For some it’s the bleakest of months, with Christmas cheer in the rear-view mirror and the determination of New Year’s resolutions starting to wane. But for others, especially gardeners, February brings hope. Even if temperatures remain low, the days start to lengthen out again, and our greenhouses are ready to welcome the first of those longed-for green shoots.
In the early months of the year, your greenhouse may be full of tender plants that you’re overwintering and protecting from the harshest of the winter cold. But, if you have space, February is a month to get a head start on some of your planting.
What you choose to plant in February and how will depend on your taste, as well as on factors such as whether your greenhouse is heated and insulated, the lighting conditions and moisture.
Growing vegetables in February
The end of winter is the perfect time to get some early varieties of vegetables in the soil, so that your plate can be full of home grown veg as soon as possible
Cauliflower
How to grow
Cauliflower can be sown at this time, ready for early crops. Check the sowing instructions for the variety of seeds you have. Many prefer to be planted deep and covered until they have germinated. Cauliflowers thrive in modules or in a seed bed, ready to be transplanted after six weeks. When moved to their final growing position, make sure to space them out, but also firm them in well.
Care tips
You’ll want to keep the cauliflowers mulched, to retain water, and if the sun starts getting strong before they’re ready to harvest, you may want to shade they with some larger leaves.
When to harvest
Once the head starts to form, keep a close eye on them, so that they can be harvested before they start to set flowers.
Pak Choi (Bok Choy)
How to grow
A winter planting favourite, offering sweet flavours and a lovely texture to many dishes. Plant in your greenhouse in February, transplant in March, and get ready to harvest as soon as April – some Baby Choi varieties are ready to harvest just fifty days after sowing. Because Pak Choi is prone to bolting in hot conditions, a stable greenhouse environment is perfect for end-of-winter and into-spring planting.
Care tips
Plant seeds well-spaced and to a shallow depth in compost, and set it in a south-facing position in your greenhouse. Water consistently, without leaving the soil soggy, and thin the seedlings out as they grow.
When to harvest
The variety you choose will tell you when to harvest, but most have options for baby-leaf harvesting as well as leaving until full maturity.
Carrots
While carrots are usually sown outdoors from April, you can get a head start on your carrot crop with some early cultivars that can be sown in your greenhouse in February. Your carrots need plenty of depth to grow, so containers should be 40-50cm deep, depending on the variety.
Prepare your pots or planters will well-watered soil, and sow your carrot seeds shallowly, in rows. Water gently to keep the soil moist for the first 10-20 days, until the seeds have germinated, and be ready to thin them out.
Carrots planted in February will be ready to harvest in May.
Flowers to plant in your greenhouse in February
It’s not only heart healthy veg that can thrive when planted early in your greenhouse. For many of us, part of the joy of a greenhouse is early colour and vibrancy from some of our favourite flowers.
Delphiniums
How to grow
This plant will thrive when planted in a greenhouse in February. You can plant in pots or seed trays, into compost, at around just 3mm deep. Keep the soil covered until germination, and care for the seedlings by keeping the soil moist.
Care tips
Separate them out when the seedlings get their second set of leaves, and once the risk of frost has passed, you can harden them off before planting them into a sunny spot, out of the wind, in well-drained soil.
Violas
How to grow
Violas are another flower that can be planted at this time of year. Plant under a plastic lid and spray to keep moist, and make sure seed trays are placed in a bright location, but not in the direct heat of sunlight.
Care tips
Seedlings can be separated once their leaves are fully formed, and once the frosts have passed, can be planted out.
A broad range of other flowers can be planted in February in your greenhouse, as long as you’re able to keep it frost-free. From Sweet peas to Lobelia, Cosmos to Petunias. And really, what you choose to plant will be as much down to the space you have available, as to you preference for those early blooms. Check seed packets to make sure the varieties you’ve chosen are suitable for early planting in your greenhouse, and enjoy experimenting to see which flowers thrive.
Whichever flowers or vegetables you choose to plant in February, you’ll need to keep your trays away from frost zones in the greenhouse, and on the coldest of nights, you may want to tuck them in with horticultural fleece.
Rhino Greenhouse tips for February gardening
As the days start to lengthen and worst of winter cold has passed, February is a good month for getting your greenhouse ready for spring. Here’s a few of our recommendations on jobs to carry out in your garden at this time of year:
Clean down your garden space to reduce pests
Keep in mind that your over-wintering plants may have been offering cosy winter homes to pests, so as you start to reposition the plants and remove insulation, a good clean-down of your space would be a good idea. As the air temperature warms, sunnier days offer a good opportunity to air out your greenhouse, especially if you have covered vents and windows with your insulation.
Clean your greenhouse glass
As longer hours of daylight return, making sure the glass is clean after winter will help maximise sunlight in your greenhouse. If you have a cold frame, now is a perfect time to clean and prepare it, so that it’s ready for the plants you’ll be hardening off in the coming weeks and months.
Pruning over-wintered plants
Your over-wintering plants will start needing some tender loving care around now. It’s a good month to remove any yellowing or dead leaves, to stave off fungal diseases and give them the best chance to thrive.
Composting & plant care
Outside, there are plenty of jobs to help prepare the garden for spring. If frosts have been bad, check if any plants have been lifted, and firm them down around the roots if needed. It’s also the right time of year to spread compost or well-rotted manure on your beds, building up the nutrients for the Spring ahead.
Get your mower and garden tools ready for spring
If you’re particularly fond of being well-prepared, and even looking for more things to do in the garden in February to prepare for the rest of the year, you can also take some time to ensure your mower and tools are in good condition, ready to help your garden flourish in the Spring and Summer ahead.