February marks a significant transition in the Florida garden calendar, acting as a bridge between the cooler winter growing season and the onset of intense spring and summer heat. Managing varying temperatures is a unique challenge across the state, which is broadly divided into North, Central, and South zones based on frost risk and average heat accumulation. This month is the opportune time to finalize the planting of cool-season crops while simultaneously starting the seeds for warm-season vegetables that require a long growing period before the summer heat becomes oppressive. Strategic planting now ensures a continuous harvest and prepares the garden for the main spring push.
Vegetables and Cool-Weather Crops
February is an intense period for food gardeners, as the window for cool-season crops is closing in much of the state while the clock starts ticking for warm-season plantings. North Florida gardeners, located in the cooler zones, can continue to sow or transplant hardy cool-weather vegetables like Irish potatoes, cabbage, and lettuce. It is also the final chance to plant root crops such as carrots, beets, and radishes directly into the garden soil before temperatures consistently rise above their preferred range. The northern region should also start seeds indoors for long-season, heat-loving crops like tomatoes and peppers to get a head start on the spring season.
Central Florida is in a rapid state of transition, balancing the end of the cool season with the beginning of the warm season. Gardeners here should focus on fast-maturing cool crops like spinach and Swiss chard, which can be harvested quickly before they succumb to bolting in the rising warmth. This middle zone can begin direct seeding some earlier warm-season vegetables, including bush beans, corn, and summer squash, with a readiness to protect them from any unexpected late cold fronts. Warm-season staples like eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers should be started from seed indoors or transplanted outdoors later in the month if the threat of frost has passed.
In South Florida, the cool season is largely over, and the focus shifts almost entirely to main warm-season crops and even heat-tolerant tropical varieties. This zone should prioritize planting crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers now to ensure a harvest before the heavy summer rains and extreme heat arrive. Tropical vegetables, such as Seminole pumpkin, okra, and sweet potato slips, can be planted directly this month, as the climate rarely experiences damaging frost.
Herbs and Companion Plants
February is a transitional month for herbs, requiring gardeners to manage the final harvests of cool-weather varieties while preparing for the warm-season stalwarts. Cool-season herbs like cilantro and dill are nearing the end of their productive phase and should be harvested heavily, as the increasing light and warmth will quickly cause them to flower and turn bitter. Conversely, warm-season herbs, such as basil, are ideally started from seed indoors or planted as small transplants outdoors in the central and southern zones. Basil is a heat-loving herb that will thrive as temperatures climb and is an excellent companion plant.
Planting herbs strategically near vegetables provides benefits beyond the kitchen, a practice known as companion planting. Basil, when planted near tomatoes, is thought to improve the tomato’s flavor and can help repel pests like the tomato hornworm. Chives, which can be planted from divisions or transplants this month, are beneficial near carrots and tomatoes, as their onion scent helps deter various garden pests, including aphids and carrot flies. Marjoram and thyme are other good choices for February planting, thriving in the improving weather and acting as general companions that attract beneficial insects like bees and hoverflies. Mint is especially well-suited for container gardening to prevent its rapid spread.
Flowers and Ornamental Planting
February is a prime month for adding annuals and perennials to the landscape to ensure a robust display of color that lasts through the spring and into the summer. Gardeners should focus on planting annuals that are known for their heat tolerance, allowing them to withstand the intense Florida sun in the coming months. Popular choices include zinnias and marigolds, which are easily started from seed directly in the garden and will quickly provide vibrant blooms.
Planting petunias, often grown as cool-season annuals in the north, can still be done, but selecting heat-tolerant varieties is advisable for central and southern areas. Impatiens and snapdragons are also excellent annual selections, providing consistent color. North Florida gardeners must remain vigilant for potential late frosts that could damage tender new plantings. For more permanent landscape additions, February is a suitable time to plant perennial shrubs that will anchor the garden’s structure. Azaleas, known for their late winter and early spring flower display, and Panama rose, a shrub with pink clusters of flowers, are excellent choices for adding color to partially shaded areas. Planting these ornamentals now allows their root systems to establish before the peak summer heat arrives.