For at-home gardeners in some cities, there are plenty of plants that will thrive in their hot and mild climates. For at-home gardeners who deal with frigid temperatures, winter garden plants may differ (and be less enjoyable to tend to). Sometimes, the gardening decisions come down to what the gardener even wants in the yard. All of those gardening tips about egg shells and baking soda won’t be as useful if the weather doesn’t match up with the planting season.

Which Plants Grow Well in February?

Knowing which plants are in season in grocery stores may help with knowing what to plant in February. A few common items seen in the produce section this month include artichokes, beets, begonias, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, chili peppers, cucumbers, eggplants, herbs, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, potatoes, radish, spinach, sweet peas and tomatoes. There’s also broad bean and Crane’s-Bill.

Know Your Zone Before You Plant Fruits and Vegetables

If your garden is solely on a window sill, you may be able to control the temperature even if you cannot control the sun. If the garden is outside though, knowing your zone will significantly help narrow down when it’s a good time to start putting down seeds and slips.

For example, if you’re an Illinois gardener, Downstate Illinois can be significantly wetter in the spring months versus Chicago. In Zones 5-7, broccoli, cauliflower and peas get a thumbs up to start planting indoors whereas corn and cucumbers aren’t a good idea until May. The same plant growth is similar in Colorado (Zones 3-7). Meanwhile, in Georgia (Zones 6-9), gardeners can start preparing seeds for beans, beats, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, spinach and tomatoes indoors.

Why? The odds of Georgia experiencing temperature lows of 5-10 degrees is very low outside of Marietta, Rome and Dalton whereas these temperature lows are no surprise in Chicago or Denver. Neighboring cities shouldn’t always be so confident either. Plants growing in the same state may not be treated equally. Sometimes it comes down to where that city is within the state limits.

Beating the Plant Odds When It’s Too Cold Outdoors

If you’re growing impatient with the length of time it’ll take to grow your go-to items outside and they’re not getting everything they need indoors, consider vegetables that you may have not been thinking of. For example, white onions may not do well in some home gardens, but scallions (green onions) grow just fine. Put a few scallions in a cup of water with approximately one inch of water. The roots will grow a couple of inches long. When this happens, snip about one-quarter off (with the bulbs and roots still attached) and move them to potting mix in a shallow bowl or pot to continue to grow on their own. (You can eat the rest.) Scallions will need full sun or an artificial light, the latter of which is easy to purchase online. Sweet potato slips are another easy plant to start growing indoors until it warms up.

By exploring all of the possible vegetables that can be grown indoors, including herbs you may be used to buying in the dry seasoning aisle, you may find yourself enjoying new recipes without worrying about your grocery budget.