Gardening Calendar for February

• Water evergreens if the soil is dry and unfrozen
• Take geranium cuttings now. Keep the foliage dry to avoid leaf and stem diseases.
• Sow the seeds of larkspur, sweet peas and snapdragons where they are to grow outdoors. For best bloom, these plants must sprout and begin growth well before warm weather arrives.
• Start seeds of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage indoors, late in the month, for transplanting into the garden later this spring. Start onion seed indoors now.
• Check fruit trees for tent caterpillar egg masses. Destroy by pruning or scratching the eggs off.
• Begin pruning fruit trees late in the month. Prune apples and pears first.
• Prune grapes and bramble fruits late in the month.
• If soil conditions allow, take a chance on sowing peas, lettuce, spinach and radish. If the weather stays mild, you will be rewarded with extra early harvests.

(Missouri Botanical Garden)