Zone 5B — February
What to Plant in February in Zone 5B
February in Zone 5B:
7 crops to start indoors,
0 to plant or direct sow outside, and
0 entering harvest window.
Last frost averages May 4. Reference city: Des Moines, IA.
7 Start Indoors
0 Plant Outside
0 Harvest
Start Indoors in February
| Plant | Type | Start Indoors | Transplant Outside | Harvest Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Richard Leek | allium | Feb 2 | Apr 6 | Jun 20 |
| Leek | allium | Feb 2 | Apr 6 | Jul 15 – Aug 14 |
| Viola and pansy edible flowers | flower | Feb 9 | Apr 20 | Jun 19 – Jun 29 |
| Alexandria Alpine Strawberry | berry | Feb 23 | May 11 | Perennial — see plant page |
| Brilliant Celeriac | root vegetable | Feb 16 | May 4 | Aug 22 – Sep 1 |
| Golden Celery | vegetable | Feb 23 | May 11 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 |
| Tendercrisp Celery | vegetable | Feb 23 | May 11 | Aug 9 – Aug 24 |
Plant Outside in February
Nothing to plant or sow outside in February for Zone 5B.
Next window: March — 90 varieties, including All Year Round Lettuce, America Spinach, Astro Arugula.
Harvest in February
Nothing to harvest in February for Zone 5B.
Next window: April — 3 varieties, including Astro Arugula, Mesclun Mix, Tatsoi.
Key Tasks for February in Zone 5B
- 1 Start 7 varieties indoors this month under grow lights or in a sunny south-facing window. Use a seed-starting mix and bottom heat (70–75°F) for best germination rates.
- 2 Check soil moisture before watering — stick a finger 2 inches into the soil. Water only when the soil is dry at that depth. Consistent moisture is more important than frequency.
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