February in the Garden

Raising transplants

Starting you own plants from seed is one of the best ways to make sure you have a great garden this year. Starting your own is fun, you get to browse the seed catalogs and it’s a great project to do with kids.

More reasons to start your own veggies:

• You can pick the perfect varieties. Instead of being stuck with whatever the store happens to carry you can choose varieties that best fit your situation and taste.
• You can get started months earlier than waiting for a dry day in June.
• Thinning seedlings is much easier when plants are at eye level instead of a planted row in the garden.
• You can grow dozens of plants for the price of one 4″ tomato or a tray of lettuce starts.
• Veggie starts at a big-box store are often poorly thinned – it looks better in the tray to have multiple seedlings but a single plant will perform better in the garden.

Most vegetable seeds will sprout in soil above 60 degrees but will do much better when held at a constant  75° to 80°F. The easiest way to do this is with a waterproof heat mat made especially for starting seeds. Keep air temps 65° to 75° for tropical veggies like eggplants and peppers. Tomatoes like it a little cooler at 55° to 65°F. Cool weather crops like lettuce, parsley and broccoli prefer 60° to 70° in the day and 45° to 55°F at night.

Remember that these are ideal temps. After all, we probably don’t have three different heat mats with a magic bubble holding the perfect temperature for each crop. Just do the best you can – maybe put eggplants in the center and lettuce on the outside.

For info on lights and heat see the January calendar.

Any of these plants can be started indoors during the month of February:

(Note: these times are for the Willamette Valley – adjust as needed for your location.)

Seed indoors

Artichoke

Asparagus

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Celeriac

Celery

Chard

Chives

Boc Choi

Eggplant 2/15*

Endive

Kale

Kohlrabi

Leeks*

Lettuce

Onion*

Parsley

Peppers 2/15*

Tomatillo

Tomatoes 2/15*

 

Seed outdoors in February especially in a coldframe or warmer location:

Arugula*

Asparagus* (crowns)

Cilantro

Fava beans

Garlic (cloves)

Mustard Greens Onion*

Onion Bunches*

Onion sets*

Peas*

Potatoes (tubers)

Radish

Scallions

Spinach*

Starts

Artichoke

Peas

Garlic

Onions

Scallions