Starting Seeds Indoors

February can be a very mixed month weather-wise. Some days contain sunshine warm enough to take your coat off and others are filled with heavy snow or freezing rain. With such an unpredictable forecast, consider jump starting the gardening season with a selection of plant seeds, indoors! Seed packets provide information about planting times, sowing depth and the days to harvest. Specifically, start the seeds 4 to 6 weeks before the outdoor planting season begins in order to produce a more mature plant for transplanting.

Vegetables: Warm weather vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers, need a long growing period. Start the seeds indoors in February and grow them for about 6 to 8 weeks. Once the seedlings reach about 8 inches high, harden them off for a week or two before transplanting into the garden. Other vegetables include eggplant, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and lettuce varieties. Cucumber seeds can also be planted but you should wait until the last week in February to do so.

Herbs: Basil, oregano, dill, and parsley are all great herbs to start indoors during the month of February. Additionally, mint, thyme, and sage work well too. Luckily, seedlings transplant rather well into porch and patio containers. You can also transplant the herbs directly into the garden. Just keep in mind that some herbs perform better in cold temperatures than others. For example, rosemary is a perennial herb, which means that it can be grown year-round, and sturdy enough to defend itself against icy temperatures.

Fruits: Melons such as watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew can be started now indoors as they require a long growing season. The same goes for Pumpkins. When it comes to strawberries, they need about 6 weeks of cold before planting in February. Once the seedlings have three leaves, the plants must be moved into their permanent growing site outdoors.

Flowers: Weaver Gardens has a wide variety of seed packs to help kick off the gardening season. When it comes to flowers, snapdragons, violas, and impatiens are ideal for growing inside. The seedlings need gradual exposure to outdoor temperatures for a week or two before planting directly into the flower beds. Your planting zone or microclimate will determine exactly when you should move the seedlings outdoors.

February 2020

By Sam Hochman

As Seen In Larchmont Living Magazine