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What to Plant in Scotland Each Month: Veg, Fruits, Herbs & Edible Flowers. Planting in February
Planting in February
February is a transition month in Scottish gardens. Days slowly lengthen, but cold soil and low light still limit what can be done outdoors. This is the perfect time to focus on indoor sowing and dormant planting outside when conditions allow. February is a cross over from January, some people will start the seeds earlier or later, I prefer earlier to allow a few more weeks of growth. Check out what we started in January
Vegetable Seeds To Start Indoors In February
If you haven’t already got your January ones started then get them going now:
Onions (from seed): long season, ideal to start now
Leeks: slow growers, benefit from early sowing
Celery / Celeriac: needs a long growing season
Aubergine: only if you can provide warmth (18–21°C)
Chillies & Peppers: need heat and light
Early tomatoes: Now our Chillies, Peppers and Aubergines have finished in the propagator we’ll start our tomatoes
Then for February
Manglewurzel If you don’t know what these are check out last years harvest Mangelwurzel: The Underrated Giant Beet Worth Growing In The UK
Broad beans Early maturing variety indoors
Potato Tubers Chit early seed potato tubers as soon as you have them
Radish Early variety, need lots of light
TIPS
February sown vegetables need warmth and strong light to thrive. Use a heated propagator or heat mat for germination, especially for chillies and aubergines and move seedlings to the brightest spot possible as soon as they emerge.
Sow thinly to reduce damping off, keep compost just moist rather than wet and resist the urge to rush seedlings outside, cold soil will stall growth.
Providing bottom heat, such as a heated propagator or heat mat, can significantly improve germination rates during cold, low light months. Read more in this blog: The Importance of Seed Starting with Heat Mats and Grow Lights
Herb Seeds To Start Indoors In January/February
Herbs are ideal for indoor sowing and windowsills.
Basil: must be indoors, warm and bright
Parsley: slow to germinate, good to start early
Chives & Garlic Chives: easy and reliable
Coriander: indoors only at this time
Dill: compact varieties do well inside
Thyme: slow but fine indoors
Lemon balm: Can take 2–3 weeks to germinate
Fennel: Start in deep pots doesn’t like root disturbance
Oregano / Marjoram
Then for February
Spinach (hardy varieties, indoors only)
Amaranth: requires a long, warm growing season
TIPS
When planting herb seeds indoors in January/February, success depends on managing light, warmth, and moisture carefully.
Choose a bright windowsill or use grow lights, as Winter daylight in Scotland is limited and weak. Most herbs germinate best at 15–21°C, so a heated propagator or heat mat can make a big difference. Use fine, free draining compost and sow seeds thinly to reduce competition and improve airflow.
Keep the compost just moist, not wet, overwatering in low light is the main cause of failure at this time of year. Many herb seeds are small, so do not bury them deeply; lightly press them onto the surface and cover only if the packet advises.
Once seedlings appear, remove lids or vents gradually to prevent fungal problems and encourage strong growth.
Edible Flower Seeds To Start Indoors In February
Again these first few months roll over if you’ve not done these yet they can be done in February, we have to pace ourselves as we only have 1 heat propagator, 1 set of grow lights and 2 heat mats and 3 large windowsills to get growing on
Viola / Pansy: Cold hardy perennial
Calendula (Pot marigold): technically a short lived perennial
Bergamot / Bee balm: Good candidate for early indoor sowing
Echinacea (Coneflower): Needs cold stratification → sow now and place outside for a few weeks or refrigerate
Poppies: Needs cold stratification → sow now and place outside for a few weeks or refrigerate
You can also get your Sweet Peas in now, however they are so fast to grow when there is much more light we don’t usually do ours until Easter as we have no room for them to grow
TIPS
When growing edible flowers indoors, place seeds in a very bright window or under grow lights to ensure enough light for healthy growth.
Avoid overwatering, as seedlings are prone to rot in cold, low light conditions. Many edible flowers require light to germinate, so sow seeds on the surface unless the packet says otherwise.
Always label your pots, since germination can take several weeks.
Fruit & Nut Trees To Plant Outside In February
Still time in February for planting bare root fruit & nut trees while plants are dormant (as long as the ground isn’t frozen or waterlogged).
Apple trees: very hardy – ideal for Scotland
Pear trees
Plum trees
Cherry trees: choose cold hardy varieties
Hazel: great time to get some hazelnut trees into the ground
TIPS
When planting fruit trees or bushes, avoid working the ground if the soil is frozen or waterlogged, as this can damage roots and soil structure.
After planting, mulch well with compost, bark, leaves or well rotted manure to retain moisture, suppress weeds and protect roots from cold.
Young trees should be staked securely to prevent rock and wind rock during Winter gales, helping them establish strong root systems in their first year, make sure they are removed to allow them to form a stable trunk.
Fruit Bushes To Plant Outside In February
Raspberries: Summer or Autumn fruiting
Blackcurrants, Redcurrants & Whitecurrants
Gooseberries
Blueberries: needs acidic soil or ericaceous compost so take extra care when planting
Other options
Rhubarb crowns: great time to divide bigger ones you have or plant new crowns
TIPS
When planting fruit bushes, choose a site with good drainage and plenty of light, as most soft fruit dislikes sitting in wet soil. Plant during the dormant season whenever possible, setting bushes at the same depth they were grown previously and firming the soil gently around the roots to remove air pockets.
Water well after planting, even in cool weather, then apply a generous mulch or compost or well rotted manure to conserve moisture and improve soil structure.
Space bushes adequately to allow airflow, which helps reduce disease and prune according to the type of fruit to encourage strong, productive growth from the start. Take a look at: Raspberries: Monitoring, Recording, Pruning & Planting
Happy Gardening!
P.S Our Story book Vol 3 : Clayton’s Tiny Little Seeds: A Story of Autism and Sowing is a perfect time read to introduce sowing
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Katrina & Clayton and family live in East Ayrshire and share their daily life in the garden on instagram. They practice permaculture principles in the garden, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.
Clayton Completed The 2 Grow and Learn Courses with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society. He is Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated since 2018. Katrina & Peter hold their PDC & PDC PRO Permaculture Design Course from Oregon State University.
They featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens Ep23 2022 and returned in 2023 for an update, Katrina & Clayton are also columnists for ScotlandGrows Magazine, Guest Blog for Caledonian Horticulture as well as working with Gardeners’ World Magazine and many other brands.
They are also Author of the new Children’s Book Series: Clayton’s Garden Journey: Stories of Autism and Gardening. Topics on Growing, Harvesting, Sowing & Composting and 108 Page Weather and Seasons Weekly Gardening Record Book available on Amazon and Kindle.
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