What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (2024)

//byRick//12 Comments

Are you ready to start gardening? Me too! Today I’ll be sharing my guide for what to plant in February for zones 7 and 8!

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (1)

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In this Article…

  • What is my Garden Zone?
  • Last Frost Date
  • What to plant in February? Seeds to start indoors
  • What to plant outside in February?

What is my Garden Zone?

This guide is geared specifically for those of you who are in zones 7 & 8, so if you’re not in zones 7 or 8, check out these posts:

  • What to Plant in February (zones 3-7)

Not sure what your garden zone is? Follow this link to find out!

Frost Dates

The first thing I want to talk about today is frost dates. It’s important to know when the last frost date is in your area (especially when you’re gardening in February) so that you can time when to start seeds indoors and outdoors. This will differ depending on if you are planting warm or cool-season crops.

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (2)
  • Warm-season crops can be started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date.
  • Cool-season crops can be started indoors 10-12 weeks before the last frost date.
  • Cool-season crops can be started outdoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date.

It’s important to keep the last frost date in mind so that you can time when you plant!

Here’s a video I filmed on this month’s planting guide:

What to Plant in February: Seeds you can start indoors

Before we get started with our list of what to plant in February, here are a couple of resources for those of you who have never started seeds indoors before. It can seem overwhelming at first, but I promise it’s not too difficult!

Lettuce

We love lettuce around here, so I try to get lettuce started as soon as I can! I recommend that you start leafy varieties in February instead of head lettuce. Leafy varieties tend to withstand colder temperatures better.

Peppers

You can start peppers indoors approximately 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. If you’re in zones 7 & 8 that should put you starting them indoors in February.

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (4)

Peppers are some of my favorite plants to grow, so I like to get seedlings started as soon as I can. We actually use pepper plants as part of the landscaping in our front flower bed! Pepper plants are pretty enough to go in a flowerbed, and it also saves us space in our garden for other plants!

Tomatoes

Approximately 6 weeks before the last frost date in your area, you can start tomatoes indoors!! That means in zones 7 & 8 you should be able to start tomatoes in mid to late February.

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (5)

We love tomatoes, so they’re my favorite thing on this “what to plant in February” list. Check out my top 10 tips for growing tomatoes, so that you can have a great harvest this year!

Onions

If you didn’t get onions started indoors in January, it’s not too late to start them! You will want to start onion seedlings early because they need a solid 8 weeks or more to get to transplanting size.

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (6)

Celery

You’ll need to get celery started indoors this month! Celery needs 140-150 days of cool weather to grow, so you’ll need to get it started ASAP in zones 7 & 8!

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (7)

Flowers

Don’t forget about getting flowers started! You can start certain types of flowers now so that they’ll be ready for your flower beds in late spring or early summer!

Here are a few of my favorite flowers that you can start indoors now:

  • Zinnias
  • Marigolds
  • Geraniums
What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (8)

What to Plant in February: Plants you can start outdoors

There are some plants that you will be able to start outdoors in February! Remember to use your best judgment with this. If it’s been a harsh winter, you may need to hold off on planting, to give your plants their best shot.

As Starts:

You can plant these plants as starts in February:

  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Kale
    • Kale tastes better when it’s grown in cooler weather. It’s one of my favorite spring plants to grow in my garden!
  • Onions
What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (9)

As Seeds:

All of these plants can be started in February as seeds! Remember to use your best judgment! You may need to wait for a few weeks if it’s been a particularly cold or wet winter.

  • Spinach
  • Lettuces
    • You’ll want to choose leaf lettuces and hardier varieties
  • Asian greens
    • Give tatsoi, mizuna or Bok Choy a try this year! They do great in the spring and are frost tolerant!
  • Swiss Chard
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Turnips
  • Radishes
  • Peas
What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (10)

As a reminder, this “What to Plant in February” guide is for those of you who are living in zones 7 & 8. Happy Gardening!

If you are looking for seeds check out Honest Seed Co! You can find their website here: Honest Seed Co.

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (11)
What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (12)

About Rick

Hi I'm Rick. And I am a gardening fanatic! I love growing organic fruits and vegetables in my backyard garden. And I love teaching others how to grow their own organic food!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (25)Laura Lundgren

    I just found your website and thought this may be a good site for me to learn what to plant when etc. However, I don’t see where to find what zone you live in. Is there a chart or map somewhere to figure out what zone you live in?

