I've started them in late February in Alpine 4500ft elev. But it's a real struggle until the soil temperature reaches 60F which doesn't happen here until about late March. To start a month early requires warming the soil with a mini greenhouse. Also helps to have black plastic or weed barrier on the soil surface. My best method for extra early is black surface and clear poly over that. Once the plants are up keep it below 100F by day and as warm as possible at night. So ventilation of the clear poly is essential on sunny days. A black weed barrier or black poly, plastc, is a huge plus for weed control. When your average of the high and low air temp reaches 60F, the soil should also. That would be a good time to plant. Houston reaches ave air temp of 60F about Febr 20. So you could plant now with soil warming or in a month to 6 weeks without. With all out effort I can advance melon first harvest by 4-6 weeks. But around here that requires careful attention until last frost usually in April but 24F in May last year. I did harvest a watermelon in June last year with 24F in May and a brutal hailstorm in June. But it was a lot of work and most were lost to the hail, all except one area covered with hail netting. This post was edited by fruitnut on Sat, Jan 11, 14 at 15:45

I personally think that anytime of the year is great for compost applications too. You may want to rake your lawn before you add your compost. Compost lasts longer than chemical fertilizers. The sulfates and nitrates wash way and deeper into the soil with every rain so you get an quick result as opposed to compost that lasts for years. ********************************************************** Fall fertilizing for lawns and shrubs begins in October... You will need aprox 4lbs of screened compost per every 100 square feet of lawn. The amount can be increased or decreased depending on the condition of lawn. ~Rodale & Staff Pg. 285-287. With compost, you should use it generously in your applications to yeaild the best results. ~Rodale & Staff Pg. 285-287. J.I. Rodale & Staff, The Complete Book of Composting, 1971 (Pennsylvania: Rodale Books, Inc.), 8. Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon.com

now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.

I see you have done such a good job on many. I was reminded of this when you said this. Thank you Bob. Love this time of the year. Temps here at night are finally stabilizing and staying into the 50's at night. What a HUGE difference in the growth of mine. I will be pruning next week.))