GreenlyWhat to plant in February in Ireland
Worked out for 14 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in February in Ireland, by zone: frost-free, highs below 10 °C (Bray): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, radish and 13 more; frost possible, highs below 10 °C (Dublin, Cork and 11 more): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, radish and 13 more.
In Ireland, February is winter.
Frost-free, highs below 10 °C: Bray
In February, on average, Bray has highs of 9 °C and lows of 5 °C, 82 mm of rain on 14 days; the day lasts 9 h 51 min (on the 15th).
No frost in February in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, radish, cabbage, broccoli, turnip | Bray |
| plant sets | Onion | Bray |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale, kohlrabi | Bray |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Leek, parsley, Brussels sprouts | Bray |
Compared with January: new — cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale and turnip.
Not starting in February: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (June, sown direct), green beans (June, sown direct) and lettuce (March, started indoors) — dates for Bray.
Ready to harvest in February in Bray, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), spinach (December), radish (January), cabbage (October) and broccoli (November).
Frost possible, highs below 10 °C: Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and 9 more
In February, on average, these cities have highs of 8 to 10 °C and lows of 3 to 5 °C, 75 to 140 mm of rain on 14 to 19 days; the day lasts 9 h 42 min to 9 h 57 min (on the 15th).
February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Athlone (25 February).
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, radish, cabbage | all |
| plant sets | Onion | all |
| start indoors, plant out in April or sow direct | Broccoli | all |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale | Galway, Limerick, Waterford and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Leek, parsley, Brussels sprouts | all |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Kohlrabi | all |
| sow direct | Turnip | Galway, Limerick, Waterford and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Chicory | Galway and Limerick |
Compared with January: new — cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale, turnip and chicory.
Not starting in February: tomato (no month outdoors by these rules), bell pepper (no month outdoors by these rules), zucchini (June, sown direct), green beans (June, sown direct) and lettuce (March, started indoors) — dates for Navan.
Ready to harvest in February in Navan, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), spinach (December), radish (January), cabbage (October) and broccoli (November).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in February and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in February if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 16–27 °C and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 4 °C, semi-hardy ones from 4–10 °C (we use 10 °C); warm-season crops need days above 13 °C, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, aubergine, melon, watermelon, squash) above 16 °C, up to 35 °C. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Broad beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in autumn and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
Courgettes and French beans: GIY Ireland sows courgettes and succession-sows French beans outdoors in June, so we list them in June wherever June has no frost.
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for February 2027
- What to plant in February: all climates
- Gardening in Ireland: guide by region
Other months in Ireland
- What to plant in February in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in February in the South
- What to plant in February in Texas
- What to plant in February in Florida
- What to plant in February in California
- What to plant in February in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in February in the Southwest
- What to plant in February in the Mountain West
