As February brings milder temperatures and longer days, it's prime time to step into your garden. Drawing from my grandfather's decades of hands-on market gardening expertise, I'll guide you through the best plants to sow this month for a bountiful spring harvest—vegetables, herbs, flowers, and more.
Start early to enjoy fresh produce sooner. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, aromatics: here's everything that grows reliably in February. For March ideas, check here:
Winter's freeze or snow compacts the soil, so restore it before planting. Aerate and turn the soil with a spade, especially if skipped in fall. Clear frozen vegetable remnants or unharvested crops from October.
If soil is still frozen, wait for full thaw—rushing risks damage, and it'll be too hard to work anyway.
Plant garlic bulbs from January to April. Space cloves 25 cm apart, rows 30 cm apart for summer growth. Opt for winter-hardy varieties like Hermine, Meloine, Rose de Lautrec, or Pintador.
Shallots go in as early as February, ideal in southern regions. Elsewhere, use a greenhouse to dodge late frosts. Space bulbs 25 cm apart, rows 30 cm. Winter varieties: Gray shallot and Jermor.
Plant onion bulbs late February. Push 1 cm into soil, rows 30 cm apart for easy warming-season growth. Choose winter types like Snowball or Early Paris White.
In southern France, plant now. North, sprout indoors for late March/early April planting. Hardy pick: Belle de Fontenay. Space 40 cm apart, 15 cm deep; cover, water (avoid freeze nights).
In temperate areas, sow early carrots under greenhouse shelter. Use a seed-spacing tool for tiny seeds. Early varieties: Marché de Paris, Bellot, or Nantaise.
Fresh winter salads are simple with cold-hardy lettuce in pots or beds. Shelter from night frosts. Rustic choices: Reine des Glaces, Sucrine, or Rouge Grenoble.
Sow late winter for spring greens. In sunny spots, direct sow; greenhouse if needed. Germinates in 10 days—thin by removing every other plant if crowded.
Start cabbage, kohlrabi, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts indoors February. Shelter until sturdy, transplant late April.
Sow peas directly, 3 cm deep, 30 cm apart. Install stakes early to avoid root disturbance later.
Under cover, sow from February—ready in 3 weeks. Non-spicy early types: Kocto or Gaudry. Sow in lines, not overcrowded; cover lightly, water.
Sow in pots or sunny, sheltered spots. Prefers moist, light soil. 2 cm deep; keep moist in sun.
Mild February days? Sow nigella, cosmos, poppy, marigold, nasturtium under cover if cool nights. Add summer bulbs like gladioli or dahlias.
Post-hard-frost, plant apple, pear, plum, apricot, peach, walnut, cherry saplings. Dig wide hole, water well.
Prune pre-sap rise with sharp secateurs—ideal in February. Roses: Cut faded blooms, 1/3 last year's branches for new growth. Raspberries, etc.: Short cuts if missed fall. Remove dead wood from hazelnut, fig, pome fruits. Hydrangeas: Short if autumn-skipped, not too late. Vines: Clear base dead wood; leave 3 buds on new stems.
Spring flowers emerge—clear blackened plants, weeds; turn topsoil. Mild late February? Remove mulch to let soil breathe.
