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 beans 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. Some varieties can be sown in February. Check the seed packet for details. The young plants will need to be protected with a cloche, or covered 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, so the soil is really nutritious.

There is a link between using fresh manure and carrots 'forking' (splitting into two or more roots). So, if you use manure, make sure it is well-rotted and add to the soil well in advance of planting - several weeks ahead, ideally.

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.

Different types of cabbage are ready for harvest in different seasons. We have spring, summer and winter cabbages (although summer cabbages can often be harvested into the autumn).

Summer cabbages tend to have leaves that make a tight ball shape, so are also called ball-headed or drumhead cabbages. Summer cabbage seeds can be sown 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. These can be planted outside in May and June and will 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 to help them mature as quickly as possible.

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.