February Growing Guides

What to sow in a polytunnel in February

Conditions vary widely across the UK, so let the soil temperature, daylight and local forecast guide you. Seeds in cold, wet compost may rot; small batches are safer than filling every bed at once.

Hardy crops for an unheated tunnel

• Broad beans and round-seeded peas: sow in deep modules or pots where mice cannot reach them, then plant out when the soil is workable.
• Hardy lettuce, spinach and salad leaves: sow little and often for a steady supply.
• Radish, salad onions and turnips: choose a mild spell and avoid saturated soil.
• Garlic and elephant garlic: plant healthy cloves in free-draining beds if not already planted.

Crops to start indoors with heat

Aubergines, chillies and peppers benefit from an early start because they need a long growing season. Early tomatoes can also be sown late in the month, but only if you can provide warmth and excellent light after germination. Weak, stretched seedlings rarely gain an advantage over later, healthier plants.

What to plant and grow in February

Continue growing established winter crops, removing damaged leaves and harvesting gently. First-early seed potatoes can be chitted now: stand them with the rose end upwards in egg boxes or trays somewhere cool, bright and frost-free.

Do not rush potatoes into very cold soil. Planting time depends on your location, soil temperature and how much extra frost protection you can provide. Keep fleece ready if you decide to plant an early protected batch.

What to harvest in February

Depending on your late-summer and autumn sowings, you may be able to pick:

• beetroot, carrots, celeriac, celery, daikon, kohlrabi and turnips
• cabbage, cauliflower, pak choi and chard
• lettuce, mizuna, rocket, spinach and other winter salad leaves
• coriander, radish and spring onions

Harvest leafy crops little and often, taking outer leaves while leaving the centre intact. Wait until frozen foliage has thawed before handling it, and remove yellowing leaves to improve airflow.

Essential polytunnel jobs for February

1. Clean for the new season

Wash pots, seed trays, tools and staging with warm water and a suitable non-toxic biodegradable cleaner. Clean the polytunnel cover inside and out according to the material manufacturer’s guidance so crops benefit from the increasing daylight.

2. Improve empty beds

Clear spent crops and add well-rotted compost to vacant areas. Avoid working waterlogged soil, and use your crop plan to decide where hungry summer plants will go.

3. Ventilate without losing all the warmth

Open doors or vents for a few hours around the warmest part of mild, still days. Close them well before temperatures fall. Regular airflow reduces condensation and helps prevent mould, but never leave the tunnel open overnight in cold weather.

4. Keep frost protection close

Use horticultural fleece over hoops to protect seedlings and tender growth. Check plants beneath covers regularly for slugs, condensation and disease, and uncover them on mild days for better light and ventilation.

5. Check irrigation before you need it

Inspect hoses and fittings, and test automatic watering timers before the busy season. Water sparingly in February, preferably in the morning and directly at the roots.

6. Inspect the structure

Secure doors, tighten loose fittings and repair small tears promptly with proper polytunnel repair tape on a clean, dry surface. Choose a calm, sunny day if fitting a new cover, because the warmth makes the polythene easier to tension.

Your February checklist

Tick each job as you complete it. Your ticks are saved on this device.

• Clean pots, trays, tools, staging and the cover.
• Add well-rotted compost to empty beds.
• Sow one small batch of suitable hardy crops.
• Start long-season crops only where heat and good light are available.
• Chit first-early seed potatoes somewhere cool and bright.
• Ventilate on mild days and close the tunnel before dusk.
• Test irrigation and repair any loose fittings or cover damage.

February polytunnel FAQs