What to plant in February? For me I am getting my first round of tomatoes started. I know it sounds too early, but trust me, it is worth the extra time and effort. By starting the seeds in February I can have tomatoes by June in New England. I go with the earlier varieties like Early Girl and New Girl as well as one cherry tomato type. In April I will start my second trays with my longer growing varieties.
This year I planted 8 cells of each variety, 1/4 inch deep in starter soil. I bottom watered, covered and put on a heating pad. Once they germinate, I will keep them under my plant lights. I will continue this process until I transplant them to a 4-inch pot in mid-March. From there, I will start moving them to sunny windowsills. I will bring them inside and outside on warm days to start hardening off.
This increases my work by a pretty good amount through the early spring. I have to find places to move the larger tomato plants to. Remember to water them when they are all around the house. Trek them inside and outside multiple times. Even with the extra time and energy it is so worth it! Whenever I don’t do an early crop, I regret it all season. Following this early schedule I have a lot more produce. I also find that I can keep up with harvesting and processing much better.
Along with my early tomatoes, I have started my celery, onions and scallions. What do you plant this early in the season? Are tomatoes on your list this year?
Acorn & Birch 