Itchy fingers? Seeds you can sow in February!

By KJ

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When they days start getting brighter and Christmas is just a distant memory, my brain starts heading towards the upcoming season. Who can blame me? Even when it’s 2 degrees outside, I still want to be in my happy space, no matter how bare and ‘messy’ it may look.

There’s always that part of me that wants to race off and get going and patience is a virtue that I haven’t quite worked out yet however, I need to sow appropriately to the season and I’m reminded on some mornings by the hard frost on my car, that it isn’t quite time to start most of my annuals.

The soil is warming up, although it might not feel like it when you plunge your hands in, but it’s getting there. I’m all for starting plants at home or in the greenhouse but sometimes you need to get your hands dirty and sow direct.

Not everything has to be started off in pots at home or undercover – I find sowing direct not only a shortcut, but some plants don’t want to be moved about. There’s varying success with mine due to vermin eating my seeds in the ground but otherwise, it’s one of my most fun jobs. Seeing a seed start and watching it patiently until fruition is one of life’s joys.

Seeds to sow direct in February:

• Broad beans
  • Packed full of iron, magnesium, folate, copper, zinc as well as vitamins B and C, broad beans are great for your bones, brain and immune system. Sow under cover until March.
• Garlic
  • Not all garlic likes to be planted in Autumn. There are Spring and Winter sowing cultivars that you can sow right now, ready in late summer. Check out my blog on how to grow your own garlic for life and check out the spring sowing cultivar recommendations. Garlic boosts your body’s immune system, can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels and has antibiotic properties. No need to sow under any cover.
• Carrots
  • Early carrot cultivars are suitable to be sown direct under a cloche if possible. Great source of beta carotene, fibre, Vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants. Sow under cover until March.
• Peas
  • One of my first crops of the year are peas and there’s nothing nicer than splitting open that first pod and eating those sweet, green, crisp peas. Peas are heart-friendly and contain magnesium, potassium and calcium. They’re also rich in Vitamin C. Lovely stuff. Sow under cover until March.
• Beetroot
  • Another awesome vegetable to get a head start on. Best started with a cloche to protect it from our varying climate – beetroots don’t like being moved. It’s always best to sow direct and thin out if needed. You can also find seed tapes (of which I am a huge fan of!) which limit your need to thin and they’re not wildly expensive. Packed with fibre, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C, you’re well on you way to improved blood circulation, lower blood pressure and increased energetic stamina. Perfect energy for working down on your plots. Sow under cover until March.
• Lettuce
  • Lettuces are much hardier than you would expect however they still need a little cover until the soil warms up a little. Perfect to be sown under a cloche. There are so many different cultivars of lettuce so you have a lot to choose from. A great source of Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and high in minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. Perfect for getting a well-rested and good night’s sleep.

There are plenty of other seeds that you can sow direct in February. It all comes down to trial and error in your growing space. Only you know your environment and what’s suitable. Start small anyway as you will want to have a steady flow of edibles so successional planting is a must.

As always, grow what you enjoy. That’s ultimately what it comes down to.