What can you sow and grow in February?
Even though winter still has a firm grip on the garden, that doesn’t mean it’s completely quiet in nature – or for those of us who love to grow! There’s always something to do, whether it’s on the kitchen counter or out in the garden.
Indoor Growing – Fresh Plants All Year Round
With the right plant lighting, you can grow indoors even in February. Some vegetables and herbs thrive indoors and provide fresh, flavorful additions to your meals. Here are some good choices:
- Lettuce
- Pea shoots
- Cress
- Bush tomatoes
- Malabar spinach
- Self-fertilizing cucumber
These plants require minimal space and can be grown on a windowsill or under grow lights.
Pre-cultivation – give your plants a good start
For plants with a long growing season, it can be smart to start pre-cultivation as early as February. The short Norwegian summer means that some plants need an early start to mature. Remember that extra light from a grow light is necessary to get strong and healthy plants.
Plants suitable for pre-cultivation in February:
- Flowers: Pelargonium, heliotrope, giant verbena
- Vegetables: Chili, paprika, artichoke, celery, leek, eggplant, physalis
- Herbs: Thyme
- Cabbage crops: Kale, black cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
These plants will reward you with lush growth when spring and summer finally arrive!
Winter cultivation – sow directly into the snow
Did you know that you can sow certain plants directly into the snow? February is a great time to winter cultivate species that need a cold period to germinate, or those that normally self-sow in the fall. This can actually give you an extra early harvest!
Winter cultivation can be done outdoors, in a greenhouse or in plastic boxes – as long as you make sure that the seeds are not disturbed by animals. The key to success is to wait to sow until the cold has set in properly. If the seeds germinate too early and frost returns, the small plants can freeze to death.
Plants suitable for winter cultivation:
- Carrots
- Spinach
- Dill
- Black radish
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Parsnips
- Parsley root
- Oat root
In a hotbed, greenhouse or grow tunnel, you can also sow plants like Pak Choi, radish and Italian arugula for an extra early start to the growing season.
What should you wait for?
Plants that can’t tolerate cold, like cucumbers, pumpkins and beans, shouldn’t be sown until temperatures start to rise again in spring.
Even though winter dominates the landscape in February, that doesn’t mean you have to wait to grow! With a little planning, you can get an early start with both indoor growing, pre-cultivation and winter growing. Whether you sow indoors, in the greenhouse or directly in the snow, you’ll get a head start on the season and enjoy fresh crops early in the year.
Are you ready to start growing?
