In the early months of the year, your greenhouse may be full of tender plants that you’re overwintering and protecting from the harshest of the winter cold. But, if you have space, February is a month to get a head start on some of your planting.
What you choose to plant in February and how will depend on your taste, as well as on factors such as whether your greenhouse is heated and insulated, the lighting conditions and moisture.
What vegetables to grow in February
The end of winter is the perfect time to get some early varieties of vegetables in the soil, so that your plate can be full of home grown veg as soon as possible
Cauliflower
How to grow
Cauliflower can be sown at this time, ready for early crops. Check the sowing instructions for the variety of seeds you have. Many prefer to be planted deep and covered until they have germinated. Cauliflowers thrive in modules or in a seed bed, ready to be transplanted after six weeks. When moved to their final growing position, make sure to space them out, but also firm them in well.
Care tips
You’ll want to keep the cauliflowers mulched, to retain water, and if the sun starts getting strong before they’re ready to harvest, you may want to shade they with some larger leaves.
When to harvest
Once the head starts to form, keep a close eye on them, so that they can be harvested before they start to set flowers.
Pak Choi (Bok Choy)
How to grow
A winter planting favourite, offering sweet flavors and a lovely texture to many dishes. Plant in your greenhouse in February, transplant in March, and get ready to harvest as soon as April – some Baby Choi varieties are ready to harvest just fifty days after sowing. Because Pak Choi is prone to bolting in hot conditions, a stable greenhouse environment is perfect for end-of-winter and into-spring planting.
Care tips
Plant seeds well-spaced and to a shallow depth in compost, and set it in a south-facing position in your greenhouse. Water consistently, without leaving the soil soggy, and thin the seedlings out as they grow.
When to harvest
The variety you choose will tell you when to harvest, but most have options for baby-leaf harvesting as well as leaving until full maturity.
Carrots
While carrots are usually sown outdoors from April, you can get a head start on your carrot crop with some early cultivars that can be sown in your greenhouse in February. Your carrots need plenty of depth to grow, so containers should be 40-50cm deep, depending on the variety.
Prepare your pots or planters will well-watered soil, and sow your carrot seeds shallowly, in rows. Water gently to keep the soil moist for the first 10-20 days, until the seeds have germinated, and be ready to thin them out.
Carrots planted in February will be ready to harvest in May.
Flowers to grow in your greenhouse in February
It’s not only heart healthy veg that can thrive when planted early in your greenhouse. For many of us, part of the joy of a greenhouse is early color and vibrancy from some of our favourite flowers.
Delphiniums
How to grow
This plant will thrive when planted in a greenhouse in February. You can plant in pots or seed trays, into compost, at around just 3mm deep. Keep the soil covered until germination, and care for the seedlings by keeping the soil moist.
Care tips
Separate them out when the seedlings get their second set of leaves, and once the risk of frost has passed, you can harden them off before planting them into a sunny spot, out of the wind, in well-drained soil.
Violas
How to grow
Violas are another flower that can be planted at this time of year. Plant under a plastic lid and spray to keep moist, and make sure seed trays are placed in a bright location, but not in the direct heat of sunlight.
Care tips
Seedlings can be separated once their leaves are fully formed, and once the frosts have passed, can be planted out.
A broad range of other flowers can be planted in February in your greenhouse, as long as you’re able to keep it frost-free. From Sweet peas to Lobelia, Cosmos to Petunias. And really, what you choose to plant will be as much down to the space you have available, as to you preference for those early blooms. Check seed packets to make sure the varieties you’ve chosen are suitable for early planting in your greenhouse, and enjoy experimenting to see which flowers thrive.
Whichever flowers or vegetables you choose to plant in February, you’ll need to keep your trays away from frost zones in the greenhouse, and on the coldest of nights, you may want to tuck them in with horticultural fleece.
The mindfulness of seed sowing - The thoughts of Ellen Mary
What seems like a simple gardening task is so good for wellbeing. Sowing seeds brings so much hope and excitement after a long winter, and more so towards the end of the month, there are so many seeds to finally sow. One thing I do love doing while I sow seeds and recommend to anyone reading this to try is to try not to rush the process. The act of seed sowing is so mindful, and taking time to think about how seeds want to grow, what each type needs in order to thrive, focusing in on the moment as the seeds hit the soil, how the water gently moistens the compost and absorbing the anticipation of watching them germinate is a way to calm the mind, forget anything else apart from being in the present, all of which is so good for wellbeing.
February yard Jobs
Outside the greenhouse, there are plenty of jobs to help prepare the yard for spring.
Composting and plant care
If frosts have been bad, check if any plants have been lifted and firm them down around the roots if needed. It's also the right time of year to spread compost or well-rotted manure on your beds, building up the nutrients for spring ahead. This is the month to get on top of weeding and fork in some well-rotted manure in your vegetable beds. After the soil preparation, cover the areas with ground cover to keep the soil warmer and dry until spring.
Pruning and tidying
Cornus, commonly known as dogwood, should have given you some striking colors throughout the winter. Now is the time to cut them back down to their bases if they are well established. A good tidy up is needed to ensure vigorous growth for next winter.
Remove any damaged or diseased leaves and all faded flowers from your winter pansies to stop them setting seed and to give them an added boost for another bloom. It is so lovely to make the most of your winter pansies, continuing the color throughout February into March.
Get your mower and yard tools ready for spring
If you're particularly fond of being well-prepared and even looking for more things to do in the yard in February to prepare for the rest of the year, you can also take some time to ensure your mower and tools are in good condition, ready to help your yard flourish in spring and summer ahead.
Celebrating snowdrops
February in the yard can really take a turn for the better. A few less rainy days, a little more time outside and snowdrops. They really are a sight to behold after a long winter. As much as I love the traditional white and green snowdrop, I also love to spot a yellow one too. Galanthus 'Wendy's Gold' and 'Plicatus Madeleine' are two of my favourite yellow-tinged varieties along with the miserably hilarious looking 'Grumpy' with well-recognised nodding white flowers, two green spots and inverted V, making it look like a grumpy face. Don't forget when they finish blooming, dividing them while they are 'in the green' is the best way to propagate snowdrops.
Supporting wildlife
Why not create a new wildlife pond? Make sure there is a minimum depth of 60cm to avoid total freeze through, and build it with sloping sides and contours to make it look both natural and perfect for different mini creatures to get in and out. Let the rain fill it up.
It won't be long before our yard birds will be looking for nesting spots, so if you need to give your deciduous hedges a trim, make sure you have finished before the birds start nesting so you don't disturb them. Whilst the days are getting brighter, it is still cold and food remains scarce for birds. They will thank you for any extra food available to keep them healthy ready for nesting, so ensure your feeders are clean, water is available and a variety of food is accessible.
February is a month of gently starting to get the yard in motion for the growing season, with the weather in mind of course. The first full moon of the year, also known as the snow moon, is named as such because the next month means we are most likely to see colder or even snowy conditions. So, proceed with caution and joy and thank goodness for the greenhouse.