The seed catalogs arriving in your mailbox are a cue to start
thinking ahead to spring and summer vegetable gardens. Planning early
allows ambitious gardeners to get a jump on the growing season and
leaves time for a second crop in late summer and early fall. Consider
sowing tomato, eggplant and pepper seeds indoors later this month.
They'll be ready to harden off (expose gradually to the outdoors) around
the time the weather warms in early May.
- February is
the last chance to buy bare-root plants. As long as bare-root plants are
kept in a cool, shaded area with their roots protected, they will wait a
few weeks until the soil is suitable for planting.
- Complete
winter pruning of dormant plants such as cane berries, fruit trees,
grapes, roses and wisteria. Do not delay too long because warm weather
will send these plants into a vigorous growth spurt, which you want to
direct by pruning.
- Continue to pick up fallen camellia flowers in order to prevent the spread of camellia petal blight.
- Spray fruit trees and roses with a dormant spray of horticultural oil to kill overwintering insect eggs.
-
Azaleas and camellias are in bloom and rhododendron are in the budding
stage. Now (while you can see the bloom color) is an excellent time to
purchase them.
- Prepare garden tools and machinery for spring
use. Wire brush and sharpen tools with cutting edges such as shovels,
spades, hoes, pruning shears, hedge trimmers and trowels.
-Prepare beds for new plants. Fertilize with compost or manure to replenish nutrients and boost the soil's tilth.
Seed
catalogs give the armchair gardener an opportunity to dream big for
spring while waiting for the rains to taper off. A sampling of Northern
California seed companies' catalogs and their specialty offerings:
Baker Creek's 2013 Pure Seed Book: Owner of the
Petaluma Seed Bank specializes in heirloom and open-pollinated seeds. Request catalog at
www.rareseeds.com.
Kitazawa Seed Co.: Oakland company specializes in Asian vegetables. Request catalog at
www.kitazawaseed.com.
Natural Garden Co.: All-organic nursery based in Petaluma sells vegetable, herb and flower seeds and tomato seedlings. Request catalog at
www.naturalgardening.com.
Renee's Garden: USDA-certified organic vegetable and herb seeds. Online catalog:
www.reneesgarden.com.
Larner Seeds: Bolinas company specializes in California native seeds. Demonstration garden open to the public. Online catalog:
www.larnerseeds.com.
Living Seed Co.: Mill Valley couple sell heirloom and open-pollinated collections. For catalog e-mail
info@livingseedcompany.com.
www.livingseedcompany.com.
Magnolia celebration
Magnolias
are in bloom throughout the Bay Area. Head to the San Francisco
Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park to see one of the most important
collections outside China in all its glory now through mid-March during
the "Magnificent Magnolias" celebration. Some highlights:
-- Self-guided tours of the magnolia collection. Download the maps at
www.sfbotanicalgar den.org or pick up a copy at the ticket kiosk.
-- Guided tours with curator
Don Mahoney, 1-3 p.m. Feb. 16 and docent Dr.
Joseph Barbaccia, 1-3 p.m. March 3. $15, tickets available at
www. sfbotanicalgarden.org.
--
Magnolias by Moonlight Walk, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 25, March 25. Yes, it's a
full moon. Register by calling (415) 661-1316, Ext. 400. Rain cancels.
$15 payable at the start of the walk.
-- Drawing Magnolias, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 21. Pencil-drawing class with botanical artist
Nina Antze. $90. San Francisco County Fair Building. (415) 661-1316, Ext. 412.
The garden is at Ninth Avenue and Lincoln in San Francisco.
