Feels like SPRING: What to Plant in February in Texas

Spring may still be weeks away on the calendar, but the garden is already waking up. February is one of my favorite times of year because it's when I begin starting seeds, checking on overwintered vegetables, and getting containers ready for another growing season. Living in Central Texas means warm days can arrive early, but late frosts are always possible, so careful planning is part of every February garden.

36 days till spring... Trees are sprouting leaves.

Starting Flower Seeds Early

Today I planted Cleome and Zinnias indoors to give them a head start before the last frost. Starting flowers early means stronger plants and earlier blooms once warm weather arrives.

I dug out more seeds today and planted Cleome, and Zinnias.

Planting Organic Potatoes

Instead of purchasing seed potatoes, I experimented by planting organic red potatoes that had naturally sprouted.

I planted them in the large container that grew tomatoes last summer. Container gardening works surprisingly well for potatoes because harvesting is simple and soil drainage stays excellent.

The organic red potatoes I had picked up at Whole Foods. I planted those in the huge pot that I had grown tomatoes in last year. I'll be hunting for a new planter for the Brandywine tomatoes that I had earlier planted. So far, EVERYTHING I've planted has sprouted and doing very well -- except for the Catnip. I went ahead and replanted the Catnip today. They were first planted on January 11th.

Growing Red Potatoes in Texas: Tips for a Successful Harvest

Radishes are almost ready to be picked.

Garden Update

This week the garden is looking encouraging.

• Radishes are almost ready to harvest.
• Every seed I've planted has sprouted except the catnip, so I replanted another batch.
• The Black Zucchini seedlings are growing well.
• Brandywine tomatoes will soon need a larger container.

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A Surprise Volunteer Plant

One of the biggest surprises this week was discovering two bean seedlings growing in my marigold container.

I never planted them!

Volunteer plants are common in the garden. Seeds can be carried by birds, compost, or even remain hidden in last year's potting soil. Since marigolds make excellent companion plants, I'll simply transplant the flowers and give the mystery beans room to grow.

What a surprise I found in the Marigold planter! Overnight, these two bean sprouts appeared. I didn't even plant these and I'm still scratching my head on how they found their way into the pot. I'll go ahead and let them make their home there and transplant the Marigold's. The Marigold's were meant to be transplanted anyway, for companion plants.

Black Zucchini

Texas Gardening Tip: Warm February weather can tempt gardeners into planting everything outdoors. Keep an eye on the forecast because late freezes are still common across much of Texas. Starting seedlings indoors or in containers provides a safer head start until frost danger has passed.

I added some Zinnia's to the window sill. I'm using as much space as I can for seedlings to get an early start for after the last frost. The way things in Texas goes... One can be easily fooled into thinking "winter" is over. We never really can tell when one season ends and the next begins.

When should I start seeds in Texas?

Many flowers and vegetables can be started indoors during January and February, depending on your USDA growing zone and average last frost date.

Can grocery store potatoes be planted?

Organic potatoes often sprout naturally and can be planted successfully. Avoid potatoes treated with sprout inhibitors, which are common with conventional grocery store potatoes.

What are volunteer plants?

Volunteer plants grow from seeds left behind from a previous season or carried into the garden by birds, wind, compost, or wildlife.

What a surprise I found in my mailbox today. They're just what I needed and they match my decor. THANKS GRANDMA! ;-)
(((HUGS)))