February is the handover month in New Zealand's cool/mountain gardens. In this zone the frost-risk range runs from March through November, so February is often the last reliably frost-free stretch of the season. That single fact shapes every decision this month: warm-season crops are running out of time, while quick cool-season crops are back in their comfortable range.

The contrast with January is real. Cucumber and pumpkin were still sowable last month; both windows have now closed. What remains is a shorter list, and part of it sits at the very end of its sowing window.

Quick answer: what to sow now

February is a sowing month in cool/mountain gardens for:

  • Basil
  • Beans (climbing)
  • Beetroot
  • Carrot
  • Courgette
  • Lettuce
  • Pak choy
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Silverbeet
  • Spinach

Those split into two groups: frost-tender crops at the tail of their window, and dependable cool-season sowings that don't need a long frost-free autumn.

Warm-season crops: the last-call group

Basil, climbing beans and courgette all have sowing windows that close at the end of February. In milder temperate gardens that's a comfortable deadline. In cool/mountain gardens it is not: the first autumn frost can arrive from March here, so a February sowing has only weeks of frost-free growing ahead of it.

The crop data mirrors that squeeze. Basil and courgette both have harvest windows that end in March in this zone, against April in the temperate zone. Climbing beans need roughly 90 days from sowing, which a February start simply doesn't have before the cold turns.

The honest position: if you have a warm, sheltered microclimate and want a final basil or courgette sowing, the window is technically open — but treat it as a gamble, not a reliable crop. In most cool/mountain gardens, February is better spent helping existing warm-season plants finish well than starting new ones. For courgettes specifically, Growing Courgettes in NZ Cool/Mountain Zone covers the timing and the common problems in more detail.

The dependable February sowings

The rest of the list doesn't hinge on a long, warm autumn, which makes these the crops to prioritise this month.

Lettuce can be sown from September through March and harvested from November through May. Cooling nights late in the month ease the bolting pressure that troubles midsummer sowings, so February is a good succession slot — sow small amounts rather than a whole packet.

Spinach can be sown from September through February and harvested from November through April, making this its final sowing month too. The source notes flag heat, not frost, as its bolting trigger, so keep February sowings evenly watered and out of the hottest afternoon sun.

Pak choy can be sown from August through May and harvested from September through June. It shares that heat-bolting tendency, so part-shade helps while the days are still warm.

Radish can be sown from August through April and harvested from October through June — quick enough to sow in short rows every couple of weeks rather than all at once.

Beetroot (sow August–May, harvest October–July), carrot (sow September–May, harvest December–August) and silverbeet (sow August–May, harvest October–July) are all comfortably mid-window. Direct sow the lot; carrot in particular resents transplanting and simply needs a seedbed kept evenly moist until it germinates. For silverbeet's longer story, see Growing Silverbeet Year-Round in NZ.

Peas can be sown from September through February and harvested from December through May, so February is their last sowing month as well. Direct sow and get support in early. If plants you already have are healthy but not setting flowers, Why Are My Peas Not Flowering in NZ Cool/Mountain? covers the likely causes.

What to harvest now

February is a heavy harvest month. Crops with harvest windows open now include basil, beetroot, carrot, courgette, lettuce, pak choy, peas, radish, silverbeet and spinach, plus broad beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cucumber, onion, shallot and tomato.

A few of those are in their final harvest month here: broad beans (December–February), Brussels sprouts (January–February) and shallot (January–February) all close at the end of February. Tomato harvest runs through to March in this zone, so keep picking every few days while the plants are still productive.

February timing notes for cool/mountain gardens

The rhythm this month is about finishing more than starting. Commit only to the sowings that can realistically mature — the leafy greens, roots and peas — and be clear-eyed about frost-tender crops racing an early autumn.

Use the warmth that remains to keep established plants cropping: steady watering, a feed for hungry summer crops, and prompt removal of anything tired or diseased so beds are ready for the cool-season planting that March brings.

Know your zone? Explore the full NZ Cool/Mountain Planting Calendar for month-by-month sowing and harvest timing.