February Tips & Events for Santa Clara County |
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“To dig one’s own spade into one’s own earth! Has life anything better to offer than this?” ~Beverly Nichols
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Quiz: What Kind of Plants Are These? |
Each of the plants in this image is a species within a commonly known genus. Do you know what they are? They prefer warm, dry climates and can be grown indoors or outdoors in pots or in the ground. Many grow in a stemless rosette form while others have distinct branches. The most widely grown type is even grown for pharmaceutical purposes. Scroll down to learn more. |
Photo credit: Allen Buchinski
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Photo credit: New Africa image, from dontpackapest.com |
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Traveling Abroad
If you’re planning international travel, and there’s a chance you might want to bring plant or food products home, a little research in advance might be useful. The USDA has collaborated with the states of California, Florida, and Texas to create a website that tells you what you are and are not allowed to bring back home. Some plant products require a permit or other documentation which can take up to 30 business days to process. The website has contact information if it doesn’t answer all your questions. Don’t risk bringing plant pests or diseases back home.
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Fresh Cut Flowers from Your Garden |
We have added a new gardening resource to our website to help you choose and grow beautiful cut flowers for your home or to give away. The Cut Flower Planting Chart lists ornamentals we’ve grown successfully. We selected these for their hardiness, appeal to pollinators, and production of good cutting flowers. The chart tells you when to start these flowers from seeds or when to transplant, plus when you can expect to see blossoms. Find tips on planting a cut flower garden here.
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Photo credit: Fragrant sweet peas, Barbara Krause
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Why You Should Test Your Soil |
Before adding fertilizer or soil amendments to your garden, first find out what your soil really needs by conducting a soil test. Knowing your soil’s pH value is important in determining which plants will thrive or struggle in your soil. Understanding the levels of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium in your soil will tell you which nutrients are abundant and which are lacking. Don’t overfertilize – excess nutrients can pollute local waterways. Commercial soil testing labs provide the most thorough results, but several home kits can give you a good baseline. Test soon and be ready for spring planting.
Photo credit: UCANR
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Are you itching to do some gardening? February is too chilly for warm-weather vegetables but is perfect for spring crops. Salad greens, carrots, beets, fennel, broccoli, and bok choy are just a few of the vegetables that you can plant now. The warming weather and longer days will help them mature quickly. By the time they’re done, it will be warm enough to plant summer vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. You can direct seed into the garden or get a head start by transplanting seedlings. Look at the February column in our vegetable planting chart for a full list of suggestions.
Photo credit: University of North Florida
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Watch Out for Bolting Lettuces |
No, your plants aren’t running away. In garden terms, bolting means sending up a flower stalk, not desirable unless you plan to save seeds. Seed packets say lettuce matures in 60–80 days, but the timing also depends on the weather. In warm weather, lettuce matures and bolts much faster. In cool temperatures, seedlings grow more slowly but will still mature and bolt eventually. If the center of the lettuce starts to push upwards, that’s a clue that it’s starting to bolt. Another clue is if you tear a leaf and see milky sap instead of clear juices. Harvest as soon as you notice, before the leaves become unpleasantly bitter. |
Photo: Lettuce plants elongating and bolting, Purdue University
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Photo: Aloe flowers, clockwise from upper left: Aloe ferox, Aloe striata (coral aloe), Aloe polyphylla (spiral aloe), Aloe ‘Rooikappie’
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Quiz Answer: These Are Aloe Plants
The Aloe genus contains hundreds of different species, with Aloe vera being the most commonly known because of its medicinal uses. They are all succulents, and the majority have spines along the leaf edges. Their dramatic stalks of flowers are often visited by hummingbirds. Most species flower yearly; however, some types bloom more frequently, even year-round. The plants need little care, but because they come in all sizes, make sure you know how big a particular species will grow before you plant it. The UC Davis link includes notes about some of their favorites. Check our event calendar for information about our monthly succulent sales.
Aloe plants in the quiz photo above, clockwise from upper left: Aloe striata (coral aloe), Aloe juvenna (Tiger Tooth Aloe), Aloe polyphylla (spiral aloe), Aloe ‘Delta Lights’
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Growing Fabulous Citrus, Thursday, February 9, 6:30–7:30 pm, Downstairs, Mountain View Public Library, 585 Franklin Street, Mountain View
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Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.
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University of California Master Gardener volunteers promote sustainable gardening practices and provide research-based horticultural information to home gardeners. Visit our website for more information including:
Have a gardening question? Ask us. We’re here to help!
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