    Reply

    • What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (26)Rick

      I live in zone 6. Here’s a link to an article I wrote that will help you find yours.
      https://ourstoneyacres.com/what-is-my-garden-zone

      Reply

      • What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (27)Elizabeth

        This was so helpful for me. Thanks a bunch! I know my zone now… it’s 8a. Prayerfully this year will be an exciting year for me and my garden outside. Last year was so very hot and muggy that I got nothing. However, reading and studying about how to water deeply, I plan on doing much better this year 🙂 Blessings to you and your family.

        Reply

  2. What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (28)Gloria crespin

    Hello there,I was wondering if you could tell me what zone I am in. I looked in map says zone 7 but other maps say different. I live in Woodbridge VA.

    Reply

    • What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (29)Rick

      Gloria,
      The maps are sometimes a bit hard to read. Go to this article and there is a link out to the USDA site. On that site you can put your zip code in and it will narrow it down for you.
      https://ourstoneyacres.com/what-is-my-garden-zone

      Reply

  3. What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (30)Louise G Wesson

    Dear Rick,
    This is wonderful! I have only this morning found your site; and it is giving me so much that I either had been hunting for unsuccessfully, or else hadn’t even known to think about. In putting your January-February advice to work in my garden notes, I have come to realize that my custom of starting tomatoes around the equinox, peppers some 2 weeks earlier is way out of date–that when our zone changed some 20? years ago from 6 to 7a, I didn’t stop to think that the start date ought to change as well. So, thanks!
    I have been gardening for 50 years, grew up with a sizeable organic back yard vegetable garden (western Mass.) in the 50’s–I remember the stinky pile of manure my father had had dumped onto our driveway! Later I grew to love the smell of cattle manure whenever in a cattle shed (Eastern States Exposition annually).
    Having retired in January from a twenty year stint as a public school teacher (following a 23-year ‘career’ as housewife and mother) I am free again to be a committed gardener. Last winter was my first successful effort with low hoops; with four 100 sq ft beds under Reemay (shortly to get their winter plastic—–I check the 10-day forecast for this) currently I am monitoring the daily size increase of my purple broccoli and various cabbage cultivars. Turnip, lettuce, bok choys, cauliflower–peas still have blossoms but the pollinators gave up two months ago although I kept the Reemay open during day.
    My vegetable garden here in eastern Montgomery Cty PA is a square 55′ on a side; there are tree and small fruits outside that area. I have also embarked on gardening on our small Maine coastal island; a clearing in the woods having been provided by a 2018 storm–that spot is about 2100 sq ft. I set out strawberries (runners from my home garden) in early fall; did various (culture specific) soil preparations for blueberries, asparagus, raspberries, pome, and stone fruits to go in this spring.
    FYI–I have found that Penn State Extension does an unimpressive job on soil testing–without even an option for the organic grower, so I now direct all my soil testing, for both Maine and PA gardens, to Univ. of Maine. I actually have my Penn State tests from 30 years ago by way of comparison–more generous with info back then. I get about 4 times the information from Maine at about the same cost as PA.
    Again, I am so grateful for the work you have done to create and maintain this site.
    Yours most sincerely,
    Louise Wesson

    Reply

    • What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (31)Rick

      Thanks Louise!!

      Reply

  4. What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (32)Jeannie

    Hi Rick! I have started some seeds indoors and most have germinated but now I find the soil has what I assume is white mildew growing on top of it. I’m sure I overwatered at some point. My question is, are the seedlings still okay to use in the garden or should they be disposed of? Thanks for any guidance you can give on this!

    Reply

    • What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (33)Rick

      They should still be fine to use in the garden but you do need to get that issue dealt with. Try adding a fan to your set up that blows over your seedlings, that should keep that upper layer of soil dryer and reduce the mold.

      Reply

  5. What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (34)Geri Reski

    I am already harvesting radish from my mini greenhouse and a winter lettuce from the big greenhouse. Just finished planting 58 bulb onion seedlings in outdoor bins. I buy seedlings from Dixondale Farms in TX…they arrive in dormant state so no worries that I had to wait almost a full month to plant…the soil was frozen! Am in Pine, AZ—zone 7B.

    Reply

  6. What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (35)Dana

    This posted on my Pinterest feed exactly when I was thinking about it! Good timing! I’ve had success with carrots, but I would like to try some others vegetables. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

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What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres (2024)

FAQs

What to plant in February-Zones 7 & 8 - Our Stoney Acres? ›

Peppers. You can start peppers indoors approximately 8 weeks before the last frost date in your area. If you're in zones 7 & 8 that should put you starting them indoors in February. Peppers are some of my favorite plants to grow, so I like to get seedlings started as soon as I can.

What grows best in zones 8a and 8b? ›

  • Anemone. Daffodils. Dutch Iris. Lilies. Tulips.
  • Lilies.
  • Peonies. Red Hot Poker. Roses.
  • Hellebores. Hostas.

