February Garden To-Do List
Nigella, poppies, snapdragons, and foxgloves will bloom later this spring when sown in February.
February is the gardener’s month of preparation—a bridge between dreaming and doing. The days are growing noticeably longer, and there’s a quiet energy in the air that teases spring’s arrival. On sunny days I walk around the garden to see if any daffodil or crocus leaves are starting to pop through the warming soil. Yes, I’m a little impatient, but I try to turn that energy toward the tasks that I know will pay off once we get into the really busy months (shed reorganization? 😒). With tools neatly hung on my pegboard and plans in place, February offers the perfect opportunity to set the stage for a productive growing season. Let’s get started:
Dream and Plan
Refine your planting plan: Adjust your map and schedule as needed. If you didn’t finalize your plant choices in January, now’s the time.
Finalize your seed order: If you haven’t ordered seeds yet, don’t delay! Popular varieties can sell out early. Prioritize cool-season crops you’ll plant in March.
Design infrastructure improvements: Dreaming of new raised beds, trellises, or an outdoor sink? Make a plan to implement these upgrades before planting begins.
Better with friends: Invite your friends over to talk about your garden plans, swap seeds, or even place an order together for seeds varieties to share. If you are wanting some expert help, schedule a consultation with one of the TKG garden coaches.
Planning and Reflecting
Review your 2024 garden journal: This is Step 0.5 for planning if you didn’t do this last fall. Take time to reflect on last year’s wins and lessons learned. What grew beautifully? What struggled? Your notes will guide this year’s plans.
Create a planting plan: Map out what you’ll grow, where it will go, and when to plant it. Consider crop rotation and companion planting for optimal results. Plant Partners by Jessica Walliser is a great book for information on beneficial plant relationships that inspires our planning decisions. You can also schedule a consultation for expert help walking you through this process.
Inventory seeds: Check quantities, expiration dates, and conditions. Discard any seeds that look damaged. Start shopping for new varieties that excite you.
Order supplies: Restock seed starting trays, soil, compost, and any tools you’ll need for spring planting.
Assess infrastructure: Is it time to repair or add raised beds, trellises, or a bird bath? January is a great time to plan for these projects.
Indoor Growing Projects
Start seeds indoors: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, and onions should already be growing, but it’s not too late to catch up. Plan to transplant these into the garden in March. Lettuce is one of our favorite crops to succession sow. Start some indoors in February, then plant more from seed directly into the garden in March. Cilantro is another good choice for starting early since it hates heat — growing seedlings inside will have you harvesting cilantro before it bolts in May.
Seems crazy, but we can even start peppers and eggplant inside in February. These are typically pretty slow to get going, so they need extra time to put on size before we plant them out in late April or May.
Grow sprouts and microgreens: These speedy crops keep fresh greens on your plate while you wait for outdoor planting season. Try radish, sunflower, or pea shoots. Growing these is an essential part of reaching my goal of 52 weeks of harvest.
Force bulbs: Brighten your home with vibrant amaryllis blooms or experiment with indoor tulips for a touch of spring.
Prep the Garden
Clean and organize: On warmer days, take the time to clean tools, organize your potting bench, and assess any repairs or replacements needed for the season ahead. Find me in the shed!
Top off beds with compost: Add a fresh layer of compost or soil to replenish nutrients lost over the winter. This will be the foundation for your spring crops.
Clear dead plants and debris: Remove any remaining plant material from last year to reduce pest and disease pressure. If plants were healthy, it’s fine to leave the roots of the plant to naturally decompose and feed the soil as they break down.
Winter Garden Care
Weed: Yes, weeds can pop up even in winter. Pull them now before they gain a foothold.
Turn compost: Give your compost pile some love on mild days to keep it breaking down efficiently.
Protect perennials: Check that mulch around perennials is still intact and adjust as needed to ensure roots are insulated.
Planting This Month
And just like that, we’re planting again! While most vegetable planting is still a few weeks away, February is an ideal time to get a head start on certain perennials and hardy flowers. Here’s what you can plant directly in the ground in Middle Tennessee this month:
Berries: Now is the perfect time to plant dormant and bare-root strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. These perennials need time to establish before spring growth begins. Ensure your soil is well-prepared and amend it with acidic compost if planting blueberries.
Asparagus Crowns: For a perennial vegetable addition, plant dormant asparagus crowns now so they can establish before the growing season.
Cold Hardy Flowers: Direct sow hardy annuals such as larkspur, snapdragons, poppies, and bachelor’s buttons. These flowers thrive in cooler temperatures and will bloom beautifully in spring.
Flowering Perennials: Plant hellebores and other cold-tolerant perennials to add early blooms and structure to your garden beds.
Trees and Shrubs: If you’ve been dreaming of adding fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, or hedges to your landscape, February is still a great time to plant these, as long as the ground isn’t frozen.
Super early veggies? If you’re a brave experimenter, why not get outside and try sowing some seeds of lettuce, arugula, peas, spinach, or radish at the end of the month? The weather just might cooperate and reward you with an early harvest, especially if you provide a bit of harvest from frost cloth. Worst case, you’re out a couple of bucks worth of seeds.
Harvest and Enjoy
Overwintered crops: Continue harvesting kale, spinach, chard, and other hardy greens and herbs. Even small harvests are a victory during this season.
Stored produce: Cook up soups, sauces, and stews using any preserved or frozen garden bounty. Consider making notes in your journal about what worked well and what you'd like to preserve this year.
Critter and Pest Watch
Feed the birds: Keep feeders stocked and bird baths ice-free. Observing birds at bare-branched trees can be a wonderful way to connect with nature.
Inspect for pests: Check overwintered beds for signs of voles, slugs, or other pests. Take action early to prevent problems come spring.
