Even at the beginning of the year there are already a few tasks in the garden. We show which gardening work you should definitely do in February and which plants can already be sown.
Even though February is often still gray and cold, gardening time is slowly beginning again. The first spring bloomers carefully stick their heads out of the snow cover and show their beauty. Unfortunately, you can't linger and watch them for too long, because there's a lot to do. Find out what gardening is coming up in February in our article.
The vegetable garden in February
We often associate the vegetable garden in February with empty beds - but in fact there are quite a few tasks to do. The sowing of numerous plants in February is just as much a part of it as the harvest of seasonal vegetables. We have summarized all the important gardening work in February for you below.
What to sow in February?
Especially slow-growing vegetables such as aubergines (Solanum melongena), peppers (Capsicum) and Artichokes (Cynara scolymus) should now be pre-grown on the windowsill to give them enough time to mature. Sturdy leafy greens like iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa), romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longif.webpolia) or endive ( Cichorium endivia), but also spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and onions (Allium cepa) thrive well, if sown in February in the greenhouse or cold frame. Carrots (Daucus carota ssp. sativus) migrate directly into the bed in February, as well as robust vegetables such as field beans in mild regions (Faba vulgaris var. major).
What to sow in February?
On the windowsill: Aubergines, artichokes, broccoli, chili, celery, tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, kohlrabi, Asian salads, early fennel, orache, chard
In the greenhouse: Iceberg lettuce, endive, romaine lettuce, spinach, radish, onion
Directly into the bed:Broad beans, sea kale, carrots
Tip: The peat-free Plantura organic herb and seed compost offers your plants optimal starting conditions after sowing.
What to plant in February?
In February, not only can plants be sown, but you also have the opportunity to place new plants in the bed. Bulbous plants such as garlic (Allium sativum) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum) are particularly suitable for planting in the garden in February. The first lettuce plants can also be planted in the greenhouse from February without any problems.
What can I plant in February?
Outdoor: Garlic, chives, spring onions
Greenhouse: Iceberg lettuce, endive, romaine lettuce, onion
Harvest in February: These plants are now in season
Many people think that there are few seasonal vegetables in February. But if you want to eat sustainably and seasonally, you can also do so in winter - regardless of whether you have your own garden or not. In fact, there are still numerous seasonal vegetables in February that come fresh from the bed. Especially cabbage vegetables such as savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabauda), kale (Brassica oleracea var.sabellica) and Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) are still freshly available in February. But parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) and numerous winter salads are also seasonal vegetables in February.
The following vegetables can still be harvested in February:
Harvest in the bed: Mushrooms, chicory, lamb's lettuce, kale, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, leeks, savoy cabbage
Harvest in greenhouse: Celeriac, Spinach
Further work in the vegetable garden in February
Of course, gardening in February does not only include planting and harvesting - instead, you are mainly concerned with preparatory work for the coming season. We have summarized for you here which gardening work still needs to be done in February.
Prepare beds: In the garden at the end of February it will be time to prepare the beds for the coming sowing. If green manure is present, it should be removed or incorporated. The soil is then loosened and compost or another organic fertilizer is incorporated. Especially if your vegetable patch hasn’t been around for long, is low in hummus and you want more fertility, theUse of a soil activator - like the Plantura organic soil activator - now makes sense. This actively promotes he althy soil life and thus a loose soil structure.
Protect vegetables: Even in February there can always be late frosts. Anyone who is already growing the first spring vegetables in February should therefore pay particular attention to suitable frost protection: A garden fleece protects young plants from frost and provides pleasant warmth on milder days, which can accelerate the growth of the plants.
Forcing potatoes: If you can't wait to harvest delicious potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) from your own garden, you have the opportunity to drive the plants forward already in February. In the case of early potato varieties in particular, the seed potatoes can be pre-germinated as early as February: the tubers are spread out loosely in flat boxes and placed in as bright a place as possible at 12 to 15 °C. You can find more tips on growing potatoes in your own garden in our special article.