Can I start gardening in February? ›

In some warmer locations, you can begin sowing your vegetable seeds outdoors. For cooler areas, February is a great time to sow your tomatoes and peppers. You should start drawing out your garden for all the vegetables you want to grow.

Can you start tomato seeds in February? ›

It is in February that they begin to prepare tomato seeds. They are taken out of the bags and spread in salted water. Those seeds that begin to float can be used for planting.

What states are in the hardiness zone 7? ›

From east to west, it begins in small areas of southern Connecticut. It then stretches south through Virginia, east through Tennessee and northern Arkansas, and southwest through the Texas panhandle and New Mexico, then narrows and winds north through Nevada, California, Oregon, and Washington.

What fruit grow best in zone 8a? ›

However, because of the mild winters, zone 8 fruit trees also include some warmer climate and tropical fruits like:
  • Grapefruit.
  • Bananas.
  • Figs.
  • Lemons.
  • Limequat.
  • Tangerines.
  • Kumquats.
  • Jujubes.
Apr 13, 2021

What is the best vegetable to grow in February? ›

By sowing seeds early on in the year, you can be enjoying tasty crops for a larger part of the year. While Brussels sprouts, leeks, onions and spinach can all be sown undercover. It's also a good idea to start off Beans & Peas indoors this month for more early crops!

Is February too late for winter sowing? ›

You can do it in December and January too. Most seeds that require stratification need several months of cold, moist conditions to break dormancy. Winter sowing in early to mid-February is early enough in my zone 6a climate. Last winter I sowed butterfly weed and sea holly.

What vegetables can you plant in January and February? ›

Sow beets, caraway, celery, carrots, chard, chervil, chives, collards, cilantro (coriander), dill, endive, fennel, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuces, mustards, green onions, bulb onion sets, flat-leafed parsley, peas, white potatoes, radishes, shallots, spinaches, and turnips.

When to start seeds in zone 8b? ›

March is the month when Zone 8 has its average last frost. After the last frost date, it is generally considered safe to plant tender seedlings outdoors. Last frost dates are estimates, so while you can anticipate the last frost, your best bet is to rely on the weather forecast or local recommendations!

Is February too early to start seedlings? ›

If you can't wait to sink your hands into the dirt, don't wait any longer—at this point, you can begin planting some of your favorite veggies! There are plenty of seeds that you can start indoors in February, and even a few that you can direct-sow outdoors.

When to plant tomatoes in zone 6? ›

A good target date for transplant-ready tomato plants is 6 weeks ahead of the usual last-frost date. In Zone 6, for example, that means planting out at the beginning of April instead of mid-May.

When to plant tomatoes in zone 7? ›

Peppers – Plant seeds indoors in mid to late February, transplant in mid to late April. Pumpkins – Plant seeds outdoors in early May. Spinach – Plant seeds indoors in early February; transplant in early March. Tomatoes – Plant seeds indoors in early March; transplant in late April or early May.

When to start seeds in zone 7? ›

Zone 7 has a medium length growing season. In general, it lasts from April to November. If you live in zone 7, we recommend starting seeds indoors before the first frost date.

How cold is too cold for tomato seeds? ›

Another temperature to keep in mind: tomato plants will not survive in temperatures below 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and will not thrive at temperatures below 50 degrees. Gardeners can use a frost date calendar to note their region's average dates of last frost in spring and first frost in fall.

What does zone 8a mean? ›

Zone 8's minimum average temperatures, like the other USDA zones, are ten degrees warmer than those of Zone 7. It's also divided into two subzones: 8a and 8b. The minimum average temperature of Zone 8a is 10-15° Fahrenheit, and the minimum average temperature of Zone 8b is 15-20° Fahrenheit.

Where is zone 8b in the US? ›

Zone 8b has a low temperature of 15 to 20 Fahrenheit and -6.7 to -9.4 Celsius, spanning all the way across the US; from coastal areas of the northwest and California through central Arizona and southern Texas, to across south Georgia and north Florida, the southern interior region of southeast Australia, southern ...

What herbs are hardy in zone 8b? ›

Marjoram – A perennial in zone 8, marjoram is like a sweeter, more floral tasting version of oregano. Basil – An extremely popular culinary herb, basil is an annual that needs rich, moist soil and plenty of fertilizer. Mint – Most varieties are suited to zone 8.

When to plant potatoes in zone 8b? ›

Zone 8 potato growing usually commences in early spring, but you can also plant in midsummer for a fall crop. Potatoes will produce more tubers in nice, loose sand or silt. If your soil is heavy or has deep clay components, lighten it with compost and some organic grit.

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