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February in West Virginia

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February in West Virginia

layout: base.njk title: "February - WV Homesteading Calendar" description: "Homesteading tasks for February in West Virginia" category: seasonal-calendar month: 2

Theme: Stirring
Weather: Still cold, avg highs 40-43°F, lows 22-26°F
Daylight: 10h 15m → 11h 10m (lengthening by 55 minutes)

🌿 Phenology Signs

  • Late February: Skunk cabbage blooms in wetlands (signals wetland soil warming)
  • Witch hazel continues blooming (fall-blooming variety)
  • Snowdrops may appear in protected areas
  • Maple sap begins flowing (when daytime temps above 40°F, nights below freezing)
  • Great horned owls hooting more frequently (breeding behavior)
  • Red-tailed hawks begin aerial displays
  • Groundhogs occasionally emerge during warm spells
  • Amphibians begin moving toward breeding ponds on warm rainy nights
  • First green tissue may appear on perennial crowns

✅ Task Checklist

Garden

  • [ ] Begin maple sugaring season (tap trees when freeze-thaw cycles begin)
  • [ ] Start onion and leek seedlings indoors (critical for large bulbs)
  • [ ] Start celery, celeriac, early lettuce varieties indoors
  • [ ] Late February: Start broccoli, cabbage, kale for early spring transplant
  • [ ] Check stored produce weekly
  • [ ] Clean and prepare greenhouse for spring
  • [ ] Service irrigation equipment
  • [ ] Continue winter sowing in cold frames

Orchard

  • [ ] Continue dormant pruning of fruit trees and berries
  • [ ] Tap maple trees for syrup production
  • [ ] Prune when temps above freezing for wound healing

Animals

  • [ ] Check water sources daily
  • [ ] Monitor feed supplies through late winter
  • [ ] Prepare for spring breeding season
  • [ ] Service equipment (chainsaws, pruning tools)

Preservation

  • [ ] Process maple sap into syrup (peak production late February-March)
  • [ ] Continue using stored root vegetables and winter squash
  • [ ] Review seed inventory and order remaining seeds

🌱 What to Plant

Direct Seed: None outdoors yet
Winter Sowing: Continue in cold frames

Transplant: None

Start Indoors: - Early February: Continue onions and leeks - Mid-February: Celery, celeriac, early lettuce varieties - Late February: Broccoli, cabbage, kale (for early spring transplant)

🐛 Watch For

  • Maple sap flow - tap when freeze-thaw cycles begin (days above 40°F, nights below)
  • Skunk cabbage blooms - signals wetland soil warming
  • Stored produce rot - continue weekly checks
  • Equipment service - complete before spring rush
  • Seed starting timing - onions need long head start

📅 Key Timing

  • Maple sugaring season: Late February through March
  • Great horned owl breeding: January-February (8 weeks to spring)
  • First spring migrant: Red-winged blackbirds mid-February
  • Killdee return: Mid-February (spring is 4 weeks away)
  • Growing season countdown: ~75 days to last frost

January ← | March →