Blog: Fire up the propagator!
It’s the real start of the sowing season, at least if you have a propagator – here are the best seeds to sow in February. If you don’t have a heated propagator and a good light source (such as a grow light), don’t worry, these seeds can be sown next month as well. You may ask, why sow so early? Well, most of these seeds have Mediterranean or sub-tropical origins and need a long growing season in this country.
If you live in a much warmer climate than mine in North East England, by all means, try growing the aubergine, cape gooseberry, passion fruit, pepper, tomatillo and tomatoes outdoors in a sheltered place. However, I’m playing it safe and growing them under glass, in my conservatory and greenhouse. Planning ahead? Read about what to sow in early March.
Seeds to sow in February – Chillies need heat
You’ll notice three chillies, one of which, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, was sown in January (super-hot chillies need a really long growing season). They also need a lot of heat to germinate, and a grow light helps, so they don’t get leggy – giving them 12 hours of light a day makes a huge difference. The other two (Razzamatazz and Biquino Red) aren’t as hot, don’t need as much heat to germinate and are a much better choice for less experienced gardeners.
The only outdoor dwellers starting off this month are sweet peas, Pink Champagne and Blue Shift (they can be sown in January); rosemary for my new potted herb area (more on herbs) and Antirrhinum Chantilly Bronze (see more on half-hardy annuals).
As ever with plants and seeds, anything marked TRIAL has been given to me by a seed manufacturer to do just that – the others have been bought by me.
Ornamental plants
- Antirrhinum Chantilly Series, Chantilly Bronze (bronze/pink), Chiltern Seeds TRIAL
- Coleus Rainbow Mixture, Fioral
- Sweet pea Pink Champagne (pink/cream, 240cm), Chiltern Seeds TRIAL
- Sweet pea Blue Shift (blue, 2m), Chiltern Seeds TRIAL
Seeds to sow in February – Edible plants
- Aubergine Ophelia F1, dwarf shiny black fruits, Plant World Seeds
- Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), Les Doigts Verts
- Chilli Trinidad Moruga Scorpion (super-hot, SHU up to 3,000,000), Plant World Seeds
- Chilli Razzamatazz, rainbow colours, dwarf, medium hot, Mr Fothergill’s TRIAL
- Chilli Biquino Red, hot but smoky flavour, Johnsons TRIAL
- Maracuja Mix (Mixed passion fruit), I have no clue who produced these seeds, but they’re from Portugal!
- Pepper Almapaprika (Heritage, original paprika pepper), Rob Smith Range, Dobies
- Rosemary, Jekka’s Herbs, Johnsons TRIAL
- Tomatillo Large Purple/Green, The Real Seed Catalogue
- Tomato Noire de Crimee (Heritage, Crimean Black, cordon, red/brown, 250g fruits), Les Doigts Verts
- Tomato Orange Queen (Heritage beefsteak, cordon, orange/yellow, 120-180g fruits), Les Doigts Verts
- Tomato Yellow Pear Shaped, (yellow and pear-shaped, 20g fruits), Casa Cesar Santos
