While it’s still early to start most types of seed, February is the perfect time to sow seeds indoors for slow growing vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Planting now means stronger seedlings to plug into your garden beds or containers, and a head start to the growing season. In this article you’ll discover 4 seeds to start in February and get expert tips on starting them indoors. 

The best timing for seed starting

There are two ways to start seeds: indoors or direct seeding outside. The advantages to an early start indoors means slow growing seedlings have the time they need to size up before you move them to the garden which can result in earlier harvests or, in the case of annuals, earlier blooms. And if you live in a short season climate (like me!) your growing season may not be long enough to mature certain vegetables, herbs, and annual flowers. An indoor start is often the key to success. 

However, not all seeds are started inside at the same time. It’s important to read the information on the seed packets, or refer to a gardening book like my award-winning book, The Year-Round Vegetable Gardener, to learn the right time to start sowing. If you start your seeds indoors too early, you’ll end up with overgrown seedlings that don’t transplant well. 

For example, tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, and basil need 6-8 weeks of indoor growth and February isn’t the right time to start those seeds in most hardiness zones. Faster growing crops like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, require even less time; just 4 to 6 weeks inside under grow lights. Getting the timing right means healthier and stronger plants. 

As noted above, not all flowers, vegetables, and herbs should be started indoors. Many grow best when you direct sow the seeds outdoors. This may be because the seedlings don’t transplant well or they’re so quick to grow that they don’t need an early indoor start. Good plants to direct sow include nasturtiums, radish, carrots, peas, and spinach. 

The best seeds to start in February

Late winter, typically early to-late February, is when I begin to start seeds indoors. Here are four seeds that do best when given an early sowing:

1) Annual geraniums (Pelargonium spp.)

Geraniums are a popular, carefree, and long-flowering annual plant, but one that is rarely grown from seed by gardeners. I don’t know why as I find them very easy to grow from seed. And because they’re started so early in the season – you can even sow them in January. It’s a chance to start to green up your house just after the holidays. 

Start geranium seeds indoors 12 to 16 weeks before the last frost date in cell packs, soil blocks, or 4 inch pots. This timing ensures your plants will flower by the time summer rolls around. Fill the containers with a lightweight seed-starting mix and sow the seeds a scant 1/8 inch deep. Keep the growing mix lightly damp and give the tiny seedlings lots of light. Keeping a fan in the seed-starting area helps boost air flow which reduces issues like damping off. 

You’ll likely have to transplant your geranium seedlings as they grow, moving them into larger pots. Once the risk of frost has passed in late spring (April or May, depending on your location), harden off the seedlings and move them to your garden beds or into containers. 

2) Globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus)

Globe artichokes aren’t a typical crop for gardeners in cold climates, but with the development of ‘annual’ varieties like Tavor and Imperial Star, it’s now possible to get a crop that first season.  However, that means starting the seeds indoors early, about 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost date. 

I usually start globe artichokes in soil cubes, but you can also use pots or other containers. Just be sure they have good drainage. Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep and expect them to need 10 to 14 days to germinate. 

Short season gardeners need to vernalize the plants, which means exposing them to cold temperatures in order to encourage budding. They need 10 to 12 days around 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) before you move the transplants to the garden. Read our guide to growing artichokes for in-depth advice and tips on growing this gourmet vegetable. 

3) Onions (Allium cepa)

A kitchen essential, onions come in a variety of sizes, shapes, flavors, and colors. You can buy onion seeds or onion sets, which are immature bulbs from the previous season. I prefer to plant onions from seed as that allows me to choose from the wide range of varieties available in seed catalogs. Onion sets, on the other hand, are very limited in their variety selection.

I often winter sow onion seeds to save space under my grow lights for other plants, but they are easily grown inside. And they’re one of the seeds to start in February as onions need about 10 weeks of indoor growth before they’re moved outside in early spring.

Start onion seeds in plug trays, cell packs, or small soil cubes, covering them with a 1/4 inch of soil. Keep them in a bright window or under a grow light turned on for sixteen hours daily. When the seedlings are 6 inches tall, clip the tops back to 3 to 4 inches. This reduces flopping and strengthens the stems. Repeat as needed. 

4) Celery (Apium graveolens)

Like onions, celery is indispensable in countless dishes, and because I use it so much, I love growing it in my garden. The aromatic taste and crisp texture is delicious fresh or cooked into soups, sauces, and stews. Celery, however, is very slow to grow from seed and because of this it needs to be started indoors in February. 

Plan to sow the tiny seeds 10 to 12 weeks before your last frost date, which for me is mid-to late February. Fill your containers with dampened seed-starting mix and sprinkle the seeds carefully overtop the soil. Don’t bury the seeds deeply, but instead gently press them into the soil to ensure good soil-seed contact. 

Celery seed is often slow to germinate, so be patient; it may take 2 to 3 weeks for the seeds to sprout. Maintain a lightly damp growing mix by misting the soil regularly. Begin fertilizing every few weeks once the seedlings have their second set of true leaves. I use a liquid organic fertilizer like fish emulsion diluted by half. Get more details on starting celery seeds in our celery growing guide. 

More seeds to start in February

These 4 seeds above are just some of the seeds to start in February. I’m also about to sow lisianthus, eucalyptus, pansies, snapdragon, leeks, as well as herbs like thyme, sage, and oregano. By the time early March arrives, seed-starting is in full swing and I’m starting peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, kale, and ground cherries. 

Now that you know more about the best seeds to start in February, find more expert advice on seed-starting here:

• Growing eggplant from seed
• LED grow lights: The best options for indoor gardening
• Growing tomatoes from seed
• Planting pepper seeds: 2 easy methods

Do you have any of these seeds to start in February on your must-grow list?