February in the Houston Kitchen Garden
We are on the last leg of the cool season here in Houston.
February’s focus is primarily on harvesting what was planted back in November and December. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of things you can plant this month. Many cool season plants are best planted in succession every two weeks in order to have continual harvests into the beginning of our first warm season as it approaches at the end of February and into March.
Continue to Plant Delicious Greens in February
Arugula, romaine, buttercrunch, spring mix, kale, swiss chard, mustards…should we keep going?
These greens hold up under cooler temps and actually thrive in Houston’s winter. In fact, most of us in Houston grow greens from October all the way until early April.
Most of these greens do best when started from seed planted directly in the garden but you can plant small plants as well.
Now that we are getting toward the end of the cool season, newer cool season plants will do best and live longest in the shadiest parts of your garden.
Planting earlier in the month is a good idea, considering the fact that Houston temperatures will begin rising in the latter part of March and beginning of April.
Lettuces need about 45 to 60 days to grow from seed to full harvest. So, by starting your lettuce and greens plants by seed early in February, you’ll be able to full enjoy harvests from each plant before the warmer weather sets in.
Whatever you do, don’t miss this opportunity to grow your own greens. Once you taste just harvested garden salad, you won’t be able to go back to the grocery store stuff.
It’s Tomato Time!!
While most of the country has to continue to wait for temperatures to warm up, we can begin planting tomatoes this month. Yay!
So, how do we get tomatoes in Houston?
We plant early!
When you plant tomatoes in mid February, you do tempt fate a bit. There is a possibility that there will be one more frost or cold spell. But, if that happens, simply cover your tomato plants with milk jugs, a garden cloche or even a warm blanket for the night.
As soon as the temps warm, your plants will keep growing.
Most years, there is not a cold front after February 14, so planting tomatoes earlier in Houston makes sense.
By mid March, your plants will be well established and beginning to flower. By mid April, you’ll have your first fruits and by mid May, your plants should be covered with ripe fruit, finishing up their production before summer weather arrives.
Want more information on growing tomatoes in Houston? Check out our Houston Garden Guide to Growing Tomatoes.
Plant Potatoes, too!
This month is also the month to plant potatoes in Houston.
We highly recommend planting potatoes outside your raised beds, as potatoes can take up a lot of space and time in the garden that you might otherwise want to commit to crops you can harvest from more often.
Nonetheless, it’s definitely worth growing your own potatoes. The magic of planting a small potato now and then returning to the plant in mid May to find that 5, 6, 7 potatoes grew in its place is beyond magical.
Houston has great weather for spring potatoes but getting the timing right is critical.
So, be sure to plant your potatoes as soon as possible this month.
Enjoy Dill, Cilantro and Parsley from the Garden in February
If you’ve never tasted dill, parsley or cilantro just harvested from the kitchen garden, you just haven’t fully experienced the flavors.
These herbs grow so well throughout the late winter and early spring in Houston’s climate and we can’t get enough.
These herbs all are a little slow to begin growing from seed so you may want to consider buying plants, we recommend using a local nursery such as Buchanan’s or Wabash or Cornelias.
Choose an organic, naturally grown plant and you can start harvesting from the outer leaves the day you plant it!
You can also grow these herbs from seed but beware that germination can take as much as 14 days. And these herbs are sensitive to heat. They’ll actually begin to bolt-producing a thick center stem and flower when the temperatures pass 80 or 85 degrees fahrenheit.
So, getting a jump on the warm weather with health plant starts is probably the way to go with these delicious herbs.
Tending the Houston Kitchen Garden in February
It is important to always be tending to the garden. Make a habit to get out in the garden at least once a week to prune your herbs and greens.
Keep the area clean! Leaves falling from trees can bring pests into the garden. It is also important to check for any mildew from the moisture in the air.
Prune back any lower, bigger, exterior leaves from your older plants to help clear way for new plants in the garden.
Support your peas by adding compost along the base and helping them climb the trellis with twine.
Fertilize monthly! The best way to fertilize is by adding fresh compost. You can also use other fertilizers; make sure to use one with high nitrogen for your leafy greens, and one with high potassium for your root crops!
Keep an eye out for pests! As the weather begins to warm up, more pests like to make their way into the garden. Check your under plant leaves for bugs and look for holes in the leaves.
Focus on Harvesting in February
As we wrap up the cool season, it is important to focus on harvesting all the cool season plants we grew over the last few months.
You'll want to be careful not to miss your broccoli, cauliflower, and lettuces at their peak.
Harvest from the outside so the plants can continue to grow from the center and give you multiple harvests throughout the month.
Frost Tips
Water your garden the morning before it freeze, then turn off your sprinkler system to your garden - you don’t want it watering while it’s freezing.
Cover your beds with frost cloths in the late afternoon or early evening before it’s expected to freeze to trap in the warm-ish air.
Most important: really secure the frost cloth at the soil level with garden stakes or clips. Use way more than you think you need! The goal is to have the garden tucked in so cold air does not have access to your garden.
Uncover your plants as soon as the sun is up and it is not freezing.
You Can Garden Year Round in Houston
Houston is such a great place to garden because the gardening never stops. Helping you set up, plant and grow your own garden is our passion. And we’d love to start growing with you this season.
Click below to schedule a consult so you’re ready to grow in the coming season too.
Here’s to making the most of every month in the Houston garden!