UK growing guide · Winter
What can I plant in February?
Last updated
February is when the light starts to come back, and with it the itch to sow everything. Vegetables to plant in February in the UK are still mostly under cover: peas, broad beans, onions if you missed them, and the first salads.
Outside, only the hardiest crops belong in the ground, and only when it is not frozen or waterlogged. I have lost more February sowings to impatience than to cold.
What to sow in February
Vegetables to plant in February in the UK, split between sowing under cover and sowing outside.
Indoors or under cover
A greenhouse, porch or bright windowsill is enough for the hardy crops. Chillies, peppers and aubergines still want extra warmth.
Tomatoes — with good light, or they stretch- Chillies — if you did not sow in January
Sweet peppers — keep them warm
Aubergines — slow to germinate
Onions — from seed, if not already sown- Leeks — modules or a seed tray
Peas — in guttering or pots- Broad beans — in pots, to plant out later
Lettuce — little and often
Spinach — under cover- Celery and celeriac — late in the month, they need a long season
Outdoors
Wait for workable soil. In a cold February that may mean the whole month. Cloches or fleece help the ground warm a little before you sow.
- Broad beans — mild areas, under a cloche
- Peas — under cover of fleece or a cloche
Garlic — still fine if autumn was missed- Onion sets — towards the end of the month, in the south
- Shallots — well-drained soil
What to plant out in February
Planting out still means dormant stock and sets, not summer crops. Tomatoes, courgettes and beans stay inside.
- Garlic — cloves in free-draining soil
- Onion sets — mild southern gardens, late in the month
- Bare-root fruit trees and bushes — while fully dormant
- Rhubarb crowns — if the soil is workable
What to harvest in February
Winter veg is still the harvest. Purple sprouting broccoli may start in milder gardens; further north it is often March.
- Leeks
Kale
Brussels sprouts — the last of them- Purple sprouting broccoli — milder areas first
- Winter cabbage
- Forced rhubarb — from a covered crown
- Stored roots, onions and apples
February jobs on the plot
Use dry days for pruning and bed prep. Leave wet clay alone.
Finish apple and pear pruning
Get it done before the buds burst. Skip icy days, and leave stone fruit alone until summer.
Chit seed potatoes
Early varieties especially. A cool, bright, frost-free shelf is enough.
Warm a seedbed
A sheet of fleece, a cloche or even clear plastic over a bed for a fortnight makes March sowings kinder.
Spread compost where you can stand
Mulch empty beds with garden compost or leaf mould. Don't dig it in if the soil is wet.
Frost and where you garden
North and south in February
February can be as cold as January. Frost is still likely everywhere in the UK, and a mild week is often followed by a sharp night. Don't uncover anything tender.
Further north, and high ground
Further north, and on high ground, treat outdoor sowing as optional. Peas, broad beans and onion sets are happier started in pots. Fruit trees can still be planted if the soil is not frozen solid.
The south and sheltered coasts
Southern and south-western gardens, and sheltered coastal plots, can sow broad beans and peas outside under a cloche once the soil crumbles in the hand. Sandy ground warms faster than clay.
Easy mistakes in February
The extra daylight is welcome. It is not a signal to sow the whole packet.
Starting too much, too early
A greenhouse full of leggy tomatoes in March is a chore, not a head start. Sow a few, and sow again later.
Sowing parsnips into cold wet clay
They are slow and they rot if they sit in a cold puddle. Most gardens are better waiting until March or April.
Forgetting mice
Freshly sown peas and beans are a feast. Cover the row or the pots.
Keep February on the dashboard
Sproutly is a web garden diary for UK fruit and veg growers. Add the plants and the jobs, then see what's due on your dashboard.
Record your sowings
Note what you sowed in February, and which bed it went in.
Plan the month's jobs
Add planting, covering and picking as tasks with a due date.
See what's due
Your dashboard shows what's due and what's overdue. Sproutly does not email you or send a push to your phone.
Sketch the beds
Use the garden planner to try a layout before you plant it for real.
Ready to plan your February garden?
Add this month's plants and jobs to your diary. Basic is free for up to 3 plants and 3 tasks. Pro is £5 a month if you want more, including recurring tasks.
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Gardening advice is provided as a general guide based on typical UK conditions. Weather soil and local climate can vary so always use your judgement and adjust timing as needed for your own garden.