What to plant in February

February

What to Plant

Annuals/Bedding plants: Plants that can take a chill include dianthus, pansy, viola, and dusty miller. See Annuals: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_annual_landscape_plants

Bulbs: Try dahlia, crinum, and agapanthus. Provide adequate water for establishment and protect them from cold with mulch. See Bulbs for Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_bulbous_flowers

Flowering plants: Many trees and shrubs will be in bloom, including red maple (Acer rubrum) and star magnolia (Magnolia kobus var. stellata). See Southern Tree Fact Sheets: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/department_envhort-trees

Vegetables: Plant potatoes now. Start with healthy seed pieces purchased from a local nursery or online seed catalog. Continue to plant cool-season crops. See Vegetable Gardening in Florida: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_vegetable_gardening

What to Do

Palms: Give cold-damaged palms proper care to encourage their recovery. See Cold Protection and Chilling Damage of Landscape Plants: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_landscapes_and_cold

Citrus: Avoid pruning until spring. Cold temperatures may still injure citrus. See Home Citrus Culture: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_citrus_home_citrus_culture

Roses: Prune roses this month to remove damaged canes and improve the overall form. After pruning, fertilize and apply a fresh layer of mulch. Blooming will begin 8–9 weeks after pruning. See Roses: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_rose

Shrubs: Make certain that you know the height and spread of any shrub you plan to install. Not all shrubs are suitable for planting next to homes or under windows. See Shrubs: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_shrubs and The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design: http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/FYN_Plant_Selection_Guide_v090110.pdf

Lawn: Apply a preemergence weed killer (not a “weed and feed” fertilizer) when temperatures rise to 65°F for 4–5 days to prevent warm-season weeds. Timing is important for good control. See Lawn Weeds: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_lawn_weeds

Citrus and other fruit trees: Fertilize now if not done in January. Frequency and amount of fertilization depend on the age of the tree. SeeHome Citrus Culture: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_citrus_home_citrus_culture and Temperate Fruit for the Home Landscape: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_home_temperate_fruit

Tables

Table 1.Planting Guide for Florida Vegetables.

Crop

Planting Dates in Florida (outdoors) 1

Yield per 10 ft (pounds)

Plants per 10 ft 2

Days to Harvest 3

Spacing (inches)

Seed depth (inches)

Transplant Ability 5

Plant Family 6

North

Central

South

Plants

Rows 4
Arugula

Sept–Mar

Sept–Mar

Oct–Mar

2.5

30–40

35–60

3–4

10

¼

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Beans, bush

Mar–Apr Aug–Sept

Feb–Apr Aug–Sept

Sept–Apr

4.5

30–60

45–60

2–4

18

1–1½

III

(Bean) Fabaceae
Beans, pole

Mar–Apr Aug–Sept

Feb–Apr Aug–Sept

Sept–Apr

8

24–40

50–70

3–5

36

1–1½

III

(Bean) Fabaceae
Beans, lima

Mar–Apr Aug

Feb–Mar Aug–Sept

Sept–Apr

5

20–40

60–80

3–6

18

1–1½

III

(Bean) Fabaceae
Beets

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Oct–Jan

7.5

30–60

50–70

2–4

12

½ –1

I

(Beet) Chenopodiaceae
Broccoli

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Oct–Jan

5

8–12

75–90 (50–70)

10–15

24

¼– ½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Brussels Sprouts

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Oct–Jan

10

5–7

90–120 (70–90)

18–24

24

¼–½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Cabbage

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Sept–Jan

12

8–13

85–110 (70–90)

9–16

24

¼– ½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Cantaloupes

Feb–Apr

Jan–Mar

Dec–Mar

15

4–6

85–110 (70–90)

20–36

60

½–1

III

(Squash) Cucurbitaccae
Carrots

Aug–Mar

Aug–Mar

Sept–Mar

10

40–120

70–120

1–3

10

¼

II

(Carrot) Apiaceae
Cauliflower

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Sept–Jan

8

7–10

75–90 (50–70)

12–18

24

¼– ½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Celery

Aug–Feb

Sept–Mar

Oct–Mar

15

10–20

75–90

6–12

18

On surface

II

(Carrot) Apiaceae
Chinese cabbage

Aug–Feb

Sept–Apr

Sept–Apr

10

7–9

70–90 (60–70)

14–18

14

¼ – ½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Collards

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Sept–Jan

15

5–10

70–90 (50–70)

12–24

24

¼– ½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Corn, sweet

Feb–Apr

Jan–Apr

Oct–Mar

12

15–20

65–90

6–8

28

1–1½

III

(Grass) Poaceae
Cucumbers

Feb–Apr July–Aug

Jan–Mar Sept

Sep–Feb

10

10–20

40–65

6–12

48

½–¾

III

(Squash) Cucurbitaceae
Eggplant

Feb–Mar Aug

Jan–Feb Aug–Sept

Aug–Feb

20

3–7

90–115 (70–90)

