February Tips & Events for Santa Clara County

A garden is never so good as it will be next year.”

~Thomas Cooper

Monthly Tips

Quiz

Which of the following hold enough water for mosquitoes to breed? Select all that apply.

A small pond

A 1-gallon bucket

A frisbee

A plastic bottle cap 


Do you see any potential breeding locations in the photo?

Photo credit: District Staff, Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District

A backyard with many plastic, metal, and wood containers, tarps, and other items that can hold water
Bucket containing brightly colored flowers next to tomatoes - cucumbers - winter squash and a gourd

Plan Your Summer Garden

Summer may seem far away, but if you want to grow transplants from seed, now is the time to start planning. Browse some of the many online seed catalogs to see the wide range of varieties you can grow from seed. Some plants, like squash or sunflowers, grow quickly and can be ready for transplanting in just 4 weeks, while others, such as parsley or delphiniums, can take 8 weeks or more from seed to seedling. See our guide to growing transplants from seed. Attend this in-person talk on February 15 at our Martial Cottle Park Demonstration Garden for great tips and inspiration.

Photo: One day’s harvest from a summer garden, Laura Westley

Growing Transplants from Seed Talk

Selecting a Citrus Tree

First, decide where you will plant it before you buy it. Citrus need full sun and warmth for best production. Look for a spot that can provide both, maybe near a wall or fence for some reflected heat. Choose a citrus that thrives in our climate and that you enjoy, such as mandarins or Meyer lemons. If you have a warmer microclimate, consider oranges or limes. Buy in early March and plant as soon as possible. Look for a small tree with healthy green foliage in a 1- or 2-gallon pot. Don’t be seduced by a larger tree that already has fruit on it. That means it has been in the pot too long! Get more tips at our citrus talk on Growing Fabulous Citrus on February 11.

Mandarin oranges nestled in green leaves growing on a tree

Photo: Many mandarin varieties do well in Santa Clara County, Pixabay

Growing Great Citrus

Growing Blackberries

A fruit cluster of red immature and black ripe olallieberry blackberries on the vine

Blackberries grow well in California gardens. You can plant them now while they’re dormant or in spring or summer as potted vines. They can live for 15 to 40 years, offering you plenty of berries for cereal or jam. While their root system and crown are perennial, the canes they produce grow one season, bear fruit the next season, then die. Whether you’re new to blackberries or already growing this luscious fruit, learn more about selecting, planting, trellising, harvesting, and pruning at our class and demonstration on February 8 in our own berry patch at Martial Cottle Park.


Photo credit: UC Statewide IPM Project

Growing Backyard Blackberries

Mollusk Management

A gray garden slug on a watermelon

Winter rains are great for our gardens, but slugs and snails like the moist conditions too. They hide in shady damp spots during the day, then emerge at night to feed, chewing holes in leaves, flowers, and fruits, even mowing down tender seedlings completely. Reduce their populations by removing daytime hiding places. Regularly handpick and crush them at night, using a glove and a flashlight. Use copper barriers to keep snails and slugs out of garden beds. While baits alone won't control them, you can use iron phosphate baits in conjunction with these and other methods detailed in the link below.


Photo credit: Jack Kelly Clark, UC ANR

Snails and Slugs
Salvia leucantha - before and after a hard pruning

Photo: Salvia leucantha, before and after a hard pruning, UC Davis Arboretum

Winter Pruning of Ornamental Plants

Winter is a good time to prune many ornamental plants, as they are dormant, preparing for new growth in spring. Pruning helps to stimulate new growth, which can lead to more flower production. It allows you to manage the size and shape of your plants and can keep them healthy when you remove dead, diseased, and damaged branches. Make sure to use sharp clean tools, and cut back to where the new growth is emerging. Follow the link below to learn more about how to prune various bee-friendly plants.

Winter Pruning in the Bee Garden

Quiz Answer

Close-up photo of an adult mosquito biting on a person's skin

The answer is, all of them!

