What to plant in February — zone 6b
Zone 6b averages its last spring frost around April 25 and its first fall frost around October 15. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.
Dormant care
- Prune dormant fruit treesaround Feb 7
Prune apples, pears and peaches while fully dormant — open the center, remove crossing wood.
- Check season-extension geararound Feb 28
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
Start indoors
- Start onions and leeks indoorsaround Feb 14
Alliums need 10-12 weeks under lights before they go out — the earliest sowing of the year.
- Onionaround Feb 14
10 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Match day-length to your latitude — long-day north of 37°, short-day south.
- Pepperaround Feb 28
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Feb 28
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Feb 28
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Feb 28
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Feb 28
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Feb 28
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (04-25). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
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