18–40

36

½–¾

I

(Tomato) Solanaceae
Endive/ Escarole

Jan–Feb Aug–Oct

Aug–Feb

Sept–Mar

7.5

8–9

60–80

14–16

18

¼

I

(Aster) Asteraceae
Kale

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Sept–Jan

7.5

9–10

50–70

8–12

18–

¼– ½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Kohlrabi

Sept–Mar

Oct–Mar

Oct–Feb

10

24–40

70–80 (50–55)

3–5

24

½

I

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Lettuce

Jan–Feb Sept–Oct

Sept–Feb

Sept–Feb

7.5

10–15

60–80

8–12

18

¼

I

(Aster) Asteraceae
Mustard

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Sept–Jan

10

12–24

40–50

5–10

12

¼– ½

II

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Okra

Mar–June

Feb–Aug

Jan–Mar Aug–Oct

7

12–30

60–70

4–10

36

½–1

III

(Hibiscus) Malvaceae
Onions, Bulbing

Mid–Sept – Mid–Nov

Oct

Oct

10

30

100–130

4–6

14

¼–½

III

(Lily) Liliaceae
Onions, Bunching (Green and Shallots)

Aug–Mar

Aug–Mar

Sept–Mar

10

30

50–75 (green) 75–100 (shallots)

2 (green) 6–8 (shallots)

14

¼–½

III

(Lily) Liliaceae
Peas, Snow or English

Jan–Mar

Nov–Feb

Nov–Feb

4

20–60

60–80

2–6

12

1–1½

III

(Bean) Fabaceae
Peas, southern

Mar–July

Feb–Aug

Sept–Apr

8

20–60

75–90

2–6

12

1–1½

III

(Bean) Fabaceae
Peppers

Feb–Mar July– Aug

Jan–Mar Aug–Sept

Aug–Feb

5

8–13

90–100 (65–75)

9–15

15

¼–½

I

(Tomato) Solanaceae
Potatoes, Irish

Jan–Feb

Nov–Feb

Oct–Jan

15

12–24

85–110

5–10

36–42

3–4 (seed pieces)

II

(Tomato) Solanaceae
Potatoes, sweet

Mar–Jun

Feb–Jun

Dec–Sept

30

10–12

85–130

10–12

36

—

I

(Morning Glory) Convolvulaceae
Pumpkin

Early July

Mid July

Early Aug

30

2–4

80–100 (70–90)

36–60

60

1½ –2

III

(Squash) Cucurbitaceae
Radish

Sept– Mar

Sept–Mar

Oct–Mar

4

120

20–30

1

6

¼

III

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Spinach

Sept–Mar

Sept–Mar

Oct–Feb

4

20–60

45–60

2–6

12

½

II

(Beet) Chenopodiaceae
Squash, Summer

Feb–Apr Aug–Sept

Jan–Apr Aug–Sept

Aug–Mar

15

5–10

40–50

12–24

36

1–1½

III

(Squash) Cucurbitaceae
Squash, Winter

Feb–Apr Aug–Sept

Jan–Apr Aug–Sept

Aug–Mar

30

2–4

85–120

36–60

60

1½ –2

III

(Squash) Cucurbitaceae
Strawberry

Sept 15– Oct 15

Sept 25– Oct 25

Oct 1– Dec 1

9–12

8–10

(30–60)

12–16

12

– – –

I

(Rose) Rosaceae
Swiss Chard

Sept–May

Sept–May

Sept–Mar

8–12

10–20

45–60

6–12

18

¼–½

I

(Beet) Chenopodiaceae
Tomatoes (supported)

Feb–Apr July–Aug

Jan–Feb Aug–Sept

Aug–Feb

2

4–7

90–110 (70–90)

18–32

48

¼– ½

I

(Tomato) Solanaceae
Turnips

Aug–Feb

Sept–Feb

Sept–Jan

15

20–60

40–60

2–6

12

¼– ½

III

(Cabbage) Brassicaceae
Watermelon

Feb–Apr

Jan–Mar

Dec–Mar

40

3–5

80–100 (60–90)

24–48

60

1½ –2

III

(Squash) Cucurbitaceae
1 North = all of Florida north of State Road 40; central = the section of Florida between State Roads 40 and 70; south = all of Florida below State Road 70.

2 Use transplants (if appropriate) or buy the amount of seed needed to grow this many plants per 10 feet of row. Most seed packets state the number of seeds the packet contains.

3 Days from seeding to harvest: values in parentheses are days from transplants to first harvest.

4 Minimum distance between rows (when planting in rows). Row spacing can be reduced or ignored as long as plants are spaced correctly.

5 Transplant ability (the ability of a seedling to be successfully transplanted): I = easily survives transplanting; II = survives transplanting with care; III = only plant seeds or containerized transplants with developed root systems.

6 Rotate plant families = avoid successively planting vegetables from the same family in the same area of the garden.

For more information visit: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021
0

by mirandasellers
Posted: January 18, 2018

Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Fruits & Vegetables, Home Landscapes, Lawn

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Comments:

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September 1, 2020

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