What to Sow, Grow & Propagate in February (UK Guide)

February might feel cold and slow outdoors, but it’s one of the most powerful months for getting ahead. With the light returning and soil slowly waking up, this is the perfect time to sow early crops, propagate new plants, and prepare for a thriving spring garden.

🌱 What to Sow in February (Indoors & Under Cover)

Vegetables to Start Indoors

These crops need warmth and light — February sowing gives them a strong head start:

• Tomatoes – Early sowing gives bigger, earlier crops.
• Peppers & Chillies – Slow growers; sow now for summer harvests.
• Aubergines – Thrive with long growing seasons.
• Celery & Celeriac – Benefit from early starts.
• Leeks – Long-season staple; sow in trays now.
• Onions from seed – Great for strong, uniform bulbs.

Vegetables to Sow Under Cover (Cold Frame / Greenhouse)

• Broad beans
• Peas (early varieties)
• Spinach
• Lettuce (winter-hardy types)

Herbs to Sow

• Parsley
• Chives
• Coriander (cool-weather tolerant)
• Thyme (slow germination, ideal now)

Flowers to Sow Indoors

• Sweet peas – The earlier they start, the stronger the roots.
• Hardy annuals: larkspur, cornflower, calendula, nigella.
• Geraniums & dahlias from seed – Great for a long flowering season.

🌿 What to Grow On (Potting Up & Hardening)

February is a month of growing on—the transition from seedling to strong young plant.

• Pot on seedlings of tomatoes, peppers, aubergines when roots reach the pot edges.
• Check overwintered seedlings for light levels — supplemental light helps prevent legginess.
• Move hardy seedlings into a cold frame on mild days to toughen them.
• Greenhouse crops: begin feeding overwintered broad beans and winter salads.

🌱 What to Propagate in February

1. Soft Fruit Bushes (Bare‑Root Season Continues)

Perfect time to plant or divide:

• Raspberries (autumn or summer fruiting)
• Blackcurrants & redcurrants
• Gooseberries

2. Perennials (Divide & Multiply)

Divide established clumps on mild days:

• Hostas
• Heucheras
• Daylilies
• Shasta daisies

3. Hardwood Cuttings

A great winter-rooting technique for:

• Roses
• Cornus (dogwood)
• Willow
• Hydrangea paniculata

4. Dahlia Tuber Propagation

Wake them up indoors:

• Bring dahlias into warmth.
• Let shoots emerge.
• Take basal cuttings for free plants.

🌱 Jobs to Do in February

Light levels rise — perfect for prep:

• Warm soil with black plastic or fleece for earlier planting.
• Mulch beds to improve structure and suppress weeds.
• Prune fruit trees (apples & pears before bud burst).
• Start chitting potatoes somewhere cool and bright.
• Clean greenhouse glass for maximum light.
• Check overwintered plants for pests.

🌼 What’s Bursting Into Life in February

Even though it’s still winter, these stars brighten the month:

• Snowdrops
• Hellebores
• Crocus
• Early daffodils
• Winter honeysuckle
• Sarcococca (sweet box)

Great plants to photograph or feature in reels.

💡 Top Tips for February Growing

• Use a heated propagator for peppers, chillies, tomatoes.
• Rotate trays regularly for even light.
• Don’t overwater – seedlings rot fast in cool conditions.
• Ventilate greenhouses on sunny days to prevent damping off.
• Start a garden plan for beds, containers, and succession sowing.