February in the garden.

What to plant in February

• Tomato Solanum lycopersicum · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Six to eight weeks under lights is all a tomato needs before it goes out. Pot on as soon as the first true leaves appear so the roots never sit still.

• Sweet Pea Lathyrus odoratus · climber · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Sow sweet peas into deep pots now and pinch the tips once they have three pairs of leaves. Early sown plants climb harder and keep flowering weeks longer.

• Parsley Petroselinum crispum · herb · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Parsley is famously slow to germinate. Soak the seed for a few hours, keep it warm, and give it three weeks before you decide anything has gone wrong.

• White Mustard Sinapis alba · herb · start indoors · zones 1 to 13

  Scatter the seed thickly on damp kitchen paper and you have hot little leaves in a week. It is the classic windowsill crop for a month when nothing outside is moving.

• Winter Honeysuckle Lonicera fragrantissima · shrub · plant out · zones 4 to 8

  Small cream flowers on bare twigs give off a lemony scent you can smell from several steps away. Plant it near a path or a door where the scent will not go to waste.

• Rhubarb Rheum rhabarbarum · vegetable · plant out · zones 3 to 8

  Plant a dormant crown with the buds just proud of the soil. Resist picking anything in the first year and it will feed you for a decade after that.

• Chayote Sechium edule · vegetable · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

  Plant a whole sprouting fruit on its side with the fat end buried and the sprout showing. One vine will cover a pergola and give you fruit for months.

• Passion Fruit Passiflora edulis · climber · plant out · zones 9 to 13

  Give passion fruit a strong frame and free draining soil, because it is heavy when loaded and hates sitting wet. Expect the first real crop in its second year.

• Mango Mangifera indica · tree · plant out · zones 10 to 13

  Plant a grafted mango at the end of the dry season so it roots in before the heavy rain. Keep the graft union well above the soil line and mulch wide, not deep.

• Dahlia Dahlia pinnata · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 5 to 10

  Start tubers in pots under cover now and you gain a month of flowering. Water sparingly until shoots appear, because a wet dormant tuber simply rots.

• Tuberous Begonia Begonia boliviensis · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 4 to 11

  Set the tubers hollow side up, barely covered, somewhere warm and bright. Started now they will be in full flower by the time the baskets go outside.

• Persian buttercup Ranunculus asiaticus · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 6 to 11

  Soak the claw shaped corms for a few hours, then plant them claws down. Each one gives you armfuls of tissue paper flowers that last a fortnight in a vase.

• Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum · shrub · plant out · zones 3 to 8

  Blueberries need acid soil, so use ericaceous compost and rainwater rather than tap water. Plant two different varieties near each other for a noticeably heavier crop.

• Globe Artichoke Cynara cardunculus · vegetable · start indoors · zones 1 to 9

  Sown now under cover, artichokes are big enough to crop in their first summer. Give each plant a square meter, because they turn into silver fountains of leaf.

• Lemon Citrus limon · tree · plant out · zones 9 to 11

  Plant while growth is still slow so the roots settle before the heat. Lemons want free draining soil and steady feeding, and they sulk badly if they dry right out.

• Basil Ocimum basilicum · herb · start indoors · zones 1 to 13

  Basil will not tolerate cold at any stage, so keep it indoors and warm until nights are reliably mild. Pinch the growing tip early and often to build a bushy plant.

• Turmeric Curcuma longa · herb · plant bulbs · zones 9 to 13

  Lay the rhizomes flat about five centimeters deep with the buds facing up. They sulk in cold soil, so wait for warmth and then keep them steadily moist.

• Iceland Poppy Papaver nudicaule · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 7

  Scatter the seed straight onto frosty ground and let the freeze and thaw work it in. It is one of the few things you can sow outdoors while winter still has hold.

• Red Osier Dogwood Cornus sericea · shrub · plant out · zones 2 to 8

  The young stems are the point, so plant it now and cut a third of the oldest wood down each year. That yearly cut is what keeps the winter color bright red.