The ornamental garden in February
Even if the garden is often still pale and gray in February, the ornamental garden is often already showing its beautiful side during this time. The first flowers that bloom in February enchant us with their radiance and pleasant smell. But even in the ornamental garden, gardening should not be neglected in February - the first new plants are now being planted for a colorful summer.
What's blooming in February?
A lot of people don't know that flowers also bloom in February. In fact, there is a whole range of plants that flower so early in the year and thus perform an important service in nature - the early flowering trees and shrubs support various insects such as the brimstone butterfly or the common bumblebee, which start growing again at 4 °C take the first trips after the winter break. But also early bloomers like crocuses (Crocus) are slowly sticking their heads out of the ground in February.
Which plants bloom in February?
Perennials and flowers: Wood anemone, Christmas rose, snowflake, daffodil, crocus, snowdrop, heather, primula, winter agaric
Stems: Hazelnut, mahonia, winter jasmine, witch hazel
What flowers can you plant in February?
While the first flowers are already blooming in February, others have yet to be sown at this time of yearor be planted. In particular, slow-growing summer flowers such as snapdragons (Antirrhinum) or lobelia (Lobelia) benefit from being brought to a warm place from February onwards. Those who failed to plant spring flowering bulbs in autumn can now do so: Tulips can also be planted in February. You can also plant daffodils in February, but they often do not flower until the following year. If the soil is frost-free, it is also possible to plant bare-root roses in February.
What flowers to plant in February?
Sowing on the windowsill or in the greenhouse: Sweetheart, begonia, lobelia, snapdragon, carnation, pelargonium, primrose, vanilla flower, violet
Planting outdoors: Tulip, daffodil, bare root roses
Further work in the ornamental garden in February
In the ornamental garden, too, gardening gradually increases in February, because beds and plants have to be slowly prepared for the new gardening season. Our gardening tips for February will help you keep track of what work still needs to be done.
Dividing perennials: Perennials that bloom in late summer or autumn should be divided during gardening in February to keep them vital and floriferous. However, Aster (Aster), Stonecrop (Sedum) and Co. should only be divided when the ground is no longer frozen. Spring or summer flowering bulbs are only divided after flowering, otherwise they will have fewer flowers.
Check tools: Soon gardening will start again to the fullest. Gardeners should therefore use February to check their equipment again and, if necessary, bring it into shape.
Watering Evergreens: As temperatures slowly but surely climb above freezing, it's time to start watering again. Evergreen plants such as boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) or cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) evaporate a lot of water on sunny February days - they therefore have to be watered regularly, especially in places protected from the rain become.
Pruning trees and hedges: Pruning trees is one of the most important jobs to be done in February. In fact, the felling or heavy pruning of hedges and trees is only permitted until March 1st in order to protect any breeding birds. If you want to put your hedge on stick or want to remove a bush that has grown too large, you should do so on frost-free days in Februaryuse.
Fertilize beds and plants: Perennial beds and borders, but especially areas that are adorned with nutrient-hungry seasonal summer flowers throughout the year, should now be supplied with organic fertilizer so that the given Nutrients are already available at the start of the season. Compost or a predominantly organic complete fertilizer such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer are ideal for this, as they do not lead to nutrient leaching even in winter rain in February.
The Orchard in February
The orchard is often forgotten in the garden calendar in February, because no fruit is harvested in the gray season. Nevertheless, February should also be used in the orchard. We tell you what gardening should be done in the orchard in February.
Fruit pruning: Pome fruit such as apples (Malus) and pears (Pyrus) should be trimmed regularly get a winter cut to stay vital and in shape. With frost-free, dry weather, February is perfect for pruning fruit trees.
Fertilize fruit trees: So that fruit trees have enough nutrients for lush flowering and, as a result, a rich harvest, it is worth fertilizing them once a year. Between February and April is an optimal time for fruit tree fertilization - a dose of compost or organic fertilizer is ideal during this time to compensate for the tree's deprivation in the soil.
Check Apples: Many winter apples can easily be stored well into spring if stored properly. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises, you should still carry out regular checks when storing apples. Apples that are rotten or moldy are removed from storage so that this does not spread to the other apples.
