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February Gardening In The Low Desert 2001

© Pat Kolb

It appears that La Nina has finally gone, we have had nice soaking rains lately. It is time to get out there and dig in the dirt. February is spring in the low desert and we can plant so many things this month.

If you haven’t ordered whatever you will order from garden catalogs or on the net, get to it. Don’t forget some small varieties of things you want to grow in containers, including tomatoes (some of the larger ones can be grown in containers), eggplant, squash, peppers, cucumber, onions, garlic and carrots. Herbs are good container plants too as many are perennial in this climate. Just remember that container plants need more careful watering as they dry out quickly. Some of my favorites are sage, basil of all kinds, and rosemary, all perennial here. My favorite perennial vegetable has to be peppers, they just keep on going.

Finish pruning all deciduous trees, shrubs, shade and desert trees, and roses - as soon as possible. Deciduous trees and shrubs should be fed with nitrogen. For shrubs and 2 year old trees, ½ cup of ammonium sulfate; for older trees, 1 cup per inch of trunk diameter, and water well. Maintain soil moisture by watering every 10 days to three weeks, depending on rainfall.

When warmer weather weather comes and new growth begins, prune citrus. They should be fertilized this month using ½ cup of ammonium sulfate for 2 year old trees; for older trees, approximately 5 pounds of ammonium sulfate, 3 pounds of ammonium nitrate, or 6 1/2 pounds of calcium nitrate. Half should be applied now and half in May, spread out to the drip line of trees and watered in well (1 pound equals about 2 cups).

Container roses can be planted at any time and bare root roses can still be planted this month. Buy only #1 roses with green, viable canes with a good vase structure. Keep suckers from cut off from roses and other bare root shrubs and trees; sucker are the sprouts that grow below the graft on the main trunk. Feed established roses with a complete fertilizer and water in well. Iris needs the same treatment. Prune roses in late February.

Plant container fruit trees this month if you didn’t get bare-root planted last month. There is a good selection of low chill varieties that do well here. For small yards, choose the dwarf varieties and to save space, plant two similar trees in the same hole.

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