February jobs

• Wash down and clear up polytunnels and greenhouses.

• Sow:

• Start transplants of peppers, tomatoes and aubergines by sowing seeds in a heated propagator placed in a well-lit spot.

• Sow peas in troughs or module trays for transplanting in March.

• Start onion and shallot transplants by multiseeding into module trays kept in an unheated tunnel or greenhouse.

• Sow rocket and Oriental leaves in an unheated tunnel or greenhouse for cut-and-come-again crops. Sowing can be done throughout February in warmer parts of the country, though it should be delayed until the end of the month where it is colder. You can sow the seeds directly in the ground, or even better, in containers for EPG. The best Oriental leaves to try at this time of the year are mizuna, mibuna, and komatsuna. 

• Sow Nairobi carrots outdoors under fleece. Alternatively, sow seeds in deep containers (about 25cm deep) kept in an unheated greenhouse or tunnel, and keep them there until the roots mature. The seeds can also be sown in the ground, though the plants may delay the transplanting of summer crops.

• Sow Crystal Ball radish undercover either in containers or the ground.