February, although it’s wet and cold, isn’t a million miles away from Spring. It’s a month when you can get on a little bit in the garden – if the weather is more favourable! If you are thinking about what seeds to plant in February, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of my suggestions for what you can start growing this month, plus a few other options which are best grown from plants or tubers.
Seeds To Plant in February
As the winter months gradually yield to the promise of spring, February in the UK marks an exciting time for gardeners to lay the groundwork for a vibrant and productive garden. February is indeed a great time to kickstart your gardening journey. By sowing seeds in this early part of the year, you provide your plants with a head start, allowing them to develop robust root systems and gain a competitive edge in the growing season.
With the last frost date still lingering on the horizon, February provides the perfect opportunity to get a head start on the gardening season but in a cautionary way. To help you, I’ve also put together some essential tips and insights to ensure a successful and rewarding start to your year in the garden.
1 – Sweet Peppers
Once mid-February swings around, you could start thinking about sowing sweet peppers. You’ll need to start them off indoors as they need a nice warm temperature (18 – 21 degrees) to help them germinate. Using a propagator is ideal to get your sweet peppers off to a good start.
You can think about moving these outside around the end of May, earlier if you have a greenhouse. Remember to acclimatise them during the day and bring them in overnight when you do move them outside. They’ll need a bright sunny spot to do their magic over the summer. You should be able to harvest between June and October, depending on the variety.
2 – Sweet Peas
One of the stars of late winter gardening is the sweet pea. In my experience, sowing sweet pea seeds in February, either in a cold frame or on a sunny windowsill, ensures a strong and early start for these gorgeous flowers. These delicate and fragrant flowers will appreciate the cool temperatures and bloom beautifully as spring unfolds. I’ve had great success growing my sweet peas in toilet rolls as this allows them to grow long, strong roots. You’ll need to strike a balance between sunlight and warmth to ensure that your sweet pea seedlings don’t get all leggy, but you can read more about it in my sweet pea post.
3 – Busy Lizzies
When you are thinking about what seeds to plant in February, and considering flowers instead of fruit or vegetables, you could plant Busy Lizzies. Busy Lizzies are a great flower if you have a more shady spot in your garden, as they will still thrive in these conditions.
You can sow Busy Lizzie seeds from February onwards, either indoors or in a greenhouse. They won’t do well outside at this stage. The one thing to remember with Busy Lizzie seeds is to only finely cover them after planting the seeds. They need light to be able to germinate and if you cover them up too much, they won’t grow into nice little seedlings which you can later plant in your garden.
4 – Jerusalem Artichokes
February is the earliest month to plant Jerusalem artichokes and these can be planted right up until April. They are grown from tubers and can grow incredibly tall (up to around 3 metres in height), so you’ll need to think about where you plant them. This will ensure they aren’t blocking light from other plants and also you’ll need to think about how they can be supported.
Jerusalem artichokes will be ready to harvest in the late autumn and into the winter, so you really have to think ahead with these plants.
5 – Carrots
There are many carrot varieties which can be planted as early as February. You are best to start your seeds off underneath cloches or in a cold frame if you are planting as early as February. For more details about germination, take a look at my post about how long does it take carrots to germinate.
6 – Beetroot
You’ll need to select the right variety of beetroot if you are going to be planting them in February, but this is another vegetable which can be planted outside for early harvesting. Beetroot is best grown under a cloche or in a cold frame if you are planting this early on in the year.
7 – Apple Trees
If you’ve always wanted to grow your own apples, then planting an apple tree in February time would be ideal. You can plant either straight into the ground or into a large pot. The most important thing to note is that apple trees don’t like to be planted where the drainage is poor or where the ground often freezes. Your new tree may also take a few years to establish and produce fruit, so don’t expect too much too soon.
8 – Cherry Trees
Cherry trees are also another option for fruit trees which can be planted in late winter. This is the best time as the cherry tree will be dormant and you won’t risk stressing or harming your cherry tree. You’ll need to think about late frosts and early blossoms on your cherry tree as these don’t pair well. If there is a late frost after your cherry tree has started to blossom, you’ll need to think about protecting the flowers with some horticultural fleece.
9 – Broad Beans
If you are considering what seeds to plant in February, you can sow your broad beans in this month. if the ground isn’t too cold and frozen. You can pre-prepare the soil for your broad beans by pre-warming with cloches over the area designed for planting. You can also use a greenhouse or cold frame to achieve early plants.
