February has been here for a couple of weeks, and we are heading towards spring. There are still tasks to do while the weather is cold. Most plants lay dormant, waiting for the ground to warm. February is usually a month of chilly mornings. It often brings hard frosts and gloomy days. Not much will germinate in the soil or without help. The temptation may be there to get ahead and start to sow seeds. However, a bit more patience will pay off. It will give you some extra time to finish off winter tasks.
If you haven’t already, it is an excellent time to sort through any seeds you have leftover from previous years. Seeds will come with a best before date. I tend to replace anything over 3 years old. I test seeds that are two years old. I rely on new and one-year-old seeds for my essential plants. If you want to test to see if the seeds are ok, you can try a germination test. Lay 10- 20 seeds out on a damp piece of kitchen paper and see if they germinate. With a germination rate of above 50%, it may be worth keeping them for the coming year.
This is the time of year I will plan what I will grow. I will order new seeds to replace old ones. I might also add new varieties to my stock. I buy my seed from Sutton Seeds. However, local community seed exchanges could provide opportunities to pick up new seeds. They also allow sharing unwanted seeds with others.
Towards the end of February, you can begin seeding Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergine, and Peas. You can also sow leeks and Cucumbers in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. Use small pots in a heated propagator, warm room, or heated propagation bench.
Late February is when the annual ritual of potatoes chitting can start. I tend to chit my potatoes in a spare room. If you don’t have this space, a greenhouse or shed near the window would work just as well. Make sure they are protected from frost.
We are now entering the hungry season. There is little food on offer in the veg patch. However, if you planted winter crops, they would be available to harvest over the coming weeks. These crops include winter cabbage and leeks.
It is also time to prepare the veg patch for this year’s crops. If you haven’t done so yet, apply some well-rotted manure or compost to the ground. This gives it time to mix with the soil. You can double dig to work the material into the ground. Alternatively, use no-dig methods by applying compost as a mulch. This is something I plan to try over the next few seasons. It is also an excellent time to place cloches over the areas you will be sowing directly into the ground. The cloche will trap heat from the sun and help warm up the soil.
February is still cold, dark and wet. The days are lengthening. The promise of spring creeps in when the sun breaks through the clouds. Winter has always been a time when I would retreat to the warmth of the house. However, the more I learn about gardening and growing my own food, the more I see winter differently. I now see it as a time to rest my garden. I also use it to prepare myself for the work of the spring and summer to come.
If you have any tips and tasks for February gardening, why not comment below!
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