February Gardening in Southern California's Inland Areas

February is an important month for completing winter gardening tasks before the traditional arrival of spring in March. Here is Darren’s general list of February gardening tasks for existing vegetable and herb plants, designed for those who live near downtown Los Angeles or in inland valleys. For a customized list of gardening tasks by plant and month, find your GardenZeus Climate Zone. 

• Monitor plants regularly, at least every 2 to 5 days during cool-to-cold weather to catch wilting, irrigation, pest, disease, weed, and other problems early.
• Water thoroughly and protect plants with fabric, cardboard, paper, or plastic sheets during periods of overnight frost, especially tender and sensitive vegetables and herbs including basil, chard, corn, and lettuce.
• Maintain or add mulch. Harvest thinnings and winter crops.
• Irrigate variably depending upon rain frequency and volume; turn off irrigation during rainy periods.
• Add nitrogen as recommended for each plant.
• Harvest and save seeds from winter-bolted vegetables and herbs such as basil, chard, lettuce, and spinach after seed stalks are brown and dry.
• Cut off expired plant stems at ground level after harvest or as plants die, leaving roots in place to feed soil.
• Plan and complete irrigation, seed-starting, transplanting, soil testing, soil amending, and garden projects for late winter and spring.
• Plan for garden protection from winter winds and/or install windbreaks.