February planting focuses on starting cool-season crops indoors, prepping soil with compost, and sowing hardy seeds like lettuce, peas, and radishes directly outdoors in milder climates. Utilize cold frames or cloches to protect early seedlings from lingering frost, and start warm-season plants like peppers and tomatoes indoors under grow lights for later transplantation.
Top February Planting Tips:
- Indoor Seed Starting: Begin planting hardy vegetables and flowers indoors, such as kale, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach, under grow lights to prevent them from becoming leggy.
- Direct Sow Hardy Crops: In workable soil, directly sow seeds for radishes, turnips, carrots, beets, and peas.
- Soil Preparation: Add 2-3 inches of compost to raised beds to boost nutrients and improve drainage. Ensure soil is not frozen or waterlogged before planting.
- Bare-Root Planting: February is an ideal time to plant bare-root roses, fruit bushes, and perennial shrubs.
- Protect Young Plants: Use cloches, cold frames, or row covers to protect newly sown seeds and young seedlings from frost and cold snaps.
- Manage Moisture: As spring approaches, ensure seeds are kept moist but not waterlogged.
- Divide and Prune: Divide hardy perennials and prune winter-flowering shrubs and trees to encourage new spring growth.
This video provides a guide to planting in February in North Texas:
This month is also a good time to tackle any poison ivy in the yard, while it’s still comfortable to be wearing long sleeves, pants, and boots. And if you have kudzu, bamboo, or other invasive plants growing in your yard, cut them down as well while they’re dormant.
To-Do Checklist
1.) Finish up any winter pruning of deciduous ornamental trees, fruit trees, grapevines, and shrubs that bloom on new wood. Wait to prune spring‑flowering shrubs such as azaleas and flowering quince until after they finish blooming.
2.) If you haven’t done a soil test in a couple of years, do it now (via your local Extension Office) so you can add any nutrients that may be lacking before the growing season is in full swing.
3.) Get on the list for a delivery of compost. It’s okay if it sits in your yard for a month or two, but trying to get deliveries during the spring busy season can involve long delays.