It‘s February and every gardener is looking forward to harvesting fresh, delightfully wonderful homegrown, vegetables. If you are a veteran gardener and have experienced great success, keep on the same track, but if you are new to vegetable gardening or have had less than desired results, I have a few suggestions that may help.
The second step is preparing your soil so your plants will grow well. The ideal vegetable garden soil is deep, friable, well drained and rich in organic matter. Use of soil amendments, such as fully finished compost, can rapidly improve your garden.
Since Fannin County is blessed or cursed with a wide variety of soil types, it is not possible to make soil amendment recommendations that will fit everyone. To best understand the needs of your soil, a sample should be submitted for analysis and recommended soil amendments should be followed.
After you have tilled, amendmended and raked your soil smooth, it is now time to plant. To increase chances of success, careful consideration should be given to what and when to plant. Recommended planting dates in Fannin County start in early February and continue thru May, depending on the needs of various plants. Planting as early as possible is important since our summers get so hot.
Selection of varieties that will do well in our area is essential to success. To receive additional information on submitting soil samples, recommended varieties, planting dates and continuing care of your plants, please contact Fannin County Master Gardeners through Fannin County office of Texas Agrilife Extension at 903-583-7453. We will be happy to assist you in any way possible.
Fannin County Master Gardener North Central Texas Spring Planting Chart for Vegetables
Average Date of Last Frost: March 16
February 1 – February 15 Peas: English & Snow
February 1 - April 1 Rutabaga
February 5 – May 1 Radish
February 10 – February 25 Leeks (seed)
February 10 – March 1 Beets, Carrots, Kohlrabi (seed),
Head Lettuce, Onions (seed)
February 10 – March 5 Onion transplants,
Parsley
February 10 – March 10 Swiss Chard, Greens,
Kale, Turnip
February 10 – March 15 Lettuce: leaf, Romaine,
Butterhead & Spinach
February 10 – April 1 Collards
February 15 – March 1 Asparagus crowns,
Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and Kohlrabi transplants
Irish Potato seed pieces
February 15 – April 1 Mustard
March 20 – April 20 Beans: Snap & Pole
Lima: Bush & Pole
March 20 – May 1 Beans: Snap & Yellow Bush
Pinto, Corn
Sweet Cucumber: pickling & slicing
March 25 – April 15 Tomatoes transplants
March 25 – May 1 Squash: Summer & Winter,
Zucchini
Watermelon
April 1- April 20 Pumpkin
April 1 – May 1 Pepper: hot, sweet bell
& salad
April 1 – May 20 Peas, Southern
April 5 – May 1 Cantaloupe, Eggplant
April 5 – June 1 Okra
April 15 – May 1 Sweet Potato slips