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Violas, along with cyclamens, primroses, pansies, nicotianas, lobelias, foxgloves and forget-me-nots, do well in partly shaded areas during cooler weather. (RUSTY COSTANZA / THE TIMES-PICAY)
Plant caladium tubers indoors this month for a head start. Start tubers in flats or pots of potting soil kept evenly moist in a warm, out-of-the-way area. They should begin to sprout in a few weeks.
As the leaves appear, move the containers to a sunny window or shady area outside once days are in the 70s and nights in the 60s. Plant caladiums into the garden in mid-April.
Harvest parsley regularly by breaking off the lower, older leaves. There is still time to plant parsley transplants now for harvest through early summer.
Need cool-season color in a partly shaded area? The best choices are cyclamen, primroses, pansy, viola, nicotiana, lobelia, foxglove and forget-me-not.
Finish harvesting any fruit still remaining on citrus trees. The fruit stores well on the tree, but ultimately the quality will begin to decline. And leaving old fruit on the tree beyond mid-February may interfere with this spring's flowers and fruit set.
Spring is beginning, but there is still some chance of freezes. Don't let spells of mild weather fool you into planting tender vegetables and bedding plants unless you are willing to protect them if necessary — especially north of the lake.
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References
- ^ here (subscription.nola.com)
- ^ New Orleans Homes and Gardens page on Facebook. (www.facebook.com)
