What to grow on your balcony or terrace in February?
In February, the days are getting longer, the sun is shining and the weather is getting milder. But be careful not to start sowing and planting too early, as temperatures can still be very cold in February!
👉 Do you live in the city and want to start your own vegetable garden? Discover our composting kitchen garden, where you can grow herbs and vegetables using your own waste!
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Preparing your balcony for spring
In February, there's still time to plan the year's plantings, if you haven't already done so!
- Prepare your sowing and planting calendar. Sort and order your seeds.
- Clean up! Wash your pots and planters with black soap before the first spring plantings, to prevent any disease.
- Identify plants that need repotting in larger pots in spring.
You can also start your own composter! If you don't have a lot of space, an apartment composter is an ideal alternative.
Beware, temperatures remain cool in February. Watch out for frost.
- Protect your pottery from the damaging effects of frost, which can cause cracks in terracotta and enamel.
- Maintain protective covers, such as winter sails, around your planters and containers.
- Check the drainage of your pots and remove any excess water from the saucers.
Find out more about frost protection in our article "Protecting plants from frost"!
Sowing, planting and harvesting in February on my balcony
What can you grow on your balcony or terrace in February? Here are some ideas for growing herbs, vegetables and flowers in pots!
What to plant in February?
In February, you can plant shallot, onion and garlic bulbs, as well as rhubarb and strawberry plants. You can grow them in pots, window boxes or tubs on your balcony!
- Shallots and onions: Plant bulbs 2 cm deep in light soil. Space each bulb 10-15 cm apart.
- Garlic: Plant garlic so that the bulb tips are visible. Space bulbs 10 to 12 cm apart. Find a bright spot. Water regularly, but do not drown. Plant them every 12 to 15 cm, 25 cm apart. It will take 8 to 10 months to grow.
- Rhubarb: Rhubarb needs space! Plant it in a minimum 40L pot. As it likes rich, fresh soil, prepare a mixture of soil and compost. Rhubarb appreciates shade and regular watering.
- Strawberry plants: plant strawberry plants in a sunny spot, preferably in rich, cool, low-limestone soil.
February is the perfect time to embellish your balcony with flowers! Plant ranunculus, impatiens, begonias or geraniums.
What to sow in February
In February, you can sow radishes, peas, broad beans, turnips and lettuces!
- Radish (sowing under cover): space seeds 3 cm apart. Be careful, seeds germinate quickly: space out your sowings to spread out your harvests. Don't sow all your seeds at once!
- Peas: Sow pea seeds 5 cm deep, 25 cm apart. Harvest in May.
- Broad beans: Sow broad bean seeds 4 cm deep, 8-10 cm apart, in warmed soil. Plant two seeds in a 2 to 3-liter pot, at least 18 cm in diameter and 20 cm deep, and harvest in June.
- Turnips: Don't bury the seeds too deeply - they should barely be covered. Water regularly. As it's the turnip root that we eat, it must have enough space to develop properly. Sow directly in a pot at least 30 cm deep, as turnips don't like to be transplanted. Harvest 2 to 3 months after sowing.
- Salads (sowing under cover): In February, the recommended varieties are watercress, rocket, sucrine and red lettuce. Place seeds 1 cm apart. Plant individually in pots, or several plants in window boxes or tubs. The first leaves can be harvested after 5 to 6 weeks.
In mild climates (such as around the Mediterranean and in the large south-western quarter), you can also sow spring spinach!
On the aromatic side, you can sow parsley, tarragon, lemon balm, agastache or white chives.
What to harvest in February
In February, treat yourself to winter vegetables!
For delicious salads, pick lettuce and lamb's lettuce. Harvest the whole plant, or leaf by leaf, as required.
Harvest cabbages, spinach, lettuces, parsnips and leeks. You'll love them in soups and gratins!
Enjoy your meal!
