It’s still cold outside, but signs of spring’s arrival are creeping in. Days are getting longer, and even the bulbs are starting to push up through the ground. To find out what to do in your vegetable garden in February, read on!
A Word on The Weather:
What to do in your garden this month will depend on where in the country you’re situated. If you live in the south of England, or if your garden is particularly sheltered, more may be able to be done earlier. However, if your garden is more northern, you may need to leave more tasks to do later in the month.
Preparation & Maintenance
- Prepare your seed beds! Ensure the ground isn’t frozen before you start. Cultivate beds and start to warm up the soil. Use fleece, polythene or cloches in preparation for sowing.
- Check tools and garden machinery (mowers, strimmers etc) are working and in good condition.
- If you have acidic soil, rake lime into it.
- Chit early potatoes. Stand them on end in an egg tray in a bright, cool, and frost-free place.
- Mulch perennial vegetables with well-rotted manure or compost.
- If you’re intending on having raised beds this year, build them!
- Tidy up vegetable plots, and remove any weeds or plant debris.
- Net any fruit or vegetable crops to keep birds off them.
In The Greenhouse and Container Garden
- You can sow peas, broad beans, some hardy beetroot, radishes, and some lettuces under glass. It is easier to germinate towards the end of the month when the weather is warmer.
- Check any greenhouse plants for mould. Don’t water plants until dry, as this will encourage mould to grow.
- On mild days, open up the doors and vents to air out the greenhouse.
Harvesting & Growing
- Remove yellowing leaves from any brassicas.
Other Jobs
- Continue to feed wild birds.
- If planting from seed, organise your seeds by the month in which they need to be grown.
- Order any plant plugs!
To Conclude – The Vegetable Garden in February
Everything is starting to ramp up in preparation for spring this month. Preparation and maintenance are the name of the game. However, there are opportunities for some early germination under the right conditions! If you’re deciding on what to plant this year, visit our shop for inspiration.
