In February, as winter’s grip loosens its hold on Ireland, gardeners can sow various seeds indoors and, depending on weather conditions, start preparing for outdoor sowing of certain hardy seeds. Here are some seeds you can consider sowing in February in Ireland:
Indoor Seed Sowing:
- Tomatoes: Start tomato seeds indoors for transplanting outdoors after the last frost.
- Peppers: Begin indoor Sowing of pepper seeds for later transplanting.
- Chillies: February is an excellent time to start their seeds indoors if you enjoy growing spicy peppers.
- Aubergines (Eggplants): Initiate the indoor Sowing of eggplant seeds.
- Lettuce: Sow lettuce seeds indoors for an early start on the growing season.
- Herbs: Consider starting herbs like parsley, and coriander indoors.
Hardy Vegetables for Outdoor Sowing:
- Peas: If weather permits, you can sow pea seeds directly outdoors in well-drained soil.
- Broad Beans: Broad bean seeds can be sown directly into the garden in February.
- Spinach: Cold-hardy spinach can be sown outdoors for an early spring harvest.
- Carrots: You can sow carrot seeds outdoors in milder regions, but be mindful of soil temperature.
Flowers:
- Sweet Peas: Start sweet pea seeds indoors for vibrant, fragrant blooms in the spring.
- Nasturtiums: Sow nasturtium seeds indoors or directly outdoors if the weather allows.
- Calendula: Consider starting calendula seeds indoors for their cheerful, orange flowers.
Heritage and Perennial Flowers:
- Delphiniums: Start delphinium seeds indoors for majestic, tall spikes of flowers.
- Foxgloves: Sow foxglove seeds indoors for elegant, spire-like blooms.
- Lupins: Begin indoor Sowing of lupin seeds for beautiful, spiky flowers.
In addition to the mentioned seeds, here are more options for sowing in February in Ireland, both indoors and outdoors:
Indoor Seed Sowing:
- Cabbage Family (Brassicas): Start seeds of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower indoors. These cool-season crops can be transplanted outdoors in spring.
- Onions and Leeks: Begin sowing onion and leek seeds indoors. They can be transplanted outdoors when the weather warms up.
- Radishes: Start radish seeds indoors for an early crop. Radishes are quick-growing and can be sown directly into the garden once the soil is workable.
- Kale and Swiss Chard: Sow these nutritious leafy green seeds indoors for early spring harvest.
- Cucumbers: For an early start on cucumbers, start the seeds indoors in February and transplant them outdoors after the last frost.
- Zinnias and Marigolds: If you’re a fan of vibrant flowers, consider starting seeds of zinnias and marigolds indoors for summer blooms.
Outdoor Sowing (if weather permits):
- Garlic: If you have yet to plant garlic in the fall, February is an excellent time to sow garlic cloves directly into the soil.
- Mustard Greens: Sow mustard green seeds directly into the garden for a peppery addition to your salads.
- Arugula (Rocket): Cold-hardy arugula seeds can be sown directly outdoors for an early harvest.
- Parsnips: In regions with milder winters, you can sow parsnip seeds directly into the garden for a later harvest.
- Beets: Start sowing beet seeds outdoors towards the end of February for a sweet and nutritious root crop.
Remember, the specific timing for outdoor Sowing depends on your local climate and soil conditions. Be mindful of frost dates and soil temperature to ensure the success of your seeds. Additionally, some seeds may benefit from being started indoors and later transplanted, while others can be directly sown into the garden. Experiment and enjoy the process of watching your garden come to life!