☑︎ A small pond

☑︎ A 1-gallon bucket

☑︎ A frisbee

☑︎ A plastic bottle cap 


Though they lay hundreds of eggs at a time, mosquitoes only need a tiny bit of water to breed—just a bottle capful. In perfect conditions, they can grow from eggs to flying adults in a week. Common breeding prevention methods include emptying water from flower pot saucers, birdbaths, and buckets, but don’t forget hidden spots like tarps, wheelbarrows, old tires, outdoor furniture, and even tropical plants like bromeliads that trap water between their leaves. Consider adding mosquito-eating fish to decorative ponds (free from Santa Clara County). Besides being annoying, mosquitoes can spread diseases—stay vigilant!


Photo credit: Mohamed Nuzrath, Pixabay

Prevent Mosquito Breeding

More February Tips and To-Dos

For more gardening tips and to-dos, visit the monthly tips archive on our website. It is perfect for browsing, and while you may recognize some of the content, you’re sure to find something new. It starts with to-dos for the month, just the thing to review before heading out to your garden.

More Tips and To-Dos

Upcoming Events

No plant clinic November–February.


Mark your calendars: Our Spring Garden Fair is Saturday, April 26, at Martial Cottle Park!


PADG Blueberry and Rose Pruning Care and Pruning Tool Care Saturday, February 1, 10–11:15 am, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto


MCP Winter Fruit Tree Pruning Saturday, February 1, 10–11:30 am, Martial Cottle Park - UC Master Gardener Pavilion, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose


GRPC Hands-on Workshop: Planting Bare Root Fruit Trees Saturday, February 1, 10–11:30 am, Guadalupe River Park Historic Orchard, 425 Seymour Street, San Jose


Container Gardening Saturday, February 1, 11 am–12:30 pm, Community Room, Berryessa Public Library, 3355 Noble Avenue, San Jose


MCP Blackberry Planting—Growing and Care Saturday, February 8, 10–11:30 am, Martial Cottle Park - UC Master Gardener Parcel, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose


Successful Container Gardening Saturday, February 8, 1–3 pm, Program Room, Sunnyvale Public Library, 665 W. Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale


Quick Growing Spring Vegetables Tuesday, February 11, 5:30–6:30 pm, Morgan Hill Public Library, 660 West Main Avenue, Morgan Hill


MCP A Winter Start for Your Summer Garden: Growing Your Own Transplants From Seed Saturday, February 15, 10–11:30 am, Martial Cottle Park - UC Master Gardener Pavilion, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose


Grow Your Own Vegetables from Seed Saturday, February 15, 10:30–11:30 am, Gilroy Public Library, 350 W. 6th Street, Gilroy


Growing Vegetables from Seed: A Winter Start for Your Summer Garden Saturday, February 15, 10:30–11:45 am, Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose

 

Planning a Simple Native Garden for Beginners Saturday, February 15, 11 am–12:30 pm, Milpitas Public Library, 160 N. Main Street, Milpitas


“The Color Purple: the Veggies Not the Movie” Wednesday, February 19, 7–8:30 pm, Orchard Room, Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos


Spotted, Dotted, and Spongy: Have You Seen These Invasive Pests? Thursday, February 20, noon–1 pm, Online


Grafting Fruit Trees Saturday, February 22, 10 am–noon, Community Room, San Martin Animal Shelter, 12425 Monterey Road, San Martin


Love Your Santa Clara County Clay! Sunday, February 23, 1:30–2:30 pm, Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road, Palo Alto


Sustainable Vegetable Gardening Tuesday, February 25, 6:30–8:30 pm, Fremont Unified High School District Adult Education, 589 W. Fremont Avenue, Sunnyvale, ($120)


PADG How to Work with Clay Soil - Follow-on to the Palo Alto Library Talk Saturday, March 1, 10–11:15 am, Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto


Gardening for Beginners, 4 Week Course Saturday, March 1, 10 am–noon, Camden Community Center, 3369 Union Avenue, San Jose, ($59 (San Jose resident), $63 (non-resident))


Growing Ferns and Other Shade Loving Plants Saturday, March 8, 10:30–11:45 am, Willow Glen Public Library, 1157 Minnesota Avenue, San Jose

Check our calendar for the latest schedule of events. Videos of many past presentations are also available.

About Us

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:


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