What to plant in February in the Southwest

Worked out for 8 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.

What to sow and plant in February in the Southwest, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Yuma): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, sweet corn, basil and 8 more; frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F (Phoenix, Las Vegas and 2 more): peas, lettuce, radish, Swiss chard, beet and 21 more; frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F (Albuquerque): broad bean, peas, onion, spinach, lettuce and 15 more; frost possible, highs below 50 °F (Santa Fe (United States) and Flagstaff): broad bean, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard and 9 more.

In the Southwest, February is winter.

Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Yuma

In February, on average, Yuma has highs of 75 °F and lows of 49 °F, 0.4 in of rain on 2 days; the day lasts 11 h 01 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.

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
start indoors, plant out in March	Zucchini, cucumber, basil	Yuma
sow direct	Green Beans, sweet corn, arugula, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, Napa cabbage	Yuma

Compared with January: new — green beans; no longer sown — peas, lettuce, radish, Swiss chard, beet, melon, watermelon, pumpkin and 10 more.

Not starting in February: tomato (November, started indoors), bell pepper (November, started indoors), lettuce (November, started indoors), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Yuma.

Ready to harvest in February in Yuma, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), lettuce (December), radish (January), carrot (December), Swiss chard (December), beet (December) and watermelon (November).

Frost dates in Yuma

Frost possible, highs of 61–72 °F: Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson and Las Cruces

In February, on average, these cities have highs of 62 to 71 °F and lows of 38 to 46 °F, 0.5 to 1.3 in of rain on 3 to 5 days; the day lasts 10 h 52 min to 11 h 02 min (on the 15th).

February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait. Average last frost: Phoenix (February 4), Las Vegas (February 6), Tucson (February 6) and Las Cruces (February 28).

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, cabbage, chickpea, daikon	Las Vegas
sow direct	Peas, beet, parsley, cilantro, arugula, chamomile, dill, mustard greens	all
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Las Vegas
sow direct	Lettuce, Swiss chard, kohlrabi	Las Vegas and Las Cruces
sow direct	Radish	Las Vegas, Tucson and Las Cruces
start indoors, plant out in March	Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha, bok choy, kiwano, luffa, Napa cabbage, okra, peanut	all

Compared with January: new — zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, sweet corn, basil, achocha and 6 more; no longer sown — spinach, carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper and 5 more.

Not starting in February: tomato (January, started indoors), bell pepper (January, started indoors), green beans (April, sown direct) and spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Las Cruces.

Ready to harvest in February in Las Cruces, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), spinach (December), lettuce (December), radish (January), carrot (December), broccoli (November) and Swiss chard (December).

Frost possible, highs of 50–61 °F: Albuquerque

In February, on average, Albuquerque has highs of 55 °F and lows of 29 °F, 0.8 in of rain on 4 days; the day lasts 10 h 55 min (on the 15th). A dry month: whatever is sown needs watering.

February falls in the frost season: frost-tender crops wait.

How	What	Where
sow direct	Broad bean, peas, spinach, lettuce, radish, cabbage, Swiss chard, arugula, chamomile, daikon, kale, parsnip, turnip	Albuquerque
plant sets	Onion, shallot	Albuquerque
start indoors, plant out in March	Beet, kohlrabi	Albuquerque
start indoors, plant out in May	Celeriac, celery, chayote	Albuquerque

Compared with January: new — peas, onion, radish, cabbage, celeriac, celery, chayote, daikon and 3 more; no longer sown — cauliflower and parsley.

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 Albuquerque.

Ready to harvest in February in Albuquerque, if sown in the right month: broad bean (November), peas (December), cabbage (October) and broccoli (November).

Frost dates in Albuquerque

Frost possible, highs below 50 °F: Santa Fe (United States) and Flagstaff

In February, on average, these cities have highs of 44 to 46 °F and lows of 25 °F, 0.7 to 1.4 in of rain on 4 to 5 days; the day lasts 10 h 53 min to 10 h 55 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, lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale, kohlrabi	all
start indoors, plant out in April	Parsley	all
start indoors, plant out in May	Celeriac, celery, chayote	Santa Fe (United States)

Compared with January: new — lettuce, cauliflower, Swiss chard, beet, arugula, chamomile, kale, celeriac and 2 more; no longer sown — cabbage, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Not starting in February: tomato (March, started indoors), bell pepper (March, started indoors), zucchini (April, started indoors), green beans (June, sown direct) and peas (March, sown direct) — dates for Santa Fe (United States).

Ready to harvest in February in Santa Fe (United States), if sown in the right month: cabbage (October).

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.