What to plant in February: zone 10b
Zone 10b averages its last spring frost around January 15 and its first fall frost around December 30. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Transplant out
- Sweet Potatoaround Feb 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Plant rooted slips, not seed. Wait until soil holds 65F, then let vines sprawl and cure roots at 80F for 10 days before storage: that curing step is what makes them sweet.
- Eggplantaround Feb 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Eggplant sulks in cold soil. Transplant 3 weeks after last frost, not on it. Harvest while skin is glossy: dull skin means bitter, seedy flesh.
- Okraaround Feb 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Okra wants hot soil, 70F+, or seed rots. Pick pods at 3-4 in every other day: one pod left to toughen tells the plant to stop producing.
- Jicamaaround Feb 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Needs 150+ frost-free days: outside zone 8+ it's best in a greenhouse or very large container brought in before frost. Pinch off flowers so energy goes into the root, not seed pods, which are toxic.
- Malabar Spinacharound Feb 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Not a true spinach; it's a vigorous heat-loving vine that replaces greens through the hottest weeks other greens can't survive.
- Lemongrassaround Feb 5
Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Pot it up and bring it indoors before frost north of zone 9; a clump easily overwinters on a sunny windowsill.
- Avocadoaround Feb 12
Safe to set out 4 weeks after last frost. Avocado roots suffocate in wet soil. Plant on a low mound in coarse, fast-draining ground and never let irrigation water pool at the trunk.
- Bananaaround Feb 12
Safe to set out 4 weeks after last frost. Each stalk fruits once and dies. Cut it down after harvest and keep one or two suckers so the clump keeps producing.
- Papayaaround Feb 12
Safe to set out 4 weeks after last frost. Plants can be male, female, or bisexual. Set three or four seedlings per spot and thin to the one that flowers with fruit behind it.
Direct sow
- Okraaround Feb 5
Soil is ready 3 weeks after last frost.
- Winter squasharound Feb 5
Warm soil: first summer sowing of winter squash.
- Beetaround Feb 12
Warm soil: first summer sowing of beet.
- Carrotaround Feb 12
Warm soil: first summer sowing of carrot.
Garden care
- Mulch every bedaround Feb 5
3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer.
- Set up deep wateringaround Feb 12
Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.
- Side-dress heavy feedersaround Feb 26
Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.
Succession sow
- Bush beanaround Feb 12
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround Feb 12
Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Cucumberaround Feb 19
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Zucchiniaround Feb 19
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Basilaround Feb 19
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Bush beanaround Feb 26
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Winter squasharound Feb 26
Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
- Sweet cornaround Feb 26
Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.
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