What to grow in February

Broad beans are one of the earliest crops you can sow outside in the garden. They are fairly straightforward to grow from seed.

Sowing in February is possible in milder parts of the UK or in sheltered spots where the soil doesn't stay too wet. If the weather turns very cold, you may need to protect young plants with cloches. A cloche is a protective structure made of glass or rigid transparent plastic. You can find them in garden centres and online.

If you have a greenhouse or growing frame, you could sow broad bean seeds in pots first and keep them under cover. You can then plant them out in the garden in spring.

Carrots are a traditional, grow-your-own favourite. You can sow some varieties in February. Check the seed packet for details. You will need to protect the young plants as they grow. You can do this with a cloche or by covering them with horticultural fleece.

Carrots grow best in light, fertile, well-drained soil. Before sowing seeds, dig the area you are planning to sow. Remove weeds and as many stones as possible. Add plenty of compost or well-rotted manure to make the soil nutritious.

There is a link between using fresh manure and carrots 'forking' (splitting into two or more roots). If you use manure, make sure it is well-rotted. Add it to the soil several weeks before planting, if possible.

Read our guide to growing carrots for even more advice.

Cabbages are nutritious and fairly simple to grow. There are many types and varieties of cabbage. They can be tight-headed or loose, green-leafed or red.

You can get spring, summer and winter cabbages. As their names suggest, they are ready to harvest in different seasons. Although, you can often still harvest summer cabbages in autumn.

Summer cabbages tend to have leaves that make a tight ball shape. Because of this, they are also called ball-headed or drumhead cabbages. You can sow summer cabbage seeds from mid-February. You will need to protect the young plants under a cloche, or by first sowing in pots in a greenhouse / under cover. If you start your cabbages in pots, you can plant them outside in May and June. They should be ready to harvest from July to November.

There are many different types of cauliflowers. Some are ready to harvest in early summer, while others give a winter harvest.

Early summer varieties can be sown under glass or under cover in February. In mid spring, plant outside. This type of cauliflower takes about five months from sowing to harvest.

Cauliflowers do need a lot of effort and attention to grow successfully. Early summer cauliflowers require a nutrient-rich soil. Before planting, dig in a bucketful of well-rotted manure or compost. Adding high potassium fertiliser to the soil will also help growth. Plant early summer cauliflowers in a sunny position in the garden. This will help them mature quickly.

Leeks are versatile vegetables. You can sow some varieties of leek from February onwards. Seeds sown at this time should be ready to harvest from late summer into autumn.

The most common way to grow leeks is to first sow seeds in pots or trays of compost. Place the pots on a sunny indoor windowsill, or in a greenhouse. The warmth will encourage faster growth. You can move the plants into their final position in the ground when they are big enough. Find a sunny spot in good quality soil.

Leeks can occasionally suffer from a disease called leek rust. This causes bright yellow spots on the leaves and is often worse in long wet spells. You could choose to grow varieties that say they are ‘rust resistant’ to help avoid it.