It's a bit late to be starting a Feb gardening thread, but it's 'spring' here (coastal SoCal), and the juices are really flowing.
The tomato seedlings are about 5 inches tall and looking robust. They are outside and will be put in the ground when it dries a bit. It's been raining the past couple days here.
The San Marzano tomato seeds are just beginnig to peep up. These were just planted a week or so ago. I've never grown them before, so I'm really looking forward to see if they do well here.
The peppers and chilis are still too small - the largest are maybe 3 inches tall, but most are smaller. Those will take another few weeks to go out, or even longer depending on weather. We usually don't get frosts here so I"m not worried about them getting zapped, but if it's cooler or overcast, they just don't grow as fast.
I've been planting out flats of lettuce which just thrive here at this time of year. I plant 4 X 4 in doubled 16 inch nursery flats and pick when relatively young. Teenaged lettuce actually. These are protected on all sides from the critters - top, bottom and 4 sides, and this enclosure is now full with 12 flats. The largest plants are getting close enough to pick a few outer leaves being picked, but I'm not going to rush it.
Today between rains I was fixing up the next large lettuce enclosure. I'll have to screen the planter mix again (I re-use it forever, sometimes adding a bit of this or that if needed.), but the next round of lettuce seedlings is about a week or more away so there's no rush. Good thing since rain is predicted for the next several days.
I planted some cuke seeds and finally got the seedlings transplanted into 5 gallon pots where they will live out their lives. Variety cool breeze. I like this variety - good tasting but doesnt have seeds and does not require pollination for fruits to form. Last year I grew them in pots and it worked well. The plants don't grow as big, but they bear well, and the gophers can't get to the roots.
I also planted some Romano bean seeds in 5 gallon pots the other day. Same thing with deterring the gophers. And in pots, the seeds are warmer and germinate better in the cooler months.
I still have to plant some squash seeds. I'm thinking generic zucchini to start. Maybe some patty pans later in the season.
I just love gardening.