GreenlyWhat to plant in February in the Pacific Northwest
Worked out for 11 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in February in the Pacific Northwest, by zone: frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Salem and Eugene): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 18 more; frost possible, highs below 50 °F (Seattle, Portland and 7 more): broad bean, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower and 11 more.
In the Pacific Northwest, February is winter.
Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Salem and Eugene
In February, on average, these cities have highs of 50 °F and lows of 34 to 35 °F, 5.2 to 6.4 in of rain on 15 to 17 days; the day lasts 10 h 25 min to 10 h 28 min (on the 15th).
February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Broad bean, peas, spinach, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, arugula, chamomile, daikon, kale, parsnip, turnip | all |
| plant sets | Onion, shallot | all |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Lettuce, cauliflower, beet, kohlrabi | all |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Parsley, Brussels sprouts | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Celeriac, celery, chayote | all |
Compared with January: new — lettuce, celeriac, celery, chayote, daikon, parsnip and shallot; no longer sown — broccoli, leek and chicory.
Not starting in February: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors) and green beans (June, sown direct) — dates for Salem.
Ready to harvest in February in Salem, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), spinach (December), radish (January), cabbage (October) and broccoli (November).
Frost possible, highs below 50 °F: Seattle, Portland, Boise, Spokane and 5 more
In February, on average, these cities have highs of 36 to 49 °F and lows of 19 to 36 °F, 1.4 to 5.9 in of rain on 9 to 17 days; the day lasts 10 h 15 min to 10 h 34 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, spinach | all |
| sow direct | Peas, radish | Seattle, Portland, Olympia and 1 more |
| plant sets | Onion | Tacoma |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Lettuce, kohlrabi | all |
| start indoors, plant out in April or sow direct | Cabbage | Seattle, Portland, Spokane and 3 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Broccoli | Seattle, Olympia and Tacoma |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile | Seattle, Portland, Boise and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Parsley | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Celeriac, celery, chayote | Seattle, Portland, Spokane and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Brussels Sprouts | Seattle, Portland, Spokane and 3 more |
| start indoors, plant out in March | Kale | Seattle, Portland, Boise and 3 more |
| sow direct | Turnip | Tacoma |
Compared with January: new — lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, celeriac, celery, chamomile and 3 more; no longer sown — leek.
Not starting in February: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors) and green beans (June, sown direct) — dates for Seattle.
Ready to harvest in February in Seattle, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (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 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 Pacific Northwest
- 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 Southwest
- What to plant in February in the Mountain West
- What to plant in February in Ireland