In flower in February

• Beach naupaka Scaevola taccada

  Year round in tropical climates · white

• Beggarticks Bidens alba

  Year round in warm climates · white, yellow

• Cape Aloe Aloe ferox

  Mid winter to early spring · orange, red, yellow

• Chinese witch hazel Hamamelis mollis

  Late winter to early spring · yellow

• Climbing Aloe Aloiampelos ciliaris

  Late winter to early spring · orange, red

• Florist's cyclamen Cyclamen persicum

  Late autumn to early spring · pink, white, red, purple

• Heath Erica

  Late winter to early spring · pink, white, purple

• Laurustinus Viburnum tinus

  Late winter to mid spring · white, pink

• Mountain Aloe Aloe marlothii

  Mid winter to early spring · orange, red, yellow

• Papaya Carica papaya

  Year round in tropical climates · white, yellow

• Paperwhite Narcissus Narcissus papyraceus

  Mid winter to early spring · white

• Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis

  Late winter to early spring · white

• Trumpet tree Cecropia peltata

  Year round · green, white

• Wintersweet Chimonanthus praecox

  Mid winter to early spring · yellow, red

• Acai palm Euterpe oleracea

  Year round in tropical climates · white, cream

• African oil palm Elaeis guineensis

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, cream

• African Violet Streptocarpus ionanthus

  Year round with proper care · purple, violet, white, pink

• Anthurium Anthurium andraeanum

  Year round under ideal conditions · red, pink, white, salmon

• Banana Musa × paradisiaca

  Year round in tropical climates · purple, yellow

• Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, green

• Cacao Theobroma cacao

  Year round in optimal conditions · white, pink

• Camellia

  Late autumn to early spring · white, pink, red

• Cannonball tree Couroupita guianensis

  Year round in tropical climates · pink, red, yellow

• Cape honeysuckle Tecoma capensis

  Late summer to winter · orange, red, yellow

• Citrus

  Late winter to early spring · white

• Coast Banksia Banksia integrifolia

  Throughout the year, peaking in autumn and winter. · pale yellow

• Coconut Palm Cocos nucifera

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, cream

• Common groundsel Senecio vulgaris

  Year round in mild climates · yellow

• Crown of Thorns Euphorbia milii

  Year round in warm climates · red, pink, yellow, white

• Cupuacu Theobroma grandiflorum

  Mainly in the dry season (about July to December in the native range) · dark red, maroon

