What Vegetable Seeds To Sow In February

As February rolls in, it brings with it the promise of spring and the opportunity to start sowing the seeds for a bountiful vegetable garden. While the weather may still be chilly in many regions, this month marks the beginning of preparations for the upcoming growing season. With careful planning and selection, you can set the stage for a vibrant and productive garden. Let’s explore which vegetable seeds are ideal for sowing in February, ensuring a fruitful harvest in the months to come.

Onions

Sowing onion seeds in February is ideal for gardeners in temperate climates, as it allows the plants to establish early for a robust growing season. Start the seeds indoors in trays or pots filled with a light, well-draining seed-starting mix. Maintain a consistent temperature of around 15–20°C and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Provide plenty of light, either from a sunny windowsill or grow lights, to prevent the seedlings from becoming leggy. By the time the weather warms in late spring, the young onions will be ready to transplant into the garden.

Onion Galactcus

Breadseed Poppies

Sowing breadseed poppies in February is a great way to take advantage of the cool weather they need to germinate. These hardy annuals thrive when direct-sown outdoors, as they dislike being transplanted. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil, and scatter the tiny seeds thinly over the surface without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Lightly press the seeds into the soil, and water gently to settle them. The seeds will remain dormant until the conditions are just right, sprouting as temperatures begin to rise, giving you beautiful blooms and seed pods by late spring or early summer.

Bread Seed Poppy Hungarian Blue

Chillies and Sweet Peppers

Sowing chilli and sweet pepper seeds at the end of February is a great way to get a head start on the growing season. Without grow lights, place the seed trays or pots in the warmest, sunniest spot in your home, such as a south-facing windowsill, to ensure they receive as much natural light as possible. Use a quality seed-starting mix and keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. To aid germination, maintain a temperature of 20–25°C, (which may require a warm spot near a radiator). Once the seedlings emerge, rotate the pots regularly to prevent them from leaning toward the light.

Chilli Brown Jalapeno

Celery

Sowing celery seeds in February is an excellent way to ensure a long growing season for this slow-growing vegetable. Start the seeds indoors in shallow trays or pots filled with a fine, well-draining seed compost. Celery seeds need warmth to germinate, so maintain a temperature of around 18–21°C and keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy. Since celery has a long germination time, be patient as it can take up to three weeks. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out, and ensure they receive plenty of light to prevent leggy growth. Transplant them outdoors when the risk of frost has passed.

Celery Blush

Petunias

Sowing petunia seeds in February is a great way to get a head start on a vibrant summer display. Start the tiny seeds indoors in shallow trays or seed pots filled with a light, well-draining seed compost. Petunia seeds need light to germinate, so avoid covering them with soil; simply press them gently into the surface. Keep the soil moist and maintain a temperature of around 18–21°C for optimal germination. Once the seedlings emerge, provide plenty of bright, indirect light, and thin them out to avoid overcrowding. Transplant the young petunias outdoors after the last frost when they are strong enough.

Petunia Superbissima

Tomatoes

We actually start growing tomatoes in February.  Equipped with heat and lights, this is another crop you can get started on.  Again, without this equipment it’s best to leave this until March or April to ensure healthy plants.  The only problem we have is choosing from our huge range of gorgeous heirloom tomatoes!

Tomato Black Cherry

Spring Radish

Sowing spring radish seeds in February is a great way to enjoy an early harvest of these fast-growing, crisp vegetables. Directly sow the seeds outdoors in well-drained, fertile soil, ideally in a sunny or partially shaded spot. Radishes thrive in cool temperatures, so the mild February weather is perfect for germination. Space the seeds about 4 cm apart and cover them lightly with soil. Keep the soil moist, and once the seedlings emerge, thin them to ensure they have enough space to grow. With proper care, radishes will mature in just a few weeks, offering an early spring crop.

Spring Radish Fire Candle

Lettuce

Sowing lettuce seeds in February is a great way to enjoy fresh, crisp greens early in the season. Start the seeds indoors in trays or pots using a light, well-draining compost. Lettuce prefers cooler temperatures, so keep the room temperature around 15–18°C. Sow the tiny seeds on the surface and lightly press them into the soil without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Once the seedlings emerge, provide them with plenty of light to prevent leggy growth. Transplant the young plants outdoors once the risk of frost has passed for an early spring harvest.

Lettuce Bronze Beauty

Agastache

Sowing Agastache seeds in February is an excellent way to get a jump on the growing season for this hardy, fragrant perennial. Start the seeds indoors in seed trays or pots using a well-draining seed-starting mix. Agastache seeds need light to germinate, so scatter them lightly on the surface and press them gently into the soil without covering. Keep the soil moist and maintain a temperature of around 18–21°C for optimal germination. Once the seedlings emerge, provide them with plenty of bright, indirect light. After the last frost, harden them off and transplant them outdoors where they will thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.

Agastache Peach Margarita

Amaranth

Sowing amaranth directly outdoors in February is best suited for mild climates with frost-free conditions. Choose a sunny, well-drained location and prepare the soil by loosening it and removing any weeds. Scatter the tiny amaranth seeds evenly across the soil and gently press them into the surface, as they require light to germinate. Lightly water the area, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Amaranth thrives in warm temperatures, so it will start to germinate as the weather warms up. Once the seedlings establish, thin them out to allow for proper growth and give them plenty of space to spread.

Amaranth Joseph’s Coat

Beetroot

Sowing beetroot seeds in February is a great way to get an early start on this nutrient-packed root vegetable. In milder climates, you can sow the seeds directly outdoors in well-drained, fertile soil, choosing a sunny or partially shaded location. Plant the seeds about 4-8 cm apart and cover them lightly with soil. Keep the soil moist and, as the seeds germinate, thin them out to ensure proper spacing. Beetroot prefers cool weather, so the February planting will allow for early growth that can be harvested in late spring or early summer. If the weather is still too cold, start seeds indoors and transplant the seedlings once the ground warms up.

