It might look like the garden classroom is sleeping this month but our garden activities for February see us getting potatoes ready and learning about daffodils. Join us!
Garden activities for February
Welcome to our garden classroom! This post is part of our Kids Gardening Activities. You can use our month-by-month garden guides for your school gardening club, community garden or at home with your family and I’ll show you what to plant, harvest, do, make and learn each month of the year. You will also find more ideas and inspiration in my book, The Garden Classroom.
Here’s my guide for what to do in the garden in February.
#1 What to plant in February
February is the month to start seeds which take a long time to germinate or need a long growing season, such as celery, bell peppers and chilli peppers. These seeds will need heat to get them started, so you might put their seed trays in a propagator on a heat pad or on a window sill next to a radiator. You can also start sweet peas this month.
#2 Prepare potatoes
Start potatoes chitting this month, which means placing them in sunlight to encourage the potatoes’ ‘eyes’ to begin to sprout shoots, ahead of planting out in the soil. You can use the bottom half of egg boxes to sit the potatoes in, to stop them rolling around, and then plant out once the spouts are a few centimetres long – usually after 2 – 4 weeks.
#3 Wash seed trays
Give all your seed trays and plant pots a wash this month, using warm, soapy water to wash away any harmful bugs or bacteria from last year, so no pests or disease transfer to this year’s plants.
#4 What to harvest in February
Foods that are harvested in the UK in February include leeks, kale, Brussel’s sprouts, winter lettuce and savoy cabbage.
#5 Daffodil lessons
Try a nature study lesson this month using daffodils, with our daffodil dissection and daffodil art projects.
#6 Make a weather station
Use our printable weather spinner, cloud identification cards and guide to making a rain gauge to set up a weather station in your garden. Play Academy members can download a complete, ready-made weather unit to enjoy with your children.
#7 Get The Garden Classroom guide
My book The Garden Classroom is bursting with ideas you can use to make the most of the math, science, literacy, art and play waiting for you outdoors. This is your go-to book to give your children a connection with nature, and is full of creative ways to use the garden to inspire learning. See more and get your copy here.
Leave a Reply