February Garden

I looked up seed planting dates in my desert gardening book and found out peas could be planted till the middle of Feb. Yesterday, I pulled out the remainder of the derelict bird-eaten and wind whipped vines. Today, in enriched soil, I am replanting peas in hopes that a second crop will be more fruitful than the first. All cactus broken by the wind has hardened and been replanted. Since adequate rain is absent, I flash- flooded specimen yard cacti. ( with a hose ) They are not irrigated and during dry spells appreciate a once per month watering. Native cacti need no additional water, however.

There is still time to plant seeds... carrots,lettuce, onions, potatoes, radishes, bok choy, beets and spinach...herbs, parsley, cilantro, fennel and dill. By mid month you can start to plant melons, summer squash and cucumbers. I have already planted some transplants of zucchini and they seem to be doing well, as is the artichoke. The transplants of eggplant are alive but not thriving. My pepper transplants are alive but not flourishing. The strawberries are not flowering but look healthy and have put out new shoots.

I found aphis on the chard for the first time, ever. Controlling them with a strong stream of water.