February

The Edible Garden

Plant canes of berry fruit. Apply a general purpose fertiliser around all fruiting plants. Mulch all fruit crops with well rotted manure or garden compost. The vegetable plot can be prepared in areas where soil is not too wet. Dig over, incorporating manure and garden compost. Plan for a crop rotation, so that you don’t plant the same crop in the same part of the garden each year.
If you have a heated greenhouse you can start off tomato and cucumber seeds in here in warm conditions. These can then be grown on in the greenhouse for early crops. Potato tubers, or seed potatoes, are available now. These need sprouting prior to planting. Do this by placing tubers upright, with the most sprout covered end pointing upwards, in trays in a dry, frost free place.
Any spring cabbages that have overwintered can be fed with a high nitrogen fertiliser or pelleted poultry manure.
The Flower Garden
Keep deadheading winter flowering annuals such as Pansies, Polyanthus and Primulas. This will prolong their flowering right through to early spring.
Gladioli corms can be sprouted prior to planting for an earlier display of blooms. Do this by spreading corms in seed trays or shallow boxes in a dry, light and warm (10deg) position.
A good balanced fertiliser such as fish, blood and bone can be applied to garden beds and borders towards the end of the month as weather improves. This will supply nutrients to perennials as they start into new spring growth.

General

February can be a quiet month in the garden as cooler temperatures and rain prevent a lot of outdoor activity. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some activities that can be done.
Check the garden for any winter damage. Any snapped or broken branches should be trimmed cleanly.
Check stakes and re- tie as necessary.
Trim Ivy and Virginia creeper away from doors and windows.
Clean out ponds and water features.
This is a good month for planning what you are going to do in the garden this spring and summer.Make a list of all the plants, composts, food, and accessories you will need over the season.
Keep bird feeders and tables topped up, and clean drinking water regularly.

What to look for in store this Month

Wild bird food.
Bird feeders and tables.
Fish, blood and bone fertiliser
Fresh heathers in pots and bowls
Starter plants or ‘Plugs’ to get new plants under way for a head start.
John Innes composts.
Seed potatoes
Heathers
Primroses
Tete -a -Tete daffodils in flower
Alpine plants including Aubretia, Arabis, Primulas, Phlox