Mid-South: February 2016

Okay, for you newcomers, Welcome to Mid-South! I'm on the edge of 7b/8a, about 40 miles north of Atlanta. But Mid-South covers a wide swath from VA to TX. And, boy, are we getting a mix of weather!

Here, it was 56 when I dragged out of bed this morning at 8 am (day off!). But just a few days ago, we had 1/2 inch of snow/ice on the ground. And I know the folks in NC & VA got it a WHOLE lot more...!

Long range forecast from The Weather Network is saying that we can still expect colder than normal temps with higher than normal rainfall starting sometime this month and continuing on thru March. (The jet stream is supposed to move further south allowing the cold weather from the north to move down.)

But ever the dreamer, this morning I saw that I have some San Marzano tomatoes & Bright Lights Swiss chard popping their heads up from their planting medium! Exciting!!!


So what can we plant this month to get a jump on the garden? According to Gardenate.com we can do the following. (Keep in mind that this is for 7b. YOUR planting schedule may vary a week or so.)

Planting now in February for the USA - Zone 7b zone
Artichokes (Globe) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from January.
Asparagus Plant in garden. Harvest from 24 months.
Beetroot (also Beets) Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
Broccoli Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Brussels sprouts Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Cabbage Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
Cape Gooseberry (also Golden Berry, ) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Capsicum (also Bell peppers, Sweet peppers) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May.
Carrot Plant in garden. Harvest from June.
Cauliflower Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Celeriac Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Celery Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July.
Chicory (also Witloof, Belgian endive) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July.
Chilli peppers (also Hot peppers) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May.
Collards (also Collard greens, Borekale) Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
Corn Salad (also Lamb's lettuce or Mache) Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Eggplant (also Aubergine) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Kale (also Borecole) Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
Leeks Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Lettuce Plant in garden. Harvest from May.
Marrow Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Mint (also Garden mint) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May.
Mizuna (also Japanese Greens, Mitzuna, Mibuna) Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Mustard greens (also gai choy) Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Onion Plant in garden. Harvest from September.
Parsnip Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from July.
Potato Plant in garden. Harvest from July.
Pumpkin Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from June.
Radish Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Rhubarb Plant in garden. Harvest from 12 months.
Silverbeet (also Swiss Chard or Mangold) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May.
Spinach (also English spinach) Plant in garden. Harvest from April.
Strawberries (from seeds) Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from 12 months.
Tomato Start undercover in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvest from May.
Turnip Plant in garden. Harvest from May.

Harvesttotable.com give us some items to plant & chores to do:

USDA Zone 7:

□ Finish updating garden plans.

□ Turn under winter cover crops if the soil is dry enough to cultivate.

□ Spread ½ inch of compost over beds that you will plant soon.

□ Weed strawberries and place a row cover over the bed to encourage early bloom.

□ Start lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and early tomatoes indoors under lights.

□ Set seed potatoes in a warm place to encourage sprouting.

□ Harden off cabbage family seedlings outdoors in a coldframe; at the end of the month plant them in the garden beneath cloches.

□ Sow peas and parsley directly in the garden near the end of the month.

□ Set out onion sets when the soil can be worked.

□ On mild days, prune berries, brambles, grapes, and fruit trees. Also on mild days, check for over-wintering pests and apply dormant oil sprays.

□ Prune hybrid tea roses late in month; also set out new roses as soon as the soil can be worked.

□ Clean out pots and containers to be planted in spring.

Rodale's Organic Life give us this information for Zones 7 & 8:

Zone 7

When you see the first crocus open, consider it time to set out transplants of lettuce, cabbages, and onions; cover them on cold nights.
In the garden, sow seeds of radishes and cold-hardy lettuces.
When daffodils "pop," plant seeds of spinach, turnips, and peas.
Cover the pea bed with clear plastic until sprouts begin to emerge; then, immediately switch to a floating row cover to protect the seedlings from weather and birds.
Start herb seeds indoors under lights.
Also indoors, start seeds of annual flowers—such as ageratum, petunia, and snapdragons—that need 8 to 10 weeks to reach transplant size.
Zone 8

Feed the soil by applying compost to plantings throughout your landscape: trees, shrubs, lawn, and all garden beds.
By the third week of the month, plant potatoes 4 inches deep in warm soil.
Begin sowing seeds of leaf lettuces, collards, and other greens outdoors; for continuous harvest, repeat sowings every 2 weeks.
On Valentine's Day, prune roses, clean up debris, and then top-dress the shrubs with fresh mulch. No roses? Plant some now!
Prune fruit trees, then spray them at their "pink bud" stage with either a copper or lime-sulfur solution if you've had trouble with foliar and fruit diseases.
Plant alyssum (Lobularia maritima), hollyhocks (Alcea rosea), edging lobelia (Lobelia erinus), rocket larkspurs (Consolida ajacis), and Canterbury bells (Campanula medium).


So we've got lots to do this month! Let's go get our hands dirty!

Please post what you're doing in YOUR garden this month. We'd love to hear about it and see photos!

What a way to start the month off... Yesterday, Atlanta set a new heat record of 76 degrees.

We had to go south about 30 miles yesterday afternoon. Coming home we saw that the temp there was 74. But when we got home, it was 63. In just 30 miles. Unreal....

Today, it was 58 when I dragged my butt out of bed. Raining, thunder & lightening... Great sleeping weather....

All of my San Marzano's are up. Most of the yellow pear tomatoes, 3 Swiss chard (2 red, 1 yellow - Amazing I can already tell the colors!), and a couple of cabbage are also poking their heads out. And an onion! (only 1 out of 24 so far, lol!)

Oh, good, Sanderson! What color did y'all go with?

This morning it was only 40 degrees. Big change from yesterday... And tomorrow's supposed to be colder. Monday we may get "a chance of rain or snow" according to NOAA... Yipee....

I've still got flower bulbs I need to get planted. And a bunch of boxes to get cleaned up ready for all these seedlings that are popping up...

That should look nice!!

So... last night was entertaining.... It was 29 degrees and we were having a thunderstorm!

We couldn't figure out how the rain would overwhelm the temps, but it did... And this morning it's 36. No none of the ice they were saying we'd have.

That's a fabulous list you started this thread off with, AM! I'm not far behind you so I can use it, too.

CC

Thanks, CC! There's some great info on the various sites. Thankfully they email a lot of it to me...

And now I'm behind again in getting stuff seeded.... DH keeps distracting me with "his" "new" hobby...

He used to do model planes & ships as a kid. And I wanted him to have a hobby other than guns, since that's also our work. So I got him a model for Christmas. Now 2 planes are done, a ship is 1/2 way done, another plane is started, and we're putting new shelves up so he can show them off! And, of course, he wants me to be involved. And to tell the truth, I'm having a blast with them!

But after our 29 degree thunderstorm last night, it's in the mid-50's and I STILL can't get out to the garden...! sigh.... (LOL)

It is supposed to warm up even more starting on Thursday.  I already warned my boss that I needed a day off again to get grounded.  I told him thursday or friday or maybe both days.

66*F and clear on Friday.