Wondering what to plant in February?
WATCH: How to grow polyanthus
We’ve got you covered with our comprehensive guide to what flower and vegetables to plant now in Australia, according to your climate zone. If you’re not sure about your zone, ask at your local nursery which one best matches your conditions.
Get the key to climate zones here.
What to plant in February
What flowers to plant now
All zones
- Ageratum
- Alyssum
- Cleome
- Cyclamen
- French marigold
- Gypsophila
- Iceland poppy
- Lobelia
- Lupin
- Nigella
- Pansy
- Polyanthus
- Primula
- Verbena
Zones 1-3
- African marigold
- Celosia
- Coleus
- Gerbera
- Nasturtium
- Salvia
- Sunflower
Zones 4-6
- Cornflower
- Dianthus
- Everlasting daisy
- Hollyhock
- Stock
- Statice
- Sweet pea
What vegetables to plant now
All zones
Zones 1-3
Zones 4-6
- Brussels sprout
- Leek
- Parsnip
- Spinach
What should I do in my garden in February?
Maintenance
Maintenance is definitely a year-round venture, and your to-do list is always filled with weeding and other gardening tasks. But in specific months, there can be specific things that should be done to promote healthy growth or protect plants for upcoming adversity (like winter weather!). The best maintenance to do in Feb includes the following:
- Resist the urge to cut away sunburnt leaves just yet. Shrivelled foliage acts as a shield against further sun damage for the healthy growth beneath and is best removed when conditions cool a little.
- Keep up the water for shallow-rooted plants like camellias and citrus to stop them drying out.
- Ready repeat-flowering roses for an autumn comeback with a light trim and a little fertiliser.
- Clean up vegetable beds of plant material as crops finish to prevent disease setting in.
- Check azaleas for lace bug (rusty brown spots underneath leaves and silvery on top) and, if present, spray with insecticide. Make sure the insecticide is bee-friendly!
- Deep water trees if they are extra dry!
- Control the aphids and sap-sucking insects in vegie gardens by hanging DIY sticky trade made by layering petroleum jelly thickly on strips of bright yellow cardboard. If you’re in the process of planting you can also add flowers and herbs to your garden that naturally repel aphids.
Plant removal and pruning
There are some plants that have heads, flowers or leaves that should be removed at certain times. In February, you should think about removing:
- Remove spent agapanthus and hydrangea blooms.
- Cut off the diseased lower leaves of tomato plants to stop it spreading.
- Prune murrayas as they finish flowering.
- Cut back herbaceous perennials that have already flowered, including hydrangeas.
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