🌱 February Planting Guide: What to Grow This Month (UK)
February is a key transition month in the UK garden. While winter is still very much present, daylight levels are increasing, making it the ideal time to begin early sowing under cover and prepare for the busy spring season ahead.
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This guide explains what to plant in February, where to sow it, and what’s best left until later.
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(February Planting Guide – What to Grow This Month)
Fine, free-draining seed compost gives young plants the best start in February, helping seeds germinate evenly without rotting in cold, damp conditions.
February sowing often needs extra warmth, especially for chillies, peppers, and aubergines. A heated propagator provides consistent temperatures for reliable germination.
Starting seeds under cover in trays or modules allows better control of warmth and moisture, improving success rates during unpredictable late-winter weather.
🌡️ What to Expect From February Weather
In most parts of the UK:
- Frosts are still common
- Soil remains cold and often waterlogged
- Outdoor sowing is limited
- Indoor and protected sowing works best
Think of February as a setup month, not full spring.
🌱 Vegetables to Sow Indoors in February
These crops need a long growing season and benefit from an early start.
🌶️ Chillies & Peppers
- Sow indoors with consistent warmth
- Ideal temperature: 22–28°C
- Slow to grow, so early sowing is important
🍆 Aubergines
- Must be started indoors
- Require steady heat
- February is the ideal sowing window
🍅 Tomatoes (Late February)
- Best sown from mid to late February
- Earlier sowing risks weak, leggy plants
🌱 Vegetables to Sow Under Cover
In unheated greenhouses, cold frames, or polytunnels (with protection):
- 🥬 Lettuce (hardy varieties)
- 🧅 Onions from seed
- 🥬 Spinach
- 🌱 Salad leaves
Use fleece during cold nights.
🌱 Vegetables You Can Sow Outdoors (Weather Dependent)
Only if soil is workable and not frozen:
- 🥔 Broad beans
- 🧅 Onion sets
- 🌿 Garlic (if not planted earlier)
In colder areas, waiting until March is often safer.
🌼 Flowers to Sow in February
🌸 Sow Indoors
- Sweet peas
- Begonias
- Petunias
- Lobelia
🌼 Sow Under Cover
- Hardy annuals
- Long-season perennials
Early sowing produces stronger plants later.
🚫 What Not to Sow in February
Avoid sowing:
- Carrots
- Beetroot
- Courgettes
- Runner beans
- French beans
Cold soil leads to poor germination and setbacks.
🪴 Helpful Jobs to Do in February
- Clean seed trays and pots
- Check seed dates and reorder early
- Prepare compost and labels
- Clean greenhouse glass to improve light
- Protect seedlings from cold nights
Preparation now saves time and frustration later.
🧠 Key Takeaway
February is all about early starts and preparation. Focus on indoor sowing, protected environments, and patience. What you start now will give you a strong head start when spring arrives.
Steady progress now leads to better harvests later.
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February planting guide for UK gardeners. Learn what vegetables and flowers to sow this month, where to grow them, and what to avoid planting until spring.