What to Plant in February 2024 [Best Plants to Sow + Grow]
INSIDE: Learn what to plant in February – flowers, vegetables, and herbs to plant and sow this month.
It may be hard to believe, but it’s time to start planning this year’s garden!
Don’t let February’s gray skies, frigid temperatures, and snow-capped gardens fool you.
🌷Spring is just around the corner…
So, now’s the time to decide what you want to grow this year.
Once you have your garden plan ready, you’ll know exactly what to plant in February.
There are plenty of flowers, fruits, and vegetables to sow and grow this month.
Keep reading for a full list of things to plant and seeds to start in February.
Heads up: If you buy something after clicking a link in this post, I’ll earn a small commission. I only link to products I’d recommend to my best friend.
What vegetables to plant in February
- If you live in a warm-weather growing zone, you can start sowing your vegetable seeds outdoors this month.
- You can jumpstart your gardening season in cooler areas when you start seeds indoors in February. It’s the perfect time to sow warm-weather crops like tomatoes and peppers inside on a seed starting rack with lights. (A sunny windowsill isn’t enough – it’s one of the biggest causes of leggy seedlings.)
Related: Are leggy seedlings bad?
- If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, it can give your garden a significant head start. Start by sowing seeds of broccoli and cauliflower in a heated propagator to ensure optimal germination conditions.
- You can also start pea seeds in a greenhouse. This versatile and easy-to-grow vegetable loves the cool soil temperatures of early spring.
- Don’t have a greenhouse? Don’t let the cold weather hold you back. You can still get a jump on the growing season by growing in cold frames. Even cloches can be a game-changer for gardeners in cold growing zones.
- These tools allow you to start sowing seeds of frost-tolerant varieties of peas and broccoli earlier than usual. They create microclimates that protect young plants from harsh conditions, ensuring better growth and success. Be sure to keep an eye on any plants growing in cold frames, and check on them every few days as they may need more water than you expect.
BONUS: As a bonus for joining my weekly newsletter, download a free February gardening checklist. It’s everything you need to do in February!
Vegetable seeds to sow in February
If your soil isn’t frozen there are a few things you can plant or sow in your garden. Most of these will do better if you give them some protection like a hoop house or cold frame.
How to make it easier to sow seeds outside in February
- Warm your soil with UV-stabilized clear plastic. Hold it down with rocks or bricks.
- Monitor your soil temperature with a soil thermometer and remove the plastic when the soil has warmed enough to plant.
Related: Must-Have Vegetable Gardening Books
- Spinach.
- Radish.
- Cool-season lettuces.
- Greens like mustard and mache.
Here’s how to make gardening easy this month. Get a FREE gardening checklist for February when you join my newsletter.
Vegetable seeds to start indoors in February
- Start seeds of onions and leeks inside if you haven’t yet.
- If you use season extension techniques like cold frames or hoop houses, start transplants of lettuce, spinach, kale, and Swiss chard this month. They can go out in the garden in 6-8 weeks — plan to pot them up once before they go outside if you’re starting them in small pots.
- Start seeds of early tomatoes this month. Set them out in April under Wall O' Waters.
- It’s also time to start your pepper and eggplant seeds, as they take a while to germinate and grow. It’s still too early for most of us to start warm-season crops like beans and squash.
- Start seeds of celery and celeriac under lights. This is my favorite way to set up a seed starting rack.
Related freebie: Grab your FREEE garden maintenance guide.
Herbs to plant in February
- Start some basil seeds now so you can enjoy some pesto early this year.
- Start seeds of perennial herbs such as sage, oregano, and thyme if you didn’t do this in January.
- Start seeds of cold-hardy herbs like chives and parsley this month. They can go out in your garden in March or April since they can withstand cold weather.
Click here to learn more about what to do in your garden in February.
Watch as Liz from Byther Farm talks about what seeds to plant in February:
What flowers to plant in February
Annuals to plant in February
- If you didn’t do so last month, start seeds (indoors) of annuals that require a long growing season. The list includes lobelia, petunia, vinca, browallia, snapdragon, and verbena.
- You still have time to start seeds of cool-season annuals (indoors) such as pansies, dianthus, calendula, English daisy, ranunculus, monkeyflower, annual poppies, primula, Veronica, and forget-me-nots this month. Giving them an early start ensures you’ll have blooming plants this spring.
Perennials to plant in February
There’s still time to plant perennials you want to start from seed in pots set outdoors.
Perennial flower seeds to sow in February include Bachelor buttons, Delphinium, Evening primrose, Poppies, Nicotiana, Calendula, and Violas.
February is an ideal time to focus on growing plants that can withstand frost early in the season. Hardy geraniums are perfect for adding color to your spring garden, and this is the right time to start them from seed. They are slow-growing plants and can take about three to five years to flower when grown from seed.
If you have a greenhouse, consider giving a head start to bulbs like lilies and agapanthus. These plants will appreciate the controlled environment, especially in the unpredictable weather of early spring.
Bulbs not only add beauty to your garden but also offer a range of shapes and colors to suit any garden design idea. Remember to choose bulbs suited to your specific zone for the best growth and blooming results.
Related: Discover what to sow and plant in March.
What to plant in February (indoors)
- Plant a terrarium.
- Look for clear-glass containers that have a lid so you can maintain a humid environment around your plants.
- Good plant choices include Pilea, Peperomia, Ivy, Artillery fern, Button fern, Baby tears, and Creeping fig.
- Pick up a copy of Gardening Under Glass to learn how to set up your terrarium the right way.
- Brighten the dark, dreary days of winter with blooming tropical plants such as orchids and bromeliads.
- They can provide a welcome dose of color to every room in your home.
- With minimum attention, orchids and bromeliads will bloom for months!
- Learn more about growing orchids in Understanding Orchids.
- Looking for an unusual indoor plant idea?
- Sow seeds of chillies now and grow them as house plants in pots.
- Use a heated propagator for better germination results and to provide a stable environment for these tender plants.
Related: Gardening Books to Read This Winter
Can I plant tomatoes in February?
Yes, you can plant tomatoes in February. Tomatoes are frost-tender. And since it’s still winter, most of us will need to sow the seeds indoors, using a good grow light setup, and then transplant them later when the weather warms up. If your garden soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you can plant tomato seeds outdoors in February.
How cold is too cold for seed starting?
Below 50°F is too cold to start most seeds, even seeds of cool-season crops. And soil temperatures below 40°F are almost guaranteed to prevent seeds from germinating altogether.
Download your free monthly planting guide and checklist
Join my weekly-ish newsletter, and as a bonus, you’ll get a printable monthly checklist! Click here to download and subscribe.
Here’s a sneak peek of your checklist:
Download the gardening checklist now. You’ll be sure to get the right things done this month!
Your turn: what do you plant in February?
Did I miss any important February planting tasks?
Let me know in a comment below!
