7 Seeds Gardening Experts Never Start in February – Waiting Actually Gives You Stronger Plants
On this occasion, ignore what the seed packet says
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If you're anything like me, February has caught you by surprise after a long winter of being indoors and waiting to get back out in the yard. It can spur a sudden panic to get all your seeds sown ready for warmer temps, but I urge you to take a moment to reconsider which to prioritize – despite what seed packets might say, there are several seeds you shouldn't start in February.
These are both seeds to sow indoors and seeds to sow outdoors that benefit from waiting just a little longer. Trust me, they'll take off once the warm spring weather arrives. From fast-growing annual flowers to vegetables that are better directly sown, there are quite a few seeds to delay at this time of year.
There are lots of vegetables that are better planted in spring, rather than started in February
Why You Shouldn't Sow These Seeds in February
There are a few reasons why the following seeds you shouldn't start in February are on this list.
It may be that sowing this month will result in weaker plants due to the lingering lower light and colder conditions, often causing leggy growth.
Seed packets may suggest otherwise, recommending to start these seeds in February, but this doesn't take into account the actual conditions in your US hardiness zone.
Of course, one way around this is starting seeds indoors, like in a greenhouse, protected from the adverse conditions outdoors. But, for those plants that don't transplant well, this isn't an ideal thing to do.
Instead, gardening experts say to hold off on sowing these seven seeds to ensure they grow healthy and strong.
1. Corn
Corn is ready to harvest when the silks turn brown and brittle
Corn is at the top of the list of seeds you shouldn't start in February, even indoors.
'You can technically start corn inside but it doesn't really transplant well,' says Anna Hackman, a Rutgers Master Gardener and owner at The Naked Botanical.
Disturbing corn seedlings is likely to result in stunted growth and weak plants that struggle.
'Instead, I plant corn seeds outside two weeks after frost,' Anna adds.
Growing corn is also considered a quick process, with seeds germinating within 6-10 days, so waiting until May won't put you back in terms of harvesting. Though, waiting as long as June risks issues like poor pollination and drought-stress.
Take care to choose a warm, full-sun position when you do get around to planting corn seeds.
Find corn seeds at Burpee.
Shop corn seeds on Amazon.
Anna Hackman has been an avid gardener for over 18 years and has penned the garden blog, Green Talk. She is a retired Rutgers Master Gardener and runs a farm called The Naked Botanical, which grows and makes herbal products, including herbal teas, simple syrups, elderberry tonics and more.
2. Sunflowers
There are hundreds of sunflower varieties, all with differing fiery hues
Sunflowers are fast-growing annuals that don't do well with being transplanted. They're also a great corn companion plant, so gardening expert and founder at The Waddle and Cluck, Lindsey Chastain, suggests waiting to sow them directly outdoors together.
'Wait until the soil warms up, then plant your sunflowers a week or two before you plant corn in front of the sunflowers,' she says. 'The sunflowers will help attract pollinators to the corn and provide the perfect amount of shade,' she explains.
Starting these sun-loving flowers indoors in February is likely to result in leggy, floppy growth due to insufficient light. But, planting outdoors directly once late frosts have passed will result in bright blooms in summer.
Explore the range of sunflower seeds at Burpee.
Shop sunflower seeds on Amazon.
Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming
3. Morning Glory
Morning glories are some of the best climbers that thrive on neglect once established
Morning glory is a fast-growing climber with purple-blue trumpet-shaped blooms that come out in summer.
It can be tempting to get a head start with growing morning glory indoors in February, but this only really successful when using a seedling heat mat (like this from Amazon) and a grow light.
This is because morning glory seeds need warm soil to germinate reliably, and the indoor conditions of February can cause slower germination or stunted growth.
'Most vines shouldn't be started indoors because they grow too fast, but the ground isn't warm enough in February for outdoor planting,' says Lindsey.
Instead, it's often best to wait to plant morning glory seeds in mid-spring in a full sun position with well-draining soil.
Find morning glory seeds at Burpee.
Find morning glory seeds on Amazon.
