What to plant in February in zone 5
USDA zone 5 has winter lows of -20 to -10°F, a typical last spring frost around Apr 30 and first fall frost around Oct 5, roughly 160 frost-free days. February is the "a planning month" there.
18 crops have a sowing or planting window this month.
Dates come from the typical frost dates of USDA zone 5 (last frost Apr 30, first frost Oct 5). A zone covers many climates, so for dates tuned to your town use the planting calendar, or pick your state below.
Zone 5: planting activity through the year
Start seeds indoors in February (18)
Indoor sowings for transplants later. Six to eight weeks under lights is typical for tomatoes and peppers; onions and leeks need longer.
| Crop | What to do | Window | This month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celeriac | Start seeds indoors | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Opens Feb 19 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Opens Feb 19 |
| Shallot | Start seeds indoors | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Opens Feb 19 |
| Bell Pepper | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Chili Pepper | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Ginger | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Green Onion / Scallion | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Mint | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Tarragon | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
| Turmeric | Start seeds indoors | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Opens Feb 26 |
A planning month: February garden jobs in zone 5
- Order seed while stock is good. Zone 5's average last frost is April 30, so the first indoor sowings begin around February 5 - see starting seeds indoors.
- Sketch this year's beds and move each crop family to a new spot - the garden planner and the crop rotation guide make it quick.
- Test old seed: roll ten seeds in a damp paper towel for a week. If fewer than seven sprout, sow thicker or buy fresh.
- If the ground isn't frozen, spread compost now so it's worked in by spring, and send off a soil test - February is when labs are quiet.
Questions gardeners ask
What can I plant in zone 5 in February?
18 crops have a window in February: celeriac, celery, leek, onion, rosemary, eggplant, parsley, shallot, bell pepper, chili pepper and more. The tables above give the exact dates for each.
When are the last and first frost in zone 5?
The typical last spring frost is around Apr 30 and the first fall frost around Oct 5. These are broad zone averages, so your own town can be a week or two either side: look yours up by ZIP code in the planting calendar.
What should I start indoors in zone 5 in February?
Celeriac (Feb 5 – Feb 19), Celery (Feb 12 – Feb 26), Leek (Feb 12 – Feb 26), Onion (Feb 12 – Feb 26), Rosemary (Feb 12 – Feb 26), Eggplant (Feb 19 – Mar 5), Parsley (Feb 19 – Mar 5), Shallot (Feb 19 – Mar 5), Bell Pepper (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Chili Pepper (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Ginger (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Green Onion / Scallion (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Mint (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Oregano (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Sage (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Tarragon (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Thyme (Feb 26 – Mar 12), Turmeric (Feb 26 – Mar 12).
February in states with land in zone 5
Zone 5 in other months
What to plant in February in other zones
Dates are computed from the zone’s typical frost dates and each crop’s timing in our crop database. Your garden may be a week or two either side.