02
Late winter
What to plant in February
Snowdrops break the silence. The first stirrings under glass — a hopeful, pottering sort of month.
Sow indoors
- Tomatoes (with heat)
- Aubergines
- Chillies
- Sweet peas
- Lettuce
Sow outdoors
- Broad beans under cloches
- Shallot sets in mild areas
Flowers to plant
- Sweet peas
- Begonias
- Pelargoniums
- Lily bulbs in pots
Herbs to grow
- Basil under heat lamp (south-facing window)
- Parsley
Beginner tips
- ✦Chit your potatoes on an egg box in a cool, light room.
- ✦If you're new, start with chillies — they need a long season but are very forgiving.
Common mistakes
- ✕Sowing tomatoes without supplementary light — they get spindly.
- ✕Planting out anything tender — even mild February days lie.
Small garden & pot options
- · Pot up dwarf daffodils for a windowsill
- · Start lettuce in module trays
Raised bed suggestions
- · Cover one bed with black plastic to warm soil for March sowings
Plant this month
If you only do one thing in February…
- →Shallots
- →Garlic
- →Bare-root fruit bushes
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