The Lawn in February
Fortunately, the lawn requires very little maintenance in February because it is often still dormant for the winter. Therefore, you hardly need to worry about the lawn in the garden in February. However, it makes sense to prepare your garden tools in February for the upcoming lawn care in March. Use the free time in February and check whether the lawnmowers and scarifiers are operational or whether maintenance or repairs need to be carried out. Light, sandy soils are already growing between the end of February and Marchmainly fertilized organically, because they have a lower nutrient storage than loamy and very humic soils. Providing the lawn with sufficient nitrogen to drive growth now helps to strengthen its ability to compete with weeds. Ideally, a primarily organic lawn fertilizer such as our Plantura organic lawn fertilizer should already be distributed.
Support garden animals and insects in February
Not only people suffer from the often still frosty temperatures in February - garden animals also have to struggle with numerous problems during this time. Insects such as the brimstone butterfly or the bumblebee are looking for food again for the first time, but cannot find anything in many gardens. If you want to give these busy animals a helping hand, you should focus on diversity when designing your garden.
- Plant early and late flowering perennials and shrubs.
- Set up food sources for birds, for example with a specially built bird feeder house with high-quality bird feed such as Plantura litter.
- Provide a clean and ice-free bird bath.
- Check nest boxes for damage and sweep out.
- Provide a squirrel feeder.
The balcony garden in February
It's not just the garden that needs regular maintenance, balcony plants also need attention in February. Here, too, everything revolves around the preparation for the coming season, flowers and planters have to be prepared and even the first flowers are sown again. We have summarized below for you which balcony plants need to be cared for in February and what other work needs to be done.
Caring for Geraniums: Many patio gardeners overwinter their geraniums (Pelargonium) in a cool, dark place indoors, such as their basement. In February, it's time for the balcony plant to wake up from its hibernation - put the plant in a bright spot (e.g. on the windowsill) and start watering more heavily again. You can also do something good for the geranium by repotting the plant in a fresh substrate. In addition, spring pruning should take place in February: horny shoots that have formed over the winter are removed completely, while new shoots are only shortened.
New plants: If you want to decorate your balcony with new roommates, you can plant the first flowers on the balconySow and plant in February. Spring feelings are aroused, for example, by snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), which can still move to a pot in February. But early ball primroses (Primula denticulata) can also be placed in balcony boxes in February. In addition, sowing can start on the balcony in February: Elfspur (Diascia hybrids) and Black-eyed Susanne (Thunbergia alata) can be sown from February.
Prepare seed pots: Not all plants are suitable for sowing in February - but if you want to save time, you can already prepare flower pots and plant containers for the next generation. Containers that have already been used should be cleaned of root and soil residue. Containers that contained diseased plants should also be thoroughly boiled to completely remove any fungal spores. If you don't want to wear plastic or peat pots, you can also make special seed pots out of toilet paper rolls or egg shells.
Care for indoor plants in February
Indoor plants not only improve the room climate with their mere presence, but also create a pleasant, homely feeling in every room. In return, you should take good care of your houseplants in February: Since the vegetation period is slowly starting again, the plants need more attention than during their hibernation.
Repotting: Indoor plants such as cacti (Cactaceae) can be repotted at the end of February. The point in time is ideal, as the plants are now starting their growth phase again and the new substrate is therefore able to take root much better.
Fertilizing: At the start of the vegetation period, it is worth supplying your houseplants with new nutrients, because the plants need an adequate supply during growth and the upcoming flowering reliant. A good indoor plant fertiliser, such as our Plantura organic indoor & green plant fertiliser, provides your plants with nutrients and is absolutely harmless to people and pets.
Watering: If you have slowly increased the watering intervals in winter, you should gradually shorten them again from February to provide the plant with sufficient liquid during its growth. However, care should be taken not to give the plants too much of a good thing: waterlogging also damages houseplants in February.Therefore, only reduce the watering intervals gradually and ensure that sensitive plants have adequate drainage in the pot.
When February slowly comes to an end, the gardening really starts. Find out what to do then in our article on gardening in March.