Winter Blues? Get Your Hands Dirty with These February Planting Ideas

Flower seeds to germinate and grow
For the greenhouse or indoors:

• Get started with the lovely Lobelia, by sowing them in a heated propagator.
• Begonia tubers are great to plant in February, remember to plant hollow side up in pots of moist compost, top up and sprinkle with a tad more compost. While keeping them in a bright, frost-free position.
• Sow your remaining Begonia seeds under a glass or in a propagator for beautiful blooms throughout the summer. Keep them at a constant temperature of around 24-27 degrees celsius.
• Sow Antirrhinums, also known as Snapdragons and Laurentia now to take advantage of their early flowering.
• Start Dahlia tubers into growth by planting them in pots of compost, maintaining a minimum temperature of 10 degrees celsius.
• Certain varieties of annual flower seeds, perennial and biennial seeds are great to start sowing now. We recommend sowing Hollyhocks in a propagator or inside a polythene bag as a good alternative. Read the individual growing instructions on your seed packet to learn more.

In the green house

• Sweat peas are great to sow in a green house, cold frame or alternatively, in a cool place indoors. Our top tip is to soak sweet pea seeds in tepid water overnight before planting them, this helps speed up germination process.
• Grow your own Chrysanthemum plants from seed — start them off now in the greenhouse for the earliest blooms!
• Sow Geraniums (Pelargoniums) indoors now for earlier flowering.

Plant outdoors

• Although best done in autumn, you can get away with planting Lilly bulbs and Allium bulbs until spring.
• Plant bare root Roses in a sunny position for a summer splash of colour.
• Plant fragrant winter-flowering shrubs to add interest to borders, such as Daphne, Viburnum x Bodnantense 'Dawn', Witch hazel and Wintersweet.

Vegetables and herbs to sow and grow

In the greenhouse/indoors

• Chit early potatoes on a windowsill indoors.
• Start sowing cucumber and tomato seeds for the greenhouse, in warm conditions.
• Sow peas, why not try and sow them in upcycled guttering with drainage holes drilled in the bottom, great for your health and a great way to recycle! 
• Prepare Asparagus pea seeds, by sowing them under cover for planting out in late spring.
• Sow Aubergine seeds now for indoor crops this summer.
• Grow your own Basil on the windowsill, a great way to flavour your favourite Italian dishes and fill your kitchen with heady Mediterranean aromas!
• Try bolt-resistant varieties of celery, such as Lathom Self Blanching for early sowings.
• Try growing really large onions this year, such as Bunton's Showstopper and Ailsa Craig indoors now.
• Sweet peppers are great for growing in a heated greenhouse. Always provide plenty of warmth as these little beauties like to be kept warm!

Under cover

The following a great to grow under cover:

• Celeriac seeds
• Leeks - these vegetables need a longer growing season
• Brassicas - give Brussels sprouts, summer cabbage, Cauliflower 'All the Year Round' and Calabrese 'Aquiles' a go!

In the cold frame/under cloches

• Sow Broad Beans, Carrots, Parsnips, early Beetroot, salad Onions, Lettuces, Radish, Peas, Spinach and summer Cabbages outside under cloches, if you have light (sandy) soil and live in a mild part of the UK. Otherwise it's best to wait until the soil has begun to warm up in March or April.
• Grow Chicory under cloches, for early summer harvesting.
  
  

Direct sow outdoors

• Direct sow hardy broad beans, such as Aquadulce Claudia, if the soil isn't frozen!

Plant outdoors

• Plant out Garlic and Shallots in light soils only; heavy soils still need longer to warm up.
• Jerusalem Artichoke tubers are great to plant now.|
  
  

Fruit to sow and grow

In the greenhouse/ indoors

• Plant Raspberry Canes and Blackberries provided the soil isn't frozen or waterlogged.
• Plant Currant plants, such as redcurrants, whitecurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries if soil conditions are right.
• Plant bare-root strawberry plants outside now. Replace plants that are 3 years old or more, as they will have lost much of their vigour.
• Plant stone fruit trees, such as apricots, peaches and nectarines.
• Plant Rhubarb crowns in a sunny position in well drained soil.

Keep one step ahead — what to order this month: 

Order sweet pea seeds to sow under cloches, in a cold frame, or in a cool room. Buy perennial plants like foxgloves as well as ordering summer bedding plug plants for March!