In February the sowing starts, mostly on a warm windowsill
Short answer
February is when sowing starts properly, almost all of it indoors. Sow chillies, sweet peppers, aubergines, onions, leeks and celeriac with some warmth, and broad beans and peas in pots. Outside, plant garlic and shallots if the soil isn't frozen or waterlogged, and chit seed potatoes.
February is when sowing starts, and almost all of it happens indoors. Chillies, sweet peppers and aubergines need a long season, so they go in now with some warmth. Onions, leeks and celeriac follow. Broad beans and peas can be started in pots for an early crop.
Outside, there’s not much to sow, but garlic and shallots can go in when the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
These timings are for a typical lowland garden in England or Wales, with a last frost around 20 April. In Scotland and the north, start the indoor sowings at the end of the month.
What to sow and plant in February
| Crop | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chillies | Indoors, warm | Around 25 °C to germinate |
| Sweet peppers | Indoors, warm | Mid to late February |
| Aubergines | Indoors, warm | Need the longest season of all |
| Onions from seed | Indoors | Four to six seeds per module |
| Leeks | Indoors | For early leeks |
| Celeriac and celery | Indoors, warm | Surface-sow, as they need light |
| Broad beans | Pots or modules | Plant out in March |
| Peas | Guttering or pots | Plant out in March |
| Cabbage and cauliflower | Indoors or greenhouse | Early summer varieties |
| Salad leaves | Greenhouse or windowsill | For cutting in March |
| Sweet peas | Cold frame | Last chance for an early display |
| Garlic and shallots | Outside | When the soil is workable |
Warmth and light
The hard part in February is light. Days are getting longer, but a windowsill is still dim, and seedlings stretch towards the glass. Turn pots every day, or grow under an LED light, 5 to 10 cm above the seedlings, for 12 to 16 hours a day.
Chillies, peppers and aubergines also need warmth to germinate. A heated propagator, an airing cupboard or a warm shelf all work. Move seedlings into the light as soon as they appear.
Peas in guttering
Sow peas in lengths of plastic guttering filled with compost, in an unheated greenhouse or porch. When they’re about 8 cm tall in March, slide the whole row into a shallow trench outside. It’s quick, the mice can’t get at them, and they get a few weeks’ head start.
Jobs for February
- Chit seed potatoes. Stand them in egg boxes, rose end up, somewhere light and frost-free.
- Prune autumn raspberries to the ground.
- Warm the soil. Cover beds with cloches, fleece or sheeting for a few weeks before sowing in March.
- Plant bare-root fruit in mild spells, when the soil isn’t frozen.
- Prepare beds. Add compost and fork it in lightly once the soil is dry enough not to stick to your boots.
What to harvest
Leeks, parsnips, kale, Brussels sprouts, winter cabbage, swedes and the first forced rhubarb. Purple sprouting broccoli often starts at the end of the month.
For chillies in detail, see sowing chillies in February, and when to sow tomato seeds for next month.
Questions people also ask
Can I sow anything outside in February?
Very little, in most of the UK. The soil is usually too cold and wet. Broad beans can go in late in the month in a mild, well-drained spot, or under a cloche. Otherwise, start them in pots.
Is February too early for tomatoes?
Late February is fine if you're growing them in a heated greenhouse. For plants going outside or into an unheated greenhouse, March is better, as they'll be leggy and pot-bound by May.
Can I still plant garlic in February?
Yes. It's not ideal, as garlic does best with a full winter of cold, but February and March plantings still give a decent crop. Choose a spring-planting variety if you can.
Dates set to your own frost dates
VegLog works out sowing and planting times for your town, then reminds you when each job is due.