• Dwarf banana Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

  Year round in tropical climates · purple, yellow

• Fish poison tree Barringtonia asiatica

  Year round with peaks in spring and summer · white, pink

• Flame vine Pyrostegia venusta

  Late winter to early spring · orange, reddish orange

• Flamingo Flower Anthurium

  Year round under ideal conditions · red, pink, white, green

• Fukien Tea Carmona retusa

  Intermittent throughout the year · white

• Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha

  Late winter to spring · yellow, gold

• Hot lips Palicourea elata

  Winter to spring · white, yellow

• Indian hawthorn Rhaphiolepis indica

  Late winter to mid spring · white, pink

• Jungle Geranium Ixora coccinea

  Year round in warm climates · red, orange, yellow

• Kalanchoe

  Late winter to spring · red, pink, orange, yellow, white

• Lemon Citrus limon

  Intermittent throughout the year · white, purple

• Lemon scented gum Corymbia citriodora

  Winter to spring · white, cream

• Lenten rose Helleborus orientalis

  Late winter to mid spring · white, pink, purple, green

• Loquat Eriobotrya japonica

  Autumn to early winter · white, pale pink

• Macadamia nut Macadamia integrifolia

  Late winter to spring · white, cream, pink

• Monkey face orchid Dracula simia

  Year round · brown, orange, yellow

• Moth orchid Phalaenopsis amabilis

  Winter to spring · white, yellow

• Nipa palm Nypa fruticans

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, brown

• Poinsettia Euphorbia pulcherrima

  Late autumn to winter · yellow, red

• Portia tree Thespesia populnea

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, maroon

• Prickly Aloe Aloe aculeata

  Mid winter to early spring · yellow, orange

• Quiver Tree Aloidendron dichotomum

  Mid winter · yellow

• Red mangrove Rhizophora mangle

  Throughout the year · pale yellow, white

• Red Maple Acer rubrum

  Late winter to early spring · red, yellow

• Sandalwood Santalum album

  Throughout the year · yellow, red, purple

• Sea hibiscus Talipariti tiliaceum

  Year round in tropical climates · yellow, red

• Shiny bush Peperomia pellucida

  Year round in tropical conditions · white, green

• Skunk cabbage Symplocarpus foetidus

  Late winter to early spring · maroon, yellow, green

• Soap Aloe Aloe maculata

  Late winter to spring · orange, red, yellow

• Sodom Apple Calotropis procera

  Year round in warm climates · white, purple

• Soursop Annona muricata

  Throughout the year · yellow, green

• Starfruit Averrhoa carambola

  Intermittent throughout the year · pink, lavender

• Sweet box Sarcococca confusa

  Mid winter to early spring · white, cream

• Sweet violet Viola odorata

  Late winter to mid spring · violet, white

• Tamanu Calophyllum inophyllum

  Intermittent throughout the year · white

• Turk's cap Malvaviscus arboreus

  Year round in warm climates · red

• Turkey berry Solanum torvum

  Year round in tropical climates · white

• Winter Heath Erica carnea

  Late winter to mid spring · pink, white, purple

In fruit in February

• American holly Ilex opaca

  Late autumn to winter

• Brazil nut Bertholletia excelsa

  Year round, peaking in rainy season

• English Ivy Hedera helix

  Late winter

• Heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica

  Autumn to winter

• Papaya Carica papaya

  Year round · culinary fruit

• Trumpet tree Cecropia peltata

  Year round

• Winterberry Ilex verticillata

  Autumn to winter

• Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens

  Autumn to winter

• Acai palm Euterpe oleracea

  Year round · culinary fruit pulp

• Acerola Malpighia emarginata

  Year round in warm climates · fruit production

• African oil palm Elaeis guineensis

  Year round

• Banana Musa × paradisiaca

  Year round · culinary

• Beach naupaka Scaevola taccada

  Year round

• Beggarticks Bidens alba

  year round

• Breadfruit Artocarpus altilis

  Year round · culinary staple

• Cacao Theobroma cacao

  Year round · culinary

• Cannonball tree Couroupita guianensis

  Year round

• Coco de mer Lodoicea maldivica

  Year round

• Coconut Palm Cocos nucifera

  Year round

• Dwarf banana Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

  Year round · culinary

• Key lime Citrus aurantiifolia

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary flavoring

• Lemon Citrus limon

  Year round · culinary flavoring

• Nipa palm Nypa fruticans

  Year round

• Nutmeg Myristica fragrans

  Year round · culinary spice

• Portia tree Thespesia populnea

  Year round

• Red mangrove Rhizophora mangle

  Year round

• Screw pine Pandanus tectorius

  Year round · edible fruit

• Sea almond Terminalia catappa

  Year round in tropics · edible nuts

• Snake fruit Salacca zalacca

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary fruit

• Soursop Annona muricata

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary fruit

• Star apple Chrysophyllum cainito

  Late winter to spring · edible fruit

• Starfruit Averrhoa carambola

  Year round in tropical climates · culinary fruit

• Tamanu Calophyllum inophyllum

  Year round

• Tamarind Tamarindus indica

  Winter · culinary flavoring

• Toyon Heteromeles arbutifolia

  Late autumn to winter

• Turkey berry Solanum torvum

  Year round · culinary

• Velvet tree Miconia calvescens

  Year round

February south of the equator

The same month, six months on in the seasons: what to plant in February in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the southern half of South America.

• Winter Rye Secale cereale · grass · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  The toughest cover crop there is, germinating in soil far too cold for anything else. Sow it over an empty bed now and dig it in as green manure before it flowers.

• Horned Violet Viola cornuta · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  Sow now for plants that overwinter small and then flower for months on end. It is longer lived and far tougher than the big bedding pansies.

• Salad Burnet Poterium sanguisorba · herb · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  The young leaves taste faintly of cucumber and the plant stays green under snow. Sow it now in a sunny corner and cut the flower stems off to keep the leaves soft.

