What to plant in February — zone 8a
Zone 8a averages its last spring frost around March 30 and its first fall frost around November 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
- Check season-extension geararound Feb 2
Patch row cover, cold frames and hoops now so a late freeze can't catch you unprepared.
- Pre-sprout seed potatoesaround Feb 16
Chit potatoes in a bright, cool spot for 2 weeks — sprouted pieces jump ahead once planted.
Start indoors
- Pepperaround Feb 2
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Pinch first flowers on transplants so the plant invests in roots before setting fruit.
- Parsleyaround Feb 2
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Soak seeds 24 hrs before sowing. Cut outer stems and it comes back for years in mild zones.
- Chivesaround Feb 2
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Divide the clump every 3 years — one plant becomes six with no effort.
- Oreganoaround Feb 2
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Harvest just before flowering for the strongest flavor. Dries beautifully.
- Thymearound Feb 2
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Needs sharp drainage — plant in gravelly soil or a raised bed edge. Never wet feet.
- Sagearound Feb 2
8 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Prune hard in spring to prevent woody stems and keep the plant productive for 5+ years.
- Tomatoaround Feb 16
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Bury 2/3 of the transplant stem — roots form along the buried stem for a stronger plant.
- Kalearound Feb 16
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Fall crop sweetens after first frost — plan a July sowing for the best flavor.
- Broccoliaround Feb 16
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). After cutting the main head, side shoots keep coming for weeks — don't pull the plant.
- Basilaround Feb 16
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Pinch tips weekly. Once flowers open, leaves lose flavor — snip them fast.
- Basilaround Feb 16
6 weeks of indoor growth before your last frost (03-30). Pinch flower spikes the moment you see them — leaves stay sweet all season.
Transplant out
- Raspberryaround Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blueberryaround Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Blackberryaround Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Grapearound Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Applearound Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peararound Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Peacharound Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
- Rhubarbaround Feb 16
Goes out 6 weeks before last frost — it takes the cold.
Garden care
- Wake the bedsaround Feb 23
Turn in compost, cut down cover crops, and let the soil warm two weeks before the first sowing.
Direct sow
- Peaaround Feb 23
Soil is ready -5 weeks before last frost.
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