10 – Parsnips
Parsnips are another seed which can be planted outside directly into your vegetable garden if you have the option to use a cloche to stop the temperatures from dropping so significantly at night time. Parsnips can be tricky to germinate and you must use fresh seeds. If you are unsure whether your parsnips will germinate in a cold vegetable garden, you can germinate the plants indoors in a warmer place and then plant them out.
11 – Lettuce
I love harvesting fresh lettuce. There’s nothing better than a home-grown salad and the good news is that you can grow lettuce pretty much year round. Use a winter variety like winter gem and you’ll be able to have lettuce on your plate throughout the year.
12 – Blueberries
February is an ideal time to plant blueberry bushes. As they require acidic soil, it may be best to plant these in large pots. Wondering what is ericaceous soil? This post can help. Also if you are planning on growing blueberries, you can take a look at my post about the best mulch for blueberries.
13 – Pear Trees
Pear trees can be treated much like apple trees. Plant your pear tree in a well-draining spot which gets good sunlight. Avoid areas which get waterlogged as this can lead to root rot. If you are planting in November to March, you’ll only be able to plant a bare root tree which may take a couple of years to yield any fruit – but homegrown pears are worth waiting for.
14 – Salad Onions
Salad onions can be planted in February under cloches. As salad onions are quite fast growing, you may well be able to harvest the earliest onions in 8 – 12 weeks. If you want spring onions throughout the spring, summer and autumn, plant your spring onions every three weeks and you’ll find you can harvest these regularly. Spring onions are easy to grow and are a great choice for vegetable gardens.
15 – Radish
There are lots of varieties of radish which can be planted in February, although it would be best to plant the seeds in a cold frame or greenhouse to give them the best chance to germinate and flourish. Radish is known for being fast-growing with some varieties being ready from around 25 – 28 days when it warms up a little, so if you do sow early from February, you should be able to sow more every couple of weeks and ensure that you have a bountiful harvest throughout spring and summer. Radish are great seeds to plant in February.
16 – Peas
You can plant mangetout or sugar snap peas in February directly into your garden. You’ll need to provide some support for them to grow in the form of pea sticks, a trellis or an obelisk. Your peas will be ready to harvest about 11 to 15 weeks after sowing. If you aren’t sure whether they are ready for harvesting, just take a look at them. Mangetouts are best picked while the pods are still completely flat and sugar snaps can be picked when the pods are just beginning to swell. Don’t get these mixed up with your sweet peas – as sweet peas are toxic and should not be eaten!
17 – Spinach
Spinach is very rewarding to grow. You can simply sow the seeds thinly at about 1cm deep and keep them watered. You will need to thin out the seedlings once they start to poke through to allow the stronger plants to thrive. Once the spinach leaves are ready to eat, you can snap them off close to the ground. If you just harvest a few leaves at a time, your spinach will continue to grow new leaves and you’ll enjoy fresh, young spinach leaves at regular intervals.
18 – Chillies
Chillies need a long growing season, so they are ideal to get started in the winter months. You’ll need a heated propagator though, as most chillies will need a minimum temperature of 25ºC to germinate. If you can achieve this, you’ll chillies should start to grow. Chillies can be grown in individual pots, using a light covering of seed compost. Chillies are one of my favourites – there are so many bright, colourful and tasty varieties.
19 – Aubergines
Aubergines can be treated a bit like chillies when it comes to winter sowing. They need a minimum temperature of 25 degrees to germinate and also need a long growing season, so if you can get these started in a heated propagator you will reap the rewards.
20 – Kale
Kale is a great option for a seed to plant in February. You’ll still need to start off your seeds indoors during the winter, otherwise your kale seeds won’t germinate. You can use a seed module tray or perhaps a 7cm pot. Sow a couple of seeds per pot/module and then once they are growing, thin out to leave the strongest seedling.
21 – Geraniums
Geraniums can be planted in the garden as early as February as long as they are a hardy variety. I’ve found that geraniums are robust and easy to grow and I like the fact that they flower for a really long period – which is great for bees and butterflies. Geraniums will grow in most soils, so are suitable for all types of gardens.
22 – Cosmos
If you are looking for easy flower seeds to plant in February, Cosmos are a great choice. These look great in the flower bed and can be sown from seed in February. Cosmos seeds need good light to germinate, so you are best to sow on top of a good quality seed compost. Use a seed tray or plant pot and leave this in a sunny spot, such as a window sill or conservatory.
