Southwest February Garden Checklist: Planting, Maintenance & Events

Planting Priorities by Zone

Bare-Root Season

• Zones 10–11: Roses, fruit trees (apple, apricot, berries, nectarine, peach, pear, persimmon, plum, sweet cherry).
• Zones 11–13: Bare-root grapes.

Valentine's Day Color

• All zones: Cyclamen, 'Baby Doll' dianthus, fragrant hyacinths indoors.
• Zones 11–13: Plant Eremophila 'Valentine' (emu bush)—hot pink to red tubular flowers Jan–Mar, 4′ tall/wide, evergreen leaves blush reddish in winter.

Herbs

• Zones 11–13: Sow chives, cilantro, dill, parsley. Transplant marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage, thyme.

Seasonal Color

• Zones 12–13: Fill beds/pots with dianthus, English primrose, larkspur, pansies, petunias, stock.

Vegetables

• Zone 10: Direct-sow peas by mid-month. Start broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce indoors for transplant in 6–8 weeks.
• Zone 11: Sow beets, carrots, lettuce, radish, spinach, chard, turnips. Plant potatoes at month's end.
• Zones 12–13: Direct-sow beets, bok choy, carrots, green onions, peas, radish, spinach, turnips. Set onion sets. Sow first sweet corn late month. Start cucumbers, eggplant, melons, peppers, squash indoors for 6–8 week transplant.

Wildflowers

• Zones 2b, 3a: Sow blue flax, purple coneflower, Rocky Mountain penstemon, or pink penstemon. Try 'Mogollon Rim' mix (Wild Seed, 602/276-3536).

Woody Shrubs & Yuccas

• Zones 11–13: Arizona rosewood, desert hackberry, hop bush, jojoba, plumbago, Texas mountain laurel.
• Yuccas (late month): Yucca pallida, twisted leaf yucca (Y. rupicola) for small spaces; beaked yucca (Y. rostrata), blue yucca (Y. rigida) for larger areas.

Maintenance

Fertilize for Spring Surge

• Zones 10–13: High-nitrogen feed for citrus. Complete formula (12-12-12) for grapes, deciduous fruits, roses. Water before and after.

Event: 10th Xeriscape Conference

Feb 24–25, Albuquerque Convention Center (401 Second St. NW). Arid landscape design, new low-water plants. Free trade fair & seminars Sat Feb 26, 8–4.