February marks the beginning of the vegetable and flower sowing season, although not all species are suitable for this method. Optimal are those plants with a long vegetative period. During germination, it is essential to provide them with the right temperature and light.
Seedlings are young plants, or seedlings, grown from seeds in controlled conditions. There are many species of vegetables and flowers that cannot be directly sown into the ground in Polish conditions due to unfavorable weather conditions, such as low temperatures.
🍆Which vegetables are worth sowing as seedlings in February?
In February, it is recommended to sow, among others, cauliflower, kohlrabi, cabbage (white and red), artichokes, broccoli, eggplant, celery, radishes, and broad beans.
🪴Which herbs are suitable for sowing in February?
In the second half of February, you can start sowing seedlings of basil, stevia, lemon grass, cress, and rosemary.
🏵️Flowers that can be cultivated from seedlings in February
February is also an appropriate time to start sowing flowers such as begonias (even in January, after stratification), dahlias, carnations, heliotropes (even in January, after stratification), larkspurs, lobelias, geraniums (even in January, after stratification), petunias, snapdragons (even in January, after stratification), zinnias, Chinese asters, sweet williams, and lavender.
🎬Watch our video titled "Why do I sow perennials in February?"
🍓When is it worth sowing strawberries?
February is also a convenient time to sow strawberries, which is done similarly to other vegetables and herbs. Then, in April, these seedlings can be moved to a sunny location, fertilized with compost or manure, as strawberries prefer fertile soil. Additionally, they like to be mulched and require regular pruning. New shoots can be propagated from cut runners.
It is best to start seedlings in small containers, often using egg cartons for this purpose. Of course, it is necessary to ensure that they are properly disinfected.
For the best results, choose ready-made seed soil to ensure the soil has the correct pH.
The seed priming procedure is crucial. Just pour the seeds into a jar, add basalt meal, and mix thoroughly.
During seedling formation, maintaining constant moisture, warmth, and using a transparent cover to help maintain the proper humidity is crucial. Balancing between moisture and access to fresh air is essential to avoid excessive dampness and lack of ventilation, which could lead to plant rotting.
In the case of overly dense plant sowing, thinning is necessary, leaving only selected plants with stronger growth when they reach the stage of two proper leaves (not the tiny ones).
The next step is pricking, or transferring individual plants to larger pots to provide them with adequate space for development. The seedling should be placed in the soil quite deeply, almost completely covering the stem. This procedure is particularly important for seedlings such as tomatoes, which require additional space for unrestricted growth.
🍓Attention! How to care for strawberries from seed to fruit, you will learn from our strawberry cultivation plan, where EVERYTHING is about strawberries!
