What to Plant in February in Southern California
This month marks the beginning of the bountiful seasons to come. If you haven't started taking notes on what to plant in February (and beyond!), NOW is the time to get your planners out, order any last seeds you need before they sell out, and start getting those seeds started.
This is one of my favorite times of the year, as it's the much-awaited time when you get to plan out warm-weather crops like tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, beans, cucumbers, melons, corn, and more!
It's an exciting time to be a gardener. I'm looking forward to all of the new varieties I'll be trying out this year.
The temperatures will be turning a corner in a few short weeks, and the daylight hours are lengthening at last. But what if you don't really know where to begin?
No worries! Today, we're going to dive into what you need to be planting in the month of February for zones 9 and 10.
What Vegetables to Plant in February
Right now is the perfect time to set aside some time and plan out your garden for the upcoming Spring, Summer, and even Fall crops.
Seed companies are selling out of their top sellers, so if you haven't snagged the items on your wishlist yet, now may be the time to do so.
Keep in mind, however, that many seed companies are absolutely swamped with orders, and it isn't uncommon for orders to take weeks to arrive, especially if they are family-owned businesses. Some of my most anticipated varieties took almost a month to get processed and shipped, so try to take that into account when planning out your garden, especially if you're ordering tomatoes.
Here in SoCal, temperatures really start to rise by the end of June, so if you don't get your transplants in by the beginning of March, there's a good chance they may stop producing for a while due to the extreme heat.
If you're late to the game, I recommend starting out with heat-tolerant varieties out of the gate to ensure a bountiful harvest.
So, having said all of that, let's get into which vegetables you can start sowing indoors this month!
You can successfully grow a wide variety of vegetables in February in Southern California, including:
- Arugula **
- Asian Greens **
- Beets **
- Bok choi/Pak choi **
- Broccoli **
- Cabbage **
- Carrots **
- Cauliflower **
- Celery
- Chard ** (Swiss chard)
- Collards **
- Endive **
- Eggplant
- fava Beans **
- Fennel **
- Green Onions **
- Kale **
- Kohlrabi **
- Leeks **
- Lettuce **
- Medium-day Onions ** (you may even be able to do shallots)
- Mustard Greens **
- Parsnip
- Peas **
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Radishes **
- Salad Greens **
- Spinach **
- Sweet Potatoes **
- Tatsoi **
- Tomatoes (also plan a few heat-tolerant varieties as your succession sowing)
- Turnips **
** Means you can succession sow these varieties.
Yes! You can still plant cool weather crops except for varieties that take a really long time to mature, like brussels sprouts. Most everything else can still be succession sown even in early spring.
However, you should start to switch over to more heat-tolerant varieties in the upcoming weeks to prevent premature bolting.
As for warm-weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and beans, I start everything indoors on a seedling heat mat.
Once true leaves have formed on the seedlings, I pot them up and move them to the greenhouse, where they will grow for the next month or so before getting transplanted into the garden.
Perennial Vegetables to Plant in February
This is your last chance to get perennial vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, horseradish, and rhubarb planted.
If you haven't done so yet, do it NOW!
Keep in mind that horseradish can take over the garden, so plan to give it its own dedicated space where it can't spread.
Perennial Fruit
February is a good time to keep an eye on your deciduous fruit trees, citrus trees, avocado trees, berries, and grapes.
Keep citrus and avocado trees fed and well-mulched, and look out for new growth and spring bloom on everything else. Once you see blooms forming, it's time to start feeding those varieties.
I really like to use Alaskan Fish Emulsion.
What Flowers to Plant in February in Southern California
It's time to plant more flowers for the garden this month. I'm really excited to try and increase the number of flowers I have in the vegetable garden this year.
Right now, you should be enjoying a profusion of blooms from camellias, calla lilies, and daffodils. Look for Azaleas to start blooming next month!
Start thinking about what varieties of tuberous begonias, canna lilies, and caladium you want to plant this year.
Some Popular Flower Choices Include:
- Alyssum
- Borage **
- Calendulas
- Cornflower
- Cosmos
- Echinacea
- Gomphrena
- Hyssop
- Iris
- Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Nigella **
- Poppy
- Primrose
- Sweet Peas **
- Wildflowers
** Means you can succession sow these varieties.
I have better luck starting flowers indoors in seed trays since the pest pressure from cutworms and rolly polly bugs is already high this year.
Pro Tip:
Make sure to read the seed packets carefully before sowing. Some flower varieties do not need to be covered with soil and need direct sunlight to germinate.
What Herbs to Plant in February in Southern California
This is a great time to start some more herbs for the months ahead! Since zones 9 and 10 are pretty mild, there is a large variety of herbs that can be grown year-round.
Be sure to dot them around your garden beds to help with pest control.
Some Popular Herbs to Grow in February in Southern California Include:
- Basil (I even started some holy basil to try this year for tea!)
- Chamomile
- Chervile
- Chives **
- Cilantro **
- Comfrey (this is amazing for mulch)
- Dill **
- Feverfew
- Garlic chives
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Lemongrass
- Lovage **
- Parsley **
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Sorrel
- Thyme
** Means you can succession sow these varieties.
Frequently Asked Questions About What to Plant in February in Southern California
What vegetables do you plant in February in California?
Veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, turnips, and radishes are all excellent choices for planting in February in California.
Tomatoes, peppers, and squash can also be sown indoors on a seedling heat mat and transplanted into the garden in March once temperatures are mild enough.
Don't forget to sow your last-minute perennial vegetables like artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb, and horseradish.
What plants grow in January and February in southern California?
Since the climate in a typical Southern California garden is mild, you can plant an almost endless variety of crops year-round, like:
- Asian greens
- Salad greens
- Brassicas like broccoli, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower
- Root vegetables like sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots, and radishes
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Squash
- Beans
- Eggplant
- and more!
What plants should be planted in February?
Cool-season crops like broccoli, kale, cabbage, cauliflower, radishes, peas, lettuce, and Asian greens should be succession sown one last time in February before switching over to more heat-tolerant varieties of these crops.
Can I plant hyacinth bulbs in February?
Hyacinth bulbs should be planted in late summer and early fall in order to enjoy blooms the following spring.
Can bulbs be planted in February?
Yes, you can plant gladiolus bulbs in February in zones 9 and 10.
Is it OK to plant in February?
There are many varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers that can be planted in the month of February.
Some of these include:
- Brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
- Root veggies like potatoes, radishes, and turpins
- Flowers like echinacea, borage, nasturtium, and poppies
- Herbs like chives, parsley, dill, and lemongrass
What can you plant in late February?
In late February, California gardeners can plant a variety of vegetables such as lettuce, arugula, carrots, peas, and beans.
Herbs like oregano, dill, and chives are also excellent choices for planting during this time as they are cool-weather crops.
Pansies, violas, and poppies can all be planted in late February.
What gardening should I be doing in February?
February is the perfect time to start preparing your garden for the upcoming growing season.
Pruning and weeding should be done to get rid of any dead plants or weeds that may have gotten overgrown during the winter months.
Also, it's a great idea to add mulch and compost to your garden beds and fruit trees.
Another important gardening task in February is fertilizing. Applying a balanced organic fertilizer will help give your plants that extra bit of nutrients they need for a successful growing season!
You may also enjoy reading:
Leave a Reply