February

Time to prepare your winter-growing vegetables. February can be humid and fungal diseases spread rapidly, so use a fungicide. Clean tools after use to prevent spreading infections, and maintain good airflow through your garden and glasshouse.
 

Special attention
With the abundance of vegetables and fruits coming out of the garden, it is just as important to know what to do with them. Freeze, dry or preserve the vegetables for later use. It may be time-consuming, but later in the year your efforts will be rewarded.
 

Thin carrots and eat the finger-sized thinnings. Water the vegetable garden to keep the seedlings and fruits from drying out. A good soaking will be needed every day in hot areas; every second day in cooler areas. If you haven’t already, add Debco Saturaid to your garden. Sprinkle over the top of soil and water well. Mulch plants with Tui Pelletised Pea Straw to keep moisture in. Pick off the green caterpillars from fast-growing brassicas like cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli.
 

Sow
Beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cress, dwarf beans, endive, peas, shallots, spinach, spring onions, leeks, silver beet, swedes, kohlrabi, and parsnip.

Continue to sow radish and lettuce seeds.

Sow chervil seeds for winter growth.

Plant rhubarb now to use in delicious, warm winter desserts.

Continue to plant dwarf beans and runner beans for autumn harvest.

Transplant
Seedlings of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, spring onions, Brussels sprouts, celery, silver beet, spinach and leeks. Plant more lettuce seedlings as you harvest to keep the summer salad supply going.

Celeriac seedlings must be in the ground by now.

Keep seedlings well watered at this time of year. Water every day or even twice a day.

Spray
Spray tomatoes, potatoes and courgettes with copper to prevent fungous diseases.

Powdery mildew on cucumbers and pumpkins can be controlled by spraying with Tui Eco-Fungicide.

Use Tui Eco-Pest to prevent late-summer pest infestations.

Fertilise
Feed seedlings with a side dressing of Tui General Fertiliser.

Liquid fertiliser should be applied every two to three weeks. Blood and bone compost mulches can help some plants as well.

Harvest
Sweetcorn, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, courgettes, garlic, onions, early carrots, capsicums, new potatoes and mid-season varieties, peas, beans and lettuces all come ready for harvest.

Pick sweetcorn when the tassels have begun to dry and turn brown.

Pick cucumbers and courgettes daily as they come ready to encourage continuous fruiting, and before the courgettes turn into marrows.

Summer squashes are continuing to be ready.