GreenlyWhat to plant in February in the Mountain West
Worked out for 15 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in February in the Mountain West, by zone: frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Pueblo and St. George): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 16 more; frost possible, highs below 50 °F (Denver, Salt Lake City and 11 more): broad bean, spinach, lettuce, parsley and kohlrabi.
In the Mountain West, February is winter.
Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Pueblo and St. George
In February, on average, these cities have highs of 51 to 58 °F and lows of 23 to 35 °F, 0.7 to 1.3 in of rain on 3 to 5 days; the day lasts 10 h 46 min to 10 h 50 min (on the 15th).
February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in March or sow direct | Broad bean, lettuce, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile | all |
| sow direct | Peas, spinach, radish, cabbage, daikon, dill, mustard greens | St. George |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | St. George |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Cauliflower, kohlrabi | Pueblo |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Parsley | Pueblo |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Celeriac, celery, chayote | Pueblo |
Compared with January: new — celeriac, celery, chayote, dill and mustard greens; no longer sown — Brussels sprouts, kale, parsnip and turnip.
Not starting in February: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors) and green beans (May, sown direct) — dates for Pueblo.
Ready to harvest in February in Pueblo, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), cabbage (October) and broccoli (November).
Frost possible, highs below 50 °F: Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs, Reno and 9 more
In February, on average, these cities have highs of 30 to 48 °F and lows of 11 to 29 °F, 0.7 to 3.4 in of rain on 5 to 13 days; the day lasts 10 h 18 min to 10 h 45 min (on the 15th).
February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| start indoors, plant out in March | Broad bean, spinach | all |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Lettuce | Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs and 8 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Cabbage | Cheyenne, Helena, Carson City and 1 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Broccoli | Helena and Missoula |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile | Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs and 3 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Parsley | Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs and 9 more |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Kohlrabi | Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs and 9 more |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Kale | Denver, Salt Lake City, Colorado Springs and 2 more |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Celeriac, celery, chayote | Reno, Billings, Fort Collins and 1 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Brussels Sprouts | Cheyenne, Carson City and Missoula |
Compared with January: new — cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale, celeriac, celery and 1 more.
Not starting in February: tomato (April, started indoors), bell pepper (April, started indoors), zucchini (May, started indoors), green beans (June, sown direct) and peas (April, sown direct) — dates for Carson City.
Ready to harvest in February in Carson City, if sown in the right month: cabbage (October).
- Frost dates in Denver
- Frost dates in Salt Lake City
- Frost dates in Colorado Springs
- Frost dates in Reno
- Frost dates in Billings
- Frost dates in Cheyenne
- Frost dates in Helena
- Frost dates in Carson City
- Frost dates in Fort Collins
- Frost dates in Grand Junction
- Frost dates in Missoula
- Frost dates in Elko
- Frost dates in Provo
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 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall 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).
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 the United States: guide by region
Other months in the Mountain West
- 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 Ireland