23 – Tomatoes
If you have a heated propagator, you can get your tomato seeds started at any point during late winter. If not, wait until towards the end of February and you can try your hand at germinating some tomato plants – that way you’ll have tomatoes ready nice and early during the summer. If you aren’t using a heated propagator, my best advice is to ensure that you cover your tomato seedlings, so that when the temperature drops at night, it doesn’t harm them.
24 – Lilies
I love lilies. We have a beautiful lily which does really well in our garden and it’s stunning when it flowers. You can plant lilies at pretty much any time during the autumn, winter and spring (as long as the ground isn’t frozen). Choose a spot which doesn’t get water-logged, gets a decent amount of sun and plant your bulbs around 15-20cm deep into the ground. You’ll be thrilled when your lilies up come in the summer.
25 – Basil
Basil can be a bit hit-and-miss in February if you aren’t using a heated propagator, but you are likely to have more success if you wait until it warms up a little towards the end of the month. Basil seeds need a minimum of 15 degrees to germinate, but once the seeds have germinated, you’ll be enjoying fresh basil in no time.
Tips for Planting in February
Heating and Lighting
To give your seeds the best start, consider using a heated propagator, heat mats or grow lights. These can provide consistent warmth and light, mimicking ideal growing conditions. For tender plants like chillies and tomatoes, a heated propagator or a consistent, warm spot in the house can make a significant difference.
Sunshine for Growth
As the days lengthen, make the most of the increasing hours of sunlight. Ensure your seedlings receive plenty of sunshine, either through a sunny windowsill or by providing additional artificial light when needed. Full sun exposure is crucial for the healthy growth of most vegetable plants.
Sandy Soil and Drainage
When planting in garden beds, be mindful of your soil composition. Sandy soil, known for its excellent drainage, is ideal for most vegetables. Ensuring proper drainage is crucial for the health of your plants, preventing waterlogged soil and potential root rot.
Variety
Experimenting with a variety of different seeds is a good idea. Planting various fruits, vegetables and flowers ensures a diverse and colourful garden for you and any of the pollinators who visit. Diversifying your garden contributes to its overall health and appeal, plus it might harvest some interesting varieties for you to enjoy.
Winter Protection
Late February is an excellent time to think about providing plants protection in the form of mulch. I’ve got a few guides about mulch which might be of interest. Take a look at my post about grass mulching benefits or the one about pine bark mulch benefits. Don’t be put off by mulch! Have a read of why does mulch smell and educate yourself about this garden wonder.
Early Spring
As early spring approaches, your garden should be in full swing. Tender plants like chilli peppers, flowers and tomatoes, nurtured indoors since late February, will be ready for transplanting into the garden. This marks a critical milestone in the gardening calendar, symbolising the transition from indoor nurturing to outdoor abundance. You’ll want to harden your plants before moving fully outside and you’ll need to be aware of any late frost, particularly in the more northern areas of the UK.
February and the Last Frost
Understanding the last frost date is crucial for successful gardening. In the UK, the last frost date varies by region, but as a general rule, it’s typically in late April into early May. Starting seeds indoors in late February ensures that young plants are ready to be transplanted outdoors when the risk of frost has passed.
Greenhouses, Poly Tunnels or Hoop Houses
For those with larger garden plans, a greenhouse, polytunnel or hoop house is a great option. These structures provide additional protection for early seedlings, allowing you to extend your growing season. These are particularly useful for heat-loving plants that may need a little extra warmth as they acclimate to outdoor conditions.
February is an exciting and pivotal time for gardeners in the UK. By strategically selecting and planting a variety of seeds indoors, you set the stage for a bountiful and colourful fruit, vegetable and flower garden. Whether you’re cultivating vegetables, perennial flowers, or experimenting with different varieties, the key is to leverage the early season, giving your plants the best chance for success. With careful planning, the right tools, and a touch of gardening enthusiasm, you’ll be well on your way to reaping the rewards of a flourishing garden in the months to come.
For the best results, plan your late winter garden. Take into account the specific requirements of different varieties of plants when thinking about what seeds to plant in February, including their preferred growing conditions and potential frost sensitivity. This strategic planning will set the stage for a successful gardening season
What are you thinking about planting this year? I hope you’ve found this useful when thinking about what seeds to plant in February.
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