February Allotment Jobs

February weather can still be troublesome; especially in cooler locations so there is still very few vegetables you can sow directly. However, you can start to sow seeds this month indoors.  

We know you are keen to get going and there are plenty of jobs to get done on the allotment plot this February. 

You can still prune fruit tree and plant new ones, especially raspberry and canes. 

You can sow broad beans directly and garlic and shallots. 

To start your seeds, you can sow some early varieties of lettuce, carrots, and peas indoors. You can also sow tomatoes and chillies in a heated propagator. 
Depending on the variety and your location, you could try starting parsnips, but it could still be too early/cold. Parsnips are renowned for having a poor/long germination period so it might be worth trying a few. 

Indoor seeds will require light, warmth, and watering. If you are using lidded seed trays, open the vents as required if they are sitting on a particularly sunny spot. You can also provide your seeds with extra false light, for example a lamp, tin foil and so on to help prevent leggy seedlings that are weak. Quite often, growers start their seeds too soon and it results in them having to start again. 

You may have waited until this month to chit your potatoes. They are best done during February rather than earlier if you are in a cooler climate. You can find out more about Potato Chitting on our other page.

Weather and location dependent, you may still be required to protect some of your crops with fleece. Particularly shady and sheltered plots and beds. 

Alongside the growing, you may still be working on structural projects, cleaning, and clearing jobs and preparing soil and beds; the list goes on.  

Keep adding in the mulch for shady, wet areas and remove any decomposing vegetables and rogue potatoes from last season, which will help prevent the spread of diseases.  

Now for the best part of all your hard work on the allotment - Harvesting! You probably still have parsnips, swede, leeks, and some brassicas such as kale and cabbage to lift.  

If you are hoping for an early harvest of rhubarb, you can 'trick' them by placing a large pot or bin over the crown and they will grow in the dark. Insulate the vessel you are using to keep the heat in. The disadvantage of using this method is that the crowns do become weak and drawn of all energy and therefore will not produce and be dormant for a couple of years. 

You should also check any of last year's crop you have in storage for re-growth or damage and decay. 

Well, we are nearly in Spring! Happy growing folks! 

Go to March Allotment Jobs