George:
I consider myself very lucky to have kept this type of information that was originally printed in a now defunct local newspaper. This is what I would call ?journaling?. So, I thought it might help you in determining what and how you might put together the forth coming ?JOURNALING? program. I am putting these into GENERAL TASKS at the moment, so I can glance at them as the dates appear. They are very helpful to me! I?m not scheduling tasks for them as yet.
Since it is February in the Pacific Northwest, here are four weeks work all laid out for me:
1st WEEK ? FEBRUARY:
Plant bare root berries, grapes, rhubarb, fruit and shade trees, as well as shrubs and vines. Top-dress asparagus with composted manure. This feeds these ravenous plants, and deters weeds. Check out nurseries for good selections of winter-flowering shrubs, including Camellia sasanqua, white and pink heath, sweet-scented virburnum, wintersweet and witch hazel. Deadhead hydrangeas and other summer bloomers now, as this year?s leaf-buds swell.
2nd WEEK ? FEBRUARY:
It?s prime time to repair fences and gates. Remove black, rotted tops of dormant perennials, and lightly trim back perennials with stiff dry stems. But leave tops of grasses alone until new growth shows. Clean and prep lawn mower and edger before the busy lawn-grooming starts. Come to think of it, you might give the lawn a light mowing about now.
3rd WEEK ? FEBRUARY:
When soil is dry enough, weed, enrich and lightly cultivate your vegetable garden. There?s plenty of time to plant or transplant nearly any kind of tree or shrub, including roses, berries and grapes. Fertilize evergreens such as junipers, conifers, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias with a rhododendron mix. Scatter rose- or all purpose fertilizer around roses, fruit and flowering trees, and other deciduous trees and shrubs. Examine houseplants for proper moisture and fertilize lightly. Brush dust from leaves, and treat any insect infestations with a solution of soapy water.
4th WEEK ? FEBRUARY:
Freezes and frosts can still threaten cold-sensitive plants, especially those in pots. Lightly mulch around the base of the former, and cover pots or move them to protected areas. Be sure plants under deep eves or conifers are getting enough water. Now is a good time to buy or build trellises or cages for indeterminate (free-form) tomato plants, as well as for cukes and other squash-type plants.
Finally, here is a link to a chart from Ed Hume that I think is helpful to the VEGETABLE GROWER:
http://www.humeseeds.com/seedneed.htmHope it all helps!
- Toby