Seeds to Start in your Garden this February

If you've got a backyard garden, February is an excellent time to get started on planting your spring seeds! Cool season crops grow best in early spring and thrive in cold temperatures, but not so much in heat. Some of these plants are good for fresh eating and some are great for storing over the winter. Planning your garden in advance is key because once you start planting, it’s important that you get everything right - including what kind of soil you have, how many seeds should be planted in each row and where exactly those rows should be placed within your space. Read on to learn which seeds you might want to plant this month!

Kale

Kale is a cool season vegetable that thrives in the spring, and is a great source of vitamin C, calcium, iron, fiber, and protein. By planting these seeds in early spring, you will have kale to harvest by summertime when the plants begin to bolt. You can keep harvesting from your plants until they go dormant in late fall before freezing temperatures set in.

Lettuce

A staple vegetable that can be used in a variety of snacks and meals, lettuce is easy to grow and can be harvested in just 40 days! You'll want to pick lettuce that has just started forming heads when picking it; otherwise it will likely become bitter as it grows older. If left too long on the plant without being picked/harvested, lettuce tends towards bitterness – this isn't necessarily bad since there are some varieties specifically bred for this purpose (also called "cut-and-come-again").

Peas

Peas are one of the best plants to grow if you live in a cooler climate. Peas can be grown in the ground or in raised garden beds. Pea plants will produce gorgeous flowers and edible pods once they've matured; once you harvest your peas, they can be eaten raw or cooked. Pea plants are easy to grow and provide an excellent source of protein when they're mature enough to harvest!

Spinach

Spinach seeds will germinate quickly and you can harvest them within 4–6 weeks. Spinach is a non-heading variety of spinach, which means that you won’t get any flowers or seed pods from your plants.

This leafy green is high in iron, potassium and vitamins A, C and K—all great for helping with energy production in your body! The one downside: spinach leaves tend to be more fibrous than other greens like lettuce or kale, so they may not be ideal if you have trouble digesting certain types of fiber (like those found in celery).

Broccoli and Cauliflower

Broccoli and cauliflower are cool-weather crops that can be started in early spring or late fall. Plant them in a raised bed, preferably in full sun. They need regular watering and harvesting when the head is fully formed and the buds are open.

Turnips and Radishes

Turnips and radishes are two of the easiest crops to grow in your garden. They can be grown in a pot or in the ground, and they're ready for harvest within a month. Turnips have a sweet taste and are easy to grow from seed. Radishes can also be harvested quickly, but they have a spicier flavor than turnips do. If you're looking for something spicy or hot, these plants will fit the bill!

Now that you’ve read through our list of the best seeds to start in your garden this February, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get planting! We hope we have motivated you to take up gardening or at least try it out. You don’t need much space or equipment; just a little bit of knowledge about which plants grow best in what season will go a long way towards helping you plant for success. Remember: if your first attempts fail, don’t give up! Keep trying different things until eventually something works out right. Happy growing!