I don't really look at fertilization as a seasonal responsibility. If things are trying to grow, why don't you help them do so? Once a plant breaks dormancy, it needs that help. Listen to your plants, not the calendar.

I grew up in SC and the rule was to never plant before April 15. Every year, we'd have a warm spell and people would rush out and buy tons of annuals and plant them in March. Then we'd have a freeze, and they'd have to plant them again. When I was further south, February was the month to plant things out, but up here, it's iffy, especially with climate change. You never know what's going to happen.

Agree that one should wait until well after the average date of last frost to plant frost intolerant plants. But we were talking about fertilizing. I have frost tolerant plants that are very happy to get fertilized in January.

I agree with you Dan. I'm spreading my DH's wonderful finished compost on all my beds and containers this weekend.

My tomato plants that I started in late December are still in their little pots but are in the veggie garden hardening off. Spring is almost here!!!

Well, compost and nutrient fertilizer are different things. But certainly amending soil with compost is something that can be done anytime.

Ha! A cold spell here would mean lows in the 40s-50s, and by now it's usually just 50s.

When was the info last updated?