4. Basil
You can make your basil last longer by pruning it carefully
While it's true basil can be grown indoors at any point in the year, this is only really successful in the winter months with the help of heated propagators and grow lights.
This is because basil is frost-sensitive and loves sunlight. The lower light and cooler temperatures of indoor February conditions make it challenging to start basil seeds at this time.
These herbs are also susceptible to growing particularly leggy if they don't receive enough sunlight.
Instead, wait to grow basil on a sunny windowsill once warmer temperatures arrive, or directly sow seeds outdoors once frost has passed around mid-late spring.
This is also a good time to grow basil from cuttings to propagate.
Find basil seeds at Burpee.
Find basil seeds on Amazon.
5. Zucchini
Zucchini plants are monoecious, meaning they produce both male and female flowers
Another crop to avoid starting this month is zucchini. As a fast-growing vegetable, it won’t appreciate sitting in pots indoors during cool, low-light conditions.
Even though you can grow zucchini in containers, the biggest zucchini varieties demand more space. You can, of course, try growing zucchini vertically for a space-saving solution.
'It's better to plant them outside a couple weeks after the last frost, when you can give them plenty of room to spread out,' says Lindsey.
Ideally, zucchini seeds should be planted two feet apart, which is hard to provide in an indoor growing environment, so it's better to wait until spring to sow outdoors.
Find zucchini seeds at Burpee.
Shop zucchini seeds on Amazon.
6. Nigella
Nigella comes in shades of blue, white, pink, and violet
Nigella, or love-in-a-mist, are some of the most delicate blooms to add to your flower beds. But, sowing too early can hinder healthy growth.
Nigella is a slow-growing seedling and the colder temperatures in February will not support germination.
At the same time, it isn't wise to sow nigella seeds indoors because these dainty blooms don't respond well to being transplanted, due to a delicate root system, and are likely to experience stress and fade as a result.
You'll get much better results and more abundant blooms by growing nigella directly in flower beds from March onwards, especially if you plant them in a sunny spot.
Find nigella seeds at Burpee.
Find nigella seeds on Amazon.
7. Zinnia
Zinnias can bloom in just a few weeks after seeds have been planted
While it can be tempting to start zinnias early to get their vibrant, large flowers sooner, February sowing does risk mixed results.
This is because zinnias are heat-loving plants, preferring soil temperatures 70–75 °F. The colder, dimmer conditions indoors in February can produce spindly plants.
Not only this, but zinnias have quite sturdy stems and roots which don't enjoy being pot-bound.
That's why it's often better to wait to directly plant zinnia seeds outdoors after frost has passed in mid-late spring.
Find zinnia seeds at Burpee.
Shop this colorful mix of zinnia seeds on Amazon.
FAQs
How Can I Save Leggy Seedlings?
There are a few ways to fix leggy seedlings so they go on to be healthy, established plants. This includes transplanting them into a deeper pot, providing better lighting, and pinching them back to encourage new, healthy growth. To avoid leggy growth going forward, provide sufficient light and moderate temperatures.
Of course, these are just a handful of seeds you shouldn't start in February, with plenty of other vegetables to plant in March and flowers to sow in March benefiting from holding off a while longer.
Likewise, there are plenty of vegetables to plant in February and flowers to sow in February that you can get started with this month.
Shop Seed Sowing Essentials
This beautiful seed storage tin has multiple compartments so you can organize your seeds. It also comes with labels, pens, and seed packets for collecting your own seeds.
This seed starter tray has a dual purpose, with each cell having a handle to easily lift seedlings out for transplanting. It has the capacity for 9 seedlings.
This organic seed starter mix has ingredients to support germination and early growth. It comes in a pack of 13.2 liters.
These seedling heat mats are perfect for boosting warmth for seedlings and aiding seed germination. They measure 10"x20.75".
This water bottle is ideal for watering seedlings and delicate plants without too much pressure. It has a detachable shower spout.
This grow light can be used to boost light levels for seeds and seedlings when daylight is limited. It has an automatic timer for 4, 8, and 12 hours.