• Pea Lathyrus oleraceus · vegetable · sow direct · zones 6 to 10

  A late sowing gives you pods before the cold shuts things down, and mice are less of a problem now. Give them twiggy sticks to climb the moment the tendrils appear.

• Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium · herb · sow direct · zones 3 to 10

  Chervil hates heat and loves the shortening days, so this is its season. Sow it in light shade and pick it young, because the aniseed flavor fades as leaves age.

• Ivy-leaved cyclamen Cyclamen hederifolium · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 5 to 9

  Plant the flat tubers shallow under trees where nothing else will grow. Flowers come first on bare stems, then the marbled leaves carpet the ground all winter.

• Jícama Pachyrhizus erosus · vegetable · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

  The crisp white root keeps for months and is eaten raw like an apple. Everything above ground is toxic, so the pods and leaves stay out of the kitchen.

• Yam Dioscorea alata · vegetable · plant bulbs · zones 9 to 13

  Plant setts into deep loose mounds and give the vine a tall pole to climb. It is a long crop, needing eight months or more, but the tubers store extremely well.

• Luffa Luffa aegyptiaca · climber · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

  Eat the fruit young and tender, or leave it on the vine to dry into a bath sponge. It needs a long hot run and a very strong frame to carry the weight.

• Garden sorrel Rumex acetosa · vegetable · sow direct · zones 3 to 9

  Sharp lemony leaves from one of the first plants up in spring and one of the last to give in. Cut the flower stems off as they rise to keep the leaves tender.

• Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  Sow it into thin, poor ground now and let the winter do the rest. Rich soil gives you soft floppy plants, while gravel and neglect give you a meadow.

• Ice Plant Hylotelephium spectabile · flower · plant out · zones 3 to 9

  Late flat flower heads that butterflies cover in the last warm weeks. Leave the dead heads standing all winter, because they look wonderful under frost.

• Saffron Crocus Crocus sativus · bulb · plant bulbs · zones 6 to 10

  Plant the corms deep in the sharpest drainage you have and they flower within weeks. Each flower gives three red threads, so plant far more than feels sensible.

• Thyme Thymus vulgaris · herb · plant out · zones 4 to 9

  Plant it now so the roots settle before winter, and set it high in gritty soil. Thyme rots in damp ground far more readily than it freezes in cold ground.

• Olive tree Olea europaea · tree · plant out · zones 8 to 11

  Plant into stony free draining soil in the most open sunny spot you have. It needs a cool spell in winter to set fruit, so a frost free but chilly site is ideal.

• Starfruit Averrhoa carambola · tree · plant out · zones 10 to 13

  A neat tree that stays small enough for a courtyard and crops twice a year. Shelter it from wind, because the branches are brittle and the fruit bruises easily.

• Vetiver Chrysopogon zizanioides · grass · plant out · zones 9 to 13

  Planted in a line across a slope it stops soil washing away, because the roots go down three meters. It is also the source of the scent used in perfume.

• Ashwagandha Withania somnifera · herb · sow direct · zones 9 to 13

  A dryland shrub that wants sandy soil, full sun and very little water. The roots are lifted after about seven months, once the leaves start to yellow.

• Lacy Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 10

  Sow it over any bare ground as a green manure and the bees will thank you first. Dig it in before it sets seed and it feeds the soil as well as the insects.

• European columbine Aquilegia vulgaris · flower · sow direct · zones 1 to 9

  The seed needs a cold spell, so sowing outdoors now does the job for you. It crosses freely with itself, so expect surprises in the second year and enjoy them.

• Siberian tea Bergenia crassifolia · flower · plant out · zones 2 to 8

  Leathery evergreen leaves that turn red in cold weather, on a plant that copes with dry shade. Plant it now and it will be settled before the ground freezes.

• Loquat Rhaphiolepis bibas · tree · plant out · zones 8 to 11

  It flowers in the cold months and fruits before almost anything else. Give it shelter, because a hard frost while it is in flower costs you the whole crop.

Other months

• January
• March
• April
• May
• June
• July
• August
• September
• October
• November
• December