Your February Garden Checklist for Santa Cruz County
February is when Santa Cruz gardens start to wake up. Soil temperatures along the coast climb past 50F by mid-month, and the earliest wildflowers begin blooming on the hillsides. UC ANR data shows that the median last frost date for Santa Cruz's coastal areas falls in mid to late March, which means February is the month to start seeds indoors and prepare beds so transplants are ready when the frost window closes.
What to Plant in February
Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors under grow lights during the first two weeks. For tomatoes, Early Girl, Sun Gold, and Cherokee Purple are proven performers across the county. Peppers need bottom heat to germinate well (aim for 80F soil temperature on your heat mat).
Direct-sow peas (Sugar Snap, Oregon Sugar Pod) and radishes (French Breakfast, Cherry Belle) in coastal and inland valley gardens. Plant seed potatoes (Yukon Gold, Red Pontiac) by mid-month in raised beds with loose, well-drained soil. Coastal gardeners can start setting out transplants of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower under row cover.
Mountain gardeners in Bonny Doon and Boulder Creek should focus on indoor seed starting only. Your last frost date is still four to six weeks away, and soil temperatures remain too low for direct sowing.
What to Harvest in February
Continue harvesting overwintered greens: kale, chard, spinach, and lettuce. Fava bean tips can be pinched and eaten as a gourmet green once plants reach 12 inches. Leeks and parsnips are still in good shape. The last of the Meyer lemons and mandarins should come off the tree this month before quality declines.
What to Maintain and Protect
Finish any dormant pruning of fruit trees and roses by mid-February. Once buds begin to swell, the pruning window is closed. Apply a second dormant spray if rain washed away your January application.
Prepare beds for spring planting. Pull winter weeds before they set seed (one year of seeds equals seven years of weeds, as the old saying goes). Work in a 2-inch layer of finished compost. If your soil is heavy clay, which is common in parts of Watsonville and the Pajaro Valley, add gypsum to improve drainage without changing pH.
UC Master Gardeners recommend testing your soil every two to three years. February is an ideal time to send samples to the UC Davis Analytical Lab before the spring rush.
Check irrigation systems. Replace cracked drip lines, flush emitters, and test timer batteries before you need them in the dry season.
What to Watch Out For
Peach leaf curl shows up this month as puckered, reddish leaves on peach and nectarine trees. If you see it, the window for prevention has passed, but remove and dispose of affected leaves (do not compost them). Aphids begin appearing on new growth, especially on roses and fava beans. A strong blast of water from the hose is the first and best response. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides that kill beneficial insects arriving to help.
Watch for gopher activity in freshly loosened beds. Trapping is the most effective control, according to UC IPM.
This month: Get your tomato and pepper seeds started indoors by February 15. They need 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting, and late starters mean late harvests.
For more help with starting seeds, check out our free Seed Starting Success Guide at [/your-garden-toolkit].
