Freighter View Farms | Chris Izworski

February in Michigan is the cruelest tease. The seed catalogs have arrived. The grow lights are calling. And outside, Saginaw Bay is locked under ice, the garden buried beneath snow. But this is not a month for waiting. This is a month for planning, preparing, and — if you are anything like me — starting the first seeds of the season.

What to Start Indoors in February

In Zone 6a on Saginaw Bay, February is early for most warm-season crops. Our last frost is still three months away. But a few things benefit from the long indoor head start:

Onions and leeks: If you are growing from seed (rather than sets), February is the time. Onions need 10 to 12 weeks indoors before transplanting. I start mine under grow lights in shallow trays, keeping the soil moist and the lights low.

Celery and celeriac: These notoriously slow germinators need every day you can give them. Start in late February under lights.

Early flowers: Snapdragons, pansies, and violas can be started in late February for early spring transplanting. They tolerate cold and will bloom before most of the garden is even planted.

What to Plan in February

Map your beds: This is the month to sketch out your square foot garden layout. Which beds get full sun? Where will the tomatoes go? What is your succession planting schedule for lettuce and radishes?

Order seeds: If you have not already, order now. Popular varieties sell out fast. My go-to sources are Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange, and Johnny’s Selected Seeds.

Test saved seeds: If you saved seeds from last season, February is the perfect time to do a germination test. Place ten seeds on a damp paper towel, seal in a plastic bag, and keep warm. Count how many sprout in a week. If fewer than seven germinate, plan to sow more heavily or order fresh seed.

Prepare your seed-starting setup: Clean trays, check grow light bulbs, stock up on seed-starting mix. I use a bottom-watering system with capillary mats — it keeps the moisture consistent and prevents damping off.

What to Watch Outside

Even though the garden sleeps, February brings the first signs of the turn. The days are noticeably longer than January. Red-winged blackbirds may start appearing along Saginaw Bay by month’s end — a reliable sign that the wheel is turning, even when the thermometer says otherwise.

On sunny days, check your perennial beds. If mulch has shifted, tuck it back around the crowns of roses, lavender, and other tender perennials. If we get a mid-February thaw (it happens), resist the urge to uncover anything permanently. Michigan will remind you why.

February Is the Foundation

Every great garden season starts with a good February. Not in the soil — not yet — but in the planning, the preparation, the quiet excitement of seeds arriving in the mail and grow lights humming in the basement. Trust the process. The bay will thaw. The soil will warm. And when it does, you will be ready.

For a complete month-by-month schedule, see the Michigan Zone 6a Garden Planner. For seed starting techniques, see Capillary Mats and Grow Lights.

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— Chris Izworski, Freighter View Farms, Bay City, Michigan