February has arrived, and for those of us in Zone 9, it’s time to shake off the winter chill and get back into the garden. After months of nourishing my garden beds with comfrey tea, I’m looking forward to an abundant and productive spring. It’s not quite spring yet—but it’s just around the corner, and the anticipation is real!
February Weather in Zone 9 (Houston, Texas)
Here in Houston, Texas, we typically average around 63°F during the day and 47°F at night. Our last freeze usually sneaks in during the first week of the month. This means that by mid-February, we can start planting tomatoes and potatoes. But let’s be honest—Texas weather is unpredictable. I’ve been burned before, planting too early only to be hit with a late freeze. Just last month, we even had snow—yes, actual inches of snow in Houston! That was the most snow I’ve ever seen here, and it just goes to show that Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes.
Fruit Tree Maintenance Before Bud Break
Last month, I mentioned that you should prune your fruit trees, and now it’s time for another maintenance round before those buds start breaking. This month, I will apply liquid copper and dormant oil to my trees. Copper helps prevent fungal diseases, while dormant oil combats overwintering pests.
Here’s a tip: only apply these treatments when there’s no rain in the forecast. Neither is rain-resistant, so a surprise shower will wash away all your efforts. Also, remember that these are preventative measures—not a necessity. If your trees haven’t had issues, you might not need to apply them. Even though they’re considered organic, adding unnecessary treatments to your soil isn’t always the best move.
What’s Going in the Ground This Month?
Outdoor Planting
Beans
Towards the end of February, I’ll plant my first batch of bush beans and my only batch of pole beans. I stagger my bush bean plantings every two weeks through March to ensure a steady harvest in April and, hopefully, into May. By the time my bush beans are finishing up, my pole beans should be thriving, and it’ll be time to transition to soybeans and pigeon peas.
This year, I’m growing Trilogy, a variety of yellow, green, and purple bush beans, along with Rattlesnake and Kentucky Blue pole beans.
Onions & Shallots
Onions are among my favorite crops because they’re incredibly easy to grow. While you can start them from seed, I prefer onion sets—small bulbs that a farm has already started for you. These typically come in bundles of about 50 starts.
When planting onions, it's essential to choose the right variety for your region. Here in Zone 9, short-day onions are best. I’m growing Texas 1015 Super Sweet and Red Creole onions, and I’m adding some shallots into the mix. Now, if you’re a chef, I know you’ll tell me about the distinct flavor profiles of shallots versus onions—but to a gardener, they’re pretty much the same thing!
Potatoes
Potatoes are among the most exciting crops to grow. Unlike other vegetables, where you can see what’s happening above ground, with potatoes, it remains a mystery until harvest time. Will you have a bounty or just a handful?
To promote greater tuber production, I practice hilling—adding more soil to the green tops each time they emerge above the ground. Since potatoes grow underground along the main stem, adding more soil creates more space for them to develop.
This year, I am growing the Red Lasoda variety.
Tomatoes & Tomatillos
This year, I started my tomatoes indoors in early February. I selected the Abraham Lincoln and Black Plum varieties, both of which are heirlooms. Around Valentine’s Day, I plan to transplant them into the garden. Since I’m only growing a few tomato plants this spring, I want them to be high-quality heirlooms rather than just high-yield varieties.
My tomatillos are already stealing the show in my seedling area—the same way they do once transplanted into the garden. Currently, they are almost twice the size of my tomatoes. I’m especially excited about my purple tomatillo variety since it’s been about a decade since I’ve grown them.
Pro tip: Tomatillos need at least two plants to produce fruit.
However, don’t go overboard—two plants are more than enough since they are among the highest-yielding crops you can grow. I don’t have any evidence to support this claim, but I believe it. They also endure Houston’s brutal summer heat like champions. Just make sure to trellis or cage them, or they will sprawl and take over your garden.
Starting Seeds Indoors
Basil
This year, I’m going all out on basil—Sweet Basil, Tulsi (Holy Basil), Lemon Basil, and Thai Basil, just to name a few. I might even set aside an entire raised bed for it! Regardless of the variety, basil is a garden staple. It’s the most productive herb from late spring through fall and can withstand even Houston’s summer heat.
Basil seeds germinate in about a week, and seedlings are ready for transplant three weeks later. I skip potting them up; I transfer them directly from Jiffy pellets or seed-starting cells into the garden.
Garden Mishaps & Experimentation
Of course, what’s a gardening season without a little chaos? This month’s issue: I misplaced the legend for my seedlings, so I no longer know which peppers are which. I planned to keep my sweet and hot peppers separate, but now I’ll have to group them by size and hope for the best.
Speaking of peppers, I’m experimenting this season. I’ll top half of my pepper plants by cutting off the growing tips to encourage bushier growth, and I’ll track the results throughout the season. If you’re interested in seeing how it turns out, follow along on my YouTube channel, Big City Gardener.
Final Thoughts
Thanks for tuning into my February urban gardening update! With spring right around the corner, it’s time to get serious about planting. If you’re in Zone 9, now is the perfect time to start planning and prepping for a productive growing season.
What are you planting this month? After an extensive social media detox, I am back and active. Let’s talk gardening!
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