Jobs for February

February is the month of love and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t love your garden at this time of year too, despite the weather being bitterly cold. Snow may be on the ground, making gardening difficult, but venturing outside and spotting signs that the garden is beginning to wake from its winter slumber should cheer you up no end. Spring bulbs are pushing through and that’s something to smile about. It’s too early to get sowing really underway, although some crops can be started off this month along with those that benefit from a long growing season. A heated propagator or greenhouse will be invaluable to get seeds off to a flying start, but, light levels can be a problem resulting in spindly seedlings. Still, if your fingers are itching to get started then have a go at a few early sowings. It’s not the end of the world if you fail – just try again or put it down to experience.

Some jobs that can be tackled this month:

• Sow broad beans outside if the ground is not frozen, try using small pots if conditions are a problem and plant out once the weather warms
• Plant dormant bare-root fruit trees and bushes if conditions allow
• Finish winter digging if weather allows
• Chit seed potatoes
• Plant shallot sets and more garlic
• Plant Jerusalem artichoke tubers direct outside, keep in mind that once established it can be difficult to clear the ground they’ve occupied of tubers, the plants grow well over 6 ft high and can create shade. Chose the planting site carefully.
• Force established rhubarb
• Sow onion seed and leeks
• Sow long season crops such as tomatoes and chillies
• Sow winter salad in a cold frame
• Finish winter pruning apple and pear trees
• Cut autumn raspberry canes to ground level

I will be posting jobs each month for the veg and fruit garden. Depending on the weather, some of these jobs may not be possible to carry out, but can be tackled another time once conditions are right.