by month

This is an exciting time for those of us that are getting ready to start seeds. Steel Raven Farms is located in Northeast Georgia, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. We are in zone 7b, even though I don’t really keep track of that. But this time of year is really when I start working on February garden chores and really start on getting my garden stuff going.

February Garden Chores

First and foremost, there is a never ending list of homestead chores that need to be done. But February is a weird month for us. We’ve got goat kids being born, projects getting finished up and prepping for spring planting. And it’s COLD! The very last thing most people are thinking about is a garden. But I know that in just a few short weeks, the weather will turn and we will start warming up.

As far as February garden chores, we are looking at finalizing garden plans, checking seed inventory, checking our garden stuff, and starting seeds. Some of these things will take place towards the start of the month and others will depend on the weather but for the most part, these are the things we are doing in February.

Finalizing Garden Plans

As we are moving out of January, we are still finalizing garden plans. This looks a little different for everyone depending on how you are planning your garden. But for us, we are still in the process of giving our big garden a facelift. So I don’t want to put a ton of effort into planning a space when I don’t know EXACTLY how much space I’m going to have.

But garden plans are not just the physical structures of the garden, though that is a huge part of garden plans. In this case, I’m talking about what I can put IN those structures. This is the time were I am making sure that I have plenty of space for all of the things I want to plant.

Now, I know that regardless of whether my beds are build or not, there will still be plenty of room to plant all the tomatoes, peppers, squash, and all the other delicious veggies. But I do want to ensure that I have plenty of space, seeds, pots, and other things make this years garden a success.

Checking Seed Inventory

I’ve got a whole blog post/ page on creating a seed inventory. This can look like a notebook or a spreadsheet but it is surprisingly important to have some sort of system that tells you exactly what seeds you have on hand. I’ve created a digital seed inventory that you can purchase here, or you can make your own. But now is not the time to buy seeds!

If you are just starting your gardens, then yes, buy the seeds. But if you have a ton of seeds and you don’t NEED to purchase seeds for this years garden, wait till summer! Most seed companies will start putting their seeds on sale in the middle of summer and that is the time to stock up. Plus, come summer, you will have a better idea of what plants are doing well for you and which aren’t.

All that being said, start looking at what seeds you have on hand and match that up to your garden plans. Do you have enough tomato seeds? Which squash was resistant to bores? Which sweet pepper did you love? All of this information should be either in your seed inventory or your garden journals.

Prepping Your Garden Stuff

Again, this looks different for everyone, but February garden chores wouldn’t be complete without checking your supplies. Do you have enough compost, soil or amendments? Do you have a fresh garden journal? Are your tools clean and sharp? Do you have enough pots to start your plants?

You would be surprised to find that you need to start sourcing some of these materials NOW before you get too far into the season.

For me, I am making sure that I have plenty of soil and compost, my pots are clean and sanitized, my greenhouse is ready, and I’m good to go! Jared will usually go through and start sharpening tools, finish any big projects that need to be done in the garden and help me with seeds.

Starting Seeds!

This is it, ya’ll! Every single gardener is chomping at the bit to get their gardens started and I am no different. My last frost is supposed to be around April 15th. But I can go ahead and start a fair amount of cool weather, frost hardy things now! Things like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, etc can all be started in my greenhouse without risk of damage.

But there are some summer things we can start now too! I wait till I’m closer to March before starting too many tomatoes and peppers but I will start a tray and put them in the greenhouse around mid February. This is an experiment more than anything, because I want to see just how well my greenhouse stays warm.

But don’t go too crazy with starting your seeds. If your last frost is around the same time as mine, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of starting seeds early. But remember, the more you start at once, the less bumper crop you will have later.

Pro Amateur Tips For February Garden Chores

Start A Garden Journal

If you haven’t already, start setting up your garden journal! I’ve talked about the importance of journaling here, but garden journals are a must if you are going to “take your garden seriously”. By that I mean, if you want to learn from your garden and grow your gardening skills, then you should make sure that you are writing down what is happening in your garden.

If you’re not sure what to write about, I’ve got my 365 Day Garden Journal Prompt that you can purchase below!

This is also a great place to write down all the seed varieties you grew for the year and how they did for you. This will keep you from purchasing seeds that don’t work for you or remind you of what did well.

Seed Inventory

I have two different ways I track my seed inventory. One is my digital seed inventory and the other is an account ledger book. The reason is twofold. One, I love redundancy. Two, I love having paper copies. There is something about handwriting something that sticks in my brain better.

But having that digital copy of my seed inventory tells me where I bought the seed and has links which is amazing! So no matter if you are super techy or ole school, (or in my case both), make sure that you’ve got something to help you track your seeds!

Don’t Start A TON Of Summer Seeds Yet

I know it’s tempting to start a ton of seeds because you’ve got your hands in the dirt and it’s exciting! But please! Don’t start all of your peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc all at once!

Space out your plantings by about two weeks. This ensures a longer and more spread out harvest, but also won’t wipe out your seed stash if you get a freak storm.

As always, don’t be afraid to try new varieties and have fun! It’s great being a student of the garden!

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