everything alive, especially on those
very hot days. Don’t forget the future, though,
because February’s an important month for
planning for winter and spring in the garden.
Vegies to sow in February
Spring onions
Spring onions are terrifically versatile – use
them in salads, dips, stirfries, soups and a host
of other dishes – but they’re often only needed
in small quantities. This is why it’s such an
advantage to grow your own. Seeds can be
sown directly into garden beds and the plants
picked as required.
Look for Yates Straightleaf Spring Onion with
upright-growing leaves that stand well clear of
the soil, making harvesting clean and simple.
Chinese cabbages
If you’ve had problems in the past with Chinese
cabbages bolting to seed, think about sowing
them now. Start them off in pots in a cool part
of the garden. Transplant the seedlings
carefully during the milder autumn weather
when there’s less chance of them bolting.
Flowers to sow in February – Cornflowers
Amazingly, this attractive plant was given its
common name because it’s a weed in the
British cornfields. But with cornflower’s tall
stems topped with pretty, raggedy-petalled
blooms, most Australian gardeners would think
themselves blessed if they could grow this
pretty plant in weed-like proportions! Yates
seed range includes the classic blue cornflower
and a mixture of pastel shades. Sow now for a
late winter/spring display.
Prune in February
You can prune hydrangeas now, or wait until
the depths of winter. Pruning at this time of
year gives the plant more time to develop next
season’s flowering wood but, by waiting until
winter you get to enjoy the lovely, old-chintz
colours of the aging blooms. No
matter when you decide to prune your
hydrangeas, make sure of two things: only cut
those stems that have flowered this season,
and make the cut just above a pair of healthy,
plump buds.
Also, February’s a good month to prune
summer fruit trees, especially the disease-
prone apricots and cherries.
Pest watch in February
Two-spotted mites cause bronze discolouration
of leaves and, if an infestation is severe, fine
webbing covers the leaves. Plants in dry spots
are particularly susceptible, and beans are
favourites. Watering over the leaves will reduce
mite numbers, and a spray with Yates Nature’s
Way Natrasoap – both sides of leaves – can
also help. The best thing about Natrasoap is
that it has no withholding period. Badly-infested
flowering annuals should be destroyed – they’re
not worth saving.
Keep an eye out, too, for caterpillars. Yates
Nature’s Way Dipel or Success are low toxic
control options.
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