
February bites its way into the calendar
What seeds to sow in February
Though the weather may tell us otherwise not all is gloom and doom. Despite biting winds and driving rain the sun does makes an occasional appearance and the early spring flowers, snowdrops and primulas start peeping through.
I’m sowing some more broad beans as my autumn sowings didn’t survive the wet winter. I started some off in pots last month but will do another lot to fill any gaps. Or you could sow direct depending on the condition of your ground, my heavy clay is too wet and cold. Peas for shoots are another good one to start now in pots too as they will tolerate the cold.
I shall plant out some onion sets later though you could grow from seed. You will need warmth indoors to germinate those. Also under cover brussels sprouts, leeks and spinach can be sown; I’m sowing my favourite dwarf green curled kale along with some heritage Tall green curled kale for comparison. Hardy spring onions are tolerant of the cold and can be sown outside.
I don’t really have room for potatoes, I have tried growing in bags but I suspect the yield wasn’t great due to erratic watering. This is the month to buy your seed potatoes and lay them out in a cool light room to chit. What do I mean by chitting potatoes? Exposing them to light so the eyes sprout. The tubers will be ready for planting out in about 4-6 weeks. Chitting gives the plant a head start, potentially producing an earlier and bigger yield.
Having filled my little propagator with chillies and peppers my thoughts are now turning to tomatoes. Still a little early for me to start as mine will be growing outside, not in a greenhouse. But for me they are the promise of salad days and sunshine.
My sweet peas sown last autumn have withstood wind and rain. One of the varieties Cupid is suitable for containers so I have been contemplating planting up a hanging basket. Should you have room indoors then geraniums (pelargoniums), petunias, impatiens, bacopa and nicotiana can be sown this month too.
Quote: February bites its way into the calendar... ~Charles Lee, "February," An Almanac of Reading, 1940