February in Zone 7
February in Zone 7: early spring planting begins. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors; sow peas outdoors.
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- Min Winter Temp
- 0 to 10 °F / -18 to -12 °C
- Last Spring Frost
- Late March – mid April
- First Fall Frost
- Mid October – mid November
- Growing Season
- 200–225 days
- Annual Rainfall
- 30–60 in
February overview
February brings the first hints of awakening in gardens. Seed starting picks up in cold zones; warm zones begin direct sowing and transplanting warm-season crops. Days are noticeably lengthening, driving early bulb and shrub growth.
Starting tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant indoors in cold zones (Zones 3–6); direct sowing cool-season crops in Zones 8–10; pruning roses; chitting potatoes.
- Season
- winter
- Temperature trend
- Still cold but temperatures begin to rise in most regions; first warm spells in the South.
- Daylight
- Daylight increasing noticeably; gaining about 2 minutes per day in most latitudes.
- Zone 7 last frost
- Late March – mid April
- Zone 7 first frost
- Mid October – mid November
3
Sow indoors
6
Sow outdoors
1
Transplant
0
Harvest
0
Maintenance
🌱 Sow indoors
Start tomatoes indoors (8 weeks before last frost)
Tomatoes
Sow ¼ inch deep in 72-cell trays; keep at 70–75°F until germination in 7–10 days.
Start peppers and eggplant indoors
Peppers
Sow ⅛ inch deep at 80°F; slow to germinate (14–21 days); keep consistently warm.
Eggplant
Sow ¼ inch deep at 80°F; needs 8–10 weeks indoors before transplant date.
🌿 Sow outdoors
Direct sow peas, spinach, and lettuce outdoors
Peas
Sow 1 inch deep, 2 inches apart in a single row alongside a trellis; pre-soak seeds overnight.
Spinach
Sow ½ inch deep, 2 inches apart; germinates best at 50–65°F; thin to 6 inches.
Lettuce
Surface-sow or ⅛ inch deep; thin to 8 inches for heads, 4 inches for cut-and-come-again.
Arugula
Surface-sow in wide bands; thins itself as it grows; bolt-prone in heat — shade if needed.
Plant shallots and garlic (if not done in fall)
Shallots
Press sets into moist soil just below the surface, 4 inches apart.
Garlic
Plant cloves pointed-end up, 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart; mulch with straw.
🪴 Transplant
Transplant onion seedlings outdoors under row cover
Onions
Sow ¼ inch deep in seed trays, thin to 1 inch apart; transplant outdoors at pencil thickness.
General February tasks
These apply broadly regardless of zone — a useful checklist alongside the zone-specific tasks above.
- ✓Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost (cold zones)
- ✓Direct sow cool-season crops outdoors in Zones 8–10
- ✓Prune roses once forsythia begins to bloom (traditional timing cue)
- ✓Apply late dormant oil sprays before buds break on fruit trees
- ✓Begin chitting (sprouting) seed potatoes indoors
- ✓Fertilize spring-blooming bulbs as they emerge
- ✓Direct sow sweet peas outdoors in mild climates
- ✓Transplant bare-root trees and shrubs while dormant
⚠ Watch-outs for February
- ⚠Late hard freezes are common — don't rush transplanting in cold zones
- ⚠Seedlings started indoors need supplemental light (12–16 hrs) to avoid stretching
- ⚠Wet February soils compact easily; wait for soil to dry before working
- ⚠Fruit trees breaking dormancy early are vulnerable to late frost — have covers ready
February in Zone 7: common questions
What can I plant in February in Zone 7?＋
In February, Zone 7 gardeners can sow or transplant Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Peas, Spinach, Lettuce, Arugula, and Shallots. February in Zone 7: early spring planting begins. Start tomatoes and peppers indoors; sow peas outdoors.
When is the last and first frost in Zone 7?＋
Zone 7 typically has its last spring frost around Late March – mid April and its first fall frost around Mid October – mid November, giving a growing season of roughly 200–225 days. Always check a local frost-date source, since microclimates vary.
What garden jobs matter most in February in Zone 7?＋
Focus on start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost (cold zones), direct sow cool-season crops outdoors in zones 8–10, prune roses once forsythia begins to bloom (traditional timing cue). Watch out for late hard freezes are common — don't rush transplanting in cold zones.