Just because the weather hasn't warmed up yet, it doesn't mean you can't get a head start in order to have a great garden in the spring! In fact, you can even plant in February to get ahead, but these 6 things will put you on the fast track to having a beautiful, bountiful garden in the spring! Depending on where you live though, these February gardening tips MAY not apply to you, so be sure to pay close attention to whether or not you can start prepping or maybe it's too early for you!
February Gardening: How to Have a Great Garden in the Spring
#1. Map Your Garden
The easiest thing you can do before you start planting is to map out your garden. This way, you'll know exactly what to plant where and when. Draw a simple map of your garden and divide it into square feet, so you'll know how many seeds you can plant in that square foot. Below is an example of how many seeds you can plant per square foot for a few different plants. You should also pay special attention to companion plants: which plants can be planted together and which cannot.
| Seedlings Per Square Foot | What to Plant |
| 1 per 2 square feet | watermelon, vining squash |
| 1 | tomato, basil, broccoli, cauliflower, hot peppers |
| 2 | cucumbers |
| 4 | lettuce, other leafy greens |
| 8 | bush beans, snap peas |
| 16 | beets, radishes, turnips, carrots, onions |
#2. Order Seeds
Now is the perfect time to start ordering your seeds! If possible, try to get only organic seeds for a healthier crop. Now is the time to plan what you'll want to grow and how much of it.
#3. Start Seedlings Indoors
Depending on the USDA zone you live in, you can actually start planting indoors. Most herbs can be started indoors at this point. Check out our what to plant in February guide to get a better idea.
#4. Start Composting
February is the perfect time to set up a compost bin. Choose a spot that's a little bit further from your home (due to the smells obviously), and throw in all compostable items such as fruit and vegetable leftovers, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Check out these 10 amazing composting tips for beginners.
#5. Build a Hoop House
A hoop house is a series of parallel hoops that arch over your garden, protecting them from the elements. It's fairly easy to build and won't cost you a lot of money. This dome basically acts as a mini greenhouse and can extend your growing season by at least 8 weeks in the spring and fall. By the middle of February, you can plant cold hardy plants in your hoop house, such as arugula, onions, and broccoli.
#6. Plant Fall Bulbs
If you forgot to plant your bulbs in the fall, not to worry – you can still plant them now before it's too late! Fall bulbs need a cold weather period to bloom before the weather gets warm again. As long as the ground is still cold, it's not too late to plant your fall bulbs!
So do these 6 things in February to have a great garden in the spring!
Happy Planting!