Beetroot Red Toad

Broad Beans

Sowing broad beans in February is an excellent way to get a head start on a productive harvest. In milder climates, you can sow the seeds directly outdoors in well-drained, fertile soil, ideally in a sunny or slightly sheltered spot. Plant the seeds about 10 cm deep and 24 cm apart to allow for proper growth. Broad beans thrive in cool temperatures, and sowing them early can give the plants a strong start before warmer weather arrives. Keep the soil moist, and be sure to protect the seedlings from any late frosts with cloches or fleece if needed. By early summer, you’ll be able to enjoy your homegrown beans.

Broad Bean Autumn Light

Peas

Sowing peas in February is a great way to get an early start on your spring harvest, especially in milder climates. You can sow pea seeds directly outdoors in well-drained, fertile soil, ideally in a sunny spot. Plant the seeds about 4 cm deep and space them 8 cm apart. Peas thrive in cool temperatures, so the February planting allows them to grow steadily as the weather warms. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and provide support for the vines as they grow. With the right care, you’ll have fresh peas ready to harvest in early summer.

Pea Telephone

Dahlias

Sowing dahlia seeds in February is a great way to enjoy vibrant blooms later in the season. Start the seeds indoors in trays or pots, using a light, well-draining seed compost. Sow the tiny seeds on the surface of the soil, pressing them gently without covering them, as they require light to germinate. Keep the soil moist and maintain a temperature of around 18–21°C for optimal germination. Once the seedlings emerge, provide plenty of bright, indirect light to help them grow strong. After the danger of frost has passed, harden them off and transplant them outdoors where they can flourish in full sun and well-drained soil.

Dahlia Bishop’s Children

Kohlrabi

Sowing kohlrabi in February is a great way to get an early start on this fast-growing, crunchy vegetable. Start the seeds indoors in trays or pots filled with a light, well-draining compost. Sow the seeds about 2 cm deep and keep the soil moist. Maintain a temperature of around 18–21°C to encourage germination, which typically takes 7–14 days. Once the seedlings emerge, provide plenty of light to prevent them from becoming leggy. Transplant the young kohlrabi plants outdoors when the risk of frost has passed, spacing them about 6–8 inches apart for healthy growth.

Kohlrabi Supersschmelz

Gourd

Sowing gourd seeds in February is ideal for gardeners looking to grow these vigorous climbers for a summer harvest. Start the seeds indoors in pots or trays using a well-draining seed compost. Sow the seeds about 4 cm deep and keep the soil consistently moist. Maintain a temperature of around 20–25°C for optimal germination, which usually takes 7–14 days. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, gradually harden them off and transplant them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed, ideally in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil. Gourds need plenty of space to spread and may require supports for climbing as they grow.

Gourd Luffa

Leeks

Sowing leeks in February is perfect for getting a head start on this slow-growing vegetable. Start the seeds indoors in seed trays or pots filled with a light, well-draining compost. Sow the seeds about 2 cm deep and keep the soil moist. Leeks need a steady, cool temperature of around 15–18°C for optimal germination, which usually takes 10–14 days. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out to prevent overcrowding and provide plenty of light to avoid legginess. After the risk of frost has passed, harden the seedlings off and transplant them outdoors into deep, well-drained soil, where they can grow steadily into the summer.

Leek Elefant

Mangelwurzel

Sowing mangelwurzel seeds in February is a great way to prepare for a robust root crop later in the year. Start the seeds indoors in seed trays or pots filled with a well-draining compost. Sow the seeds about 4 cm deep and keep the soil moist, maintaining a temperature of around 15–18°C for optimal germination. Once the seedlings emerge, provide them with plenty of light to ensure strong growth. After the last frost, harden off the seedlings and transplant them outdoors into fertile, well-drained soil. Mangelwurzel grows best in cool temperatures and, with adequate space and care, will produce large, nutritious roots for animal feed or human consumption.

Mangelwurzel Red

Physalis

Sowing physalis seeds in February is an excellent way to get a head start on this unique fruiting plant. Start the seeds indoors in trays or pots filled with a well-draining, lightweight seed compost. Sow the small seeds on the surface and lightly press them into the soil without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist and maintain a temperature of around 20–25°C for optimal germination, which typically takes 10–20 days. Once the seedlings appear, provide them with bright, indirect light and thin them out if necessary. After the danger of frost has passed, harden off the seedlings and transplant them outdoors, where they can thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, eventually producing small, lantern-like fruit.

Physalis Golden Berry

Viola

Sowing violas in February is a great way to enjoy early spring blooms. Start the seeds indoors in seed trays or pots using a light, well-draining compost. Sow the tiny seeds on the surface and gently press them into the soil without covering them, as they need light to germinate. Keep the soil moist and maintain a temperature of around 15–18°C for optimal germination, which usually takes about 10–14 days. Once the seedlings emerge, provide them with plenty of light to prevent leggy growth. After the last frost, harden them off and transplant them outdoors where they can brighten up gardens with their colourful, cheerful flowers.

Viola Brush Strokes

Ready, set grow!

As February unfolds, the prospect of a thriving vegetable garden beckons. By sowing the right seeds at the right time, you can set the stage for a successful growing season ahead. Whether you’re cultivating leafy greens, hearty root vegetables, or flavorful herbs, the possibilities are endless. With careful planning and attention to detail, your February garden will soon flourish, yielding a bounty of fresh and delicious produce to enjoy throughout the year. So roll up your sleeves, grab your seeds, and let the planting begin!

Watch our how to sow and grow videos on YouTube for all of the varieties in this article.