Gardening in February (Zone 5)

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Gardening in February can be a busy month. There are many plants that can be started indoors and winter sown outside. I have always done "the lazy way" by winter sowing my seeds. However, I do like starting some seeds indoors to help get a head start on plants I want to be bigger in the cooler months.

Cool season crops should be started now. Gardening in February includes the brassica family (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.), salad greens, herbs and flowers. All of these seeds can be planted directly into the garden soil in the spring but to get a hard start until then, we need to grow them indoors or in mini greenhouses. Once spring is here, around the end of March, I transplant some of these into the garden to start on my crop secession plantings. Having crops that are all harvested a week or two apart helps to not have all the produce be done at the same time. For example, only one head of cabbage per week instead of 3-6 cabbages at a time.

Below are lists for both indoor and outdoor seeds to start. For more information on how to start seeds under grow lights or direct planting visit my seed starting guide.

• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Collards
• Kohlrabi
• Bok Choy
• Kale
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Swiss Chard
• Chives
• Cilantro
• Parsley
• Bunching Onions/ Onions
• Celery
• Warm Season Flowers

Plants that take a long time to grow are celery and onions. Slow growing plants take longer to grow to transplanting size. Therefore, they need to be started as soon as possible and the latest date to get these seeds planted is February 15th. All other seeds can be started anytime in February.

I have a 4 foot wide by 5 tier shelf with hanging grow lights on 3 of them. I usually have one shelf for close lighted seed starts and then move the plants down the shelves as they get bigger. The grow lights that I use are the 4ft long fluorescent lights to start the seeds and then move to the 4ft long LED lights as they get bigger.

Vegetables and Herbs

• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Peas
• Spinach
• Oregano
• Cilantro
• Creeping Thyme

Flowers

• Hollyhock
• Bellfower
• Balloon Flower
• Bachelor Button (blue variety)
• Wild Foxglove
• Evening Primrose
• Columbine

For a full list of outdoor winter sowing, you can visit that here. January and February are basically the same for winter sowing. Planting seeds in milk jugs can take time, therefore I space out the days. There is a lot of effort up front but then you can sit back on relax the rest of winter. Sometimes I sow way more seeds then I need incase I want to give away some plants later on in the season. As for direct planting seeds into the garden in February, it is still too cold unless you have a cold frame.