Well we finally made it through January, I try not to buy in to Blue Monday and the expected gloom but gosh it was long wasn’t it!

Anyway, it’s time to move on! Spring is round the corner and there’s work to be done!

February may feel like a quiet month at the plot, but there’s plenty to be getting on with. With longer days creeping in, now is the perfect time to start sowing, preparing, and planning. Here’s a plan of action for the month ahead (and it’s a short one so I’d best get a wriggle on!).

Early Carrots for a Spring Harvest 🥕

Early varieties like ‘Nantes’ can be sown under cloches or in a greenhouse to give them a head start. The protection helps keep the soil warm, speeding up germination and giving you an earlier crop.

If you’re growing in containers, make sure the soil is light and free of stones to prevent forked roots.

Getting Peas Started 🌱

Hardy pea varieties like ‘Meteor’ and ‘Douce Provence’ can be started indoors in root trainers or even lengths of guttering. This method allows for easy transplanting when the weather warms up.

Early sowings mean an earlier crop!

Time to Chit Those Potatoes 🥔

February is the time to chit (pre-sprout) your seed potatoes. Place them in a cool, bright place to develop strong shoots before planting in March.

Great varieties for early harvests:

✔ ‘Rocket’

✔ ‘Swift’

Simply stand them in an egg carton with the ‘eyes’ facing up and leave them in a bright, frost-free spot.

Forcing Rhubarb for an Early Crop 🌸

If you love rhubarb, you can get an earlier, sweeter harvest by forcing it. Cover established crowns with a forcing pot, bucket, or even an old bin to block out the light. This encourages long, tender stalks.

In around 4-6 weeks, you’ll have delicate pink stems perfect for crumbles and jams!

Sow Broad Beans 🌾

If you didn’t plant autumn-sown broad beans, you can still start them now. Hardy varieties like ‘Aquadulce Claudia’ can be direct sown in milder areas or started in pots indoors.

These early-sown beans will establish well and be ready to harvest by late spring before pests like blackfly take hold.

Garlic and Onions. It’s Not Too Late! 🧄

If you missed planting garlic and onion sets in autumn, you can still plant them now.

Fast-growing varieties:

✔ ‘Radar’ onions

✔ ‘Solent Wight’ garlic

Plant in well-drained soil, as wet conditions can lead to rot.

Feed The Soil 🌱

Adding well-rotted manure or compost to your beds now will improve fertility and structure, giving your plants the best possible start.

Start Lettuce Indoors for Early Greens 🥬

Start cold-hardy lettuce varieties like ‘Winter Density’ indoors. A sunny windowsill or an unheated greenhouse is perfect for germination.

You can start cut-and-come-again varieties to keep fresh greens coming well into spring.

Sow Herbs for a Head Start 🌿

Basil, parsley, and chives can all be started indoors this month. A bright windowsill is the perfect spot before transplanting them outside later.

Lots of Mulching 🍂

Protect overwintering crops like kale, leeks, and sprouting broccoli by mulching with straw, leaf mould, or compost. Mulching keeps the soil warmer, suppresses weeds, and adds nutrients over time.

What’s on your list?

I’m pretty excited to get started!!

Sarah 🌻

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