Give a Gift
Read by Matilda Longbottom
Dear Gardeners,
Welcome to the February 2026 issue of Food Gardening Magazine!
Here in the Northeast, February settles over the garden like a long, patient pause. Snow still blankets the beds, the ground remains firm with cold, and bare branches stand quietly against a pale winter sky. At first glance, it may seem as though nothing is happening at all. But February is not empty—it is expectant. This is the month when the garden teaches us how to wait, how to trust that rest itself is a form of work.
As gardeners, February asks for a different kind of attention. The flurry of New Year’s possibility has softened into something steadier and more deliberate. Beneath the frozen soil, roots are holding fast, microorganisms are quietly at work, and the earliest hints of spring are already being arranged out of sight. This is the season of patience, when progress is measured not in growth you can see, but in faith that the cycle is still moving forward.
I find myself spending these days less on grand plans and more on gentle preparation—reviewing seed lists, sketching raised bed layouts, and savoring the comfort of meals made from last summer’s harvest. February evenings invite reflection: a simmering pot on the stove, seed catalogs within reach, and the reassuring knowledge that every garden begins long before the first seed is sown.
Though winter still holds the landscape in its grip, February carries a quiet promise. The light lingers just a bit longer at day’s end. The garden, like the gardener, is gathering strength. And in this waiting—this steady, hopeful pause—we are reminded that growth does not rush. It arrives exactly when it’s ready, and it will be worth it when it does.
Fresh Takes
February is all about planning, seed starting, and getting ready for the gardening year. No matter your growing zone, there are plenty of opportunities to kick-start your garden, and we have articles about each of the major planting zones to help you see what’s possible this month:
- Brewing Success in the Garden: How compost and compost tea boost yields, flavor, and nutrition.
- Compost Tea and Compost: A quick reference guide for every stage of your garden.
- What to Plant in February in Zones 4–6: Transform your late-winter blues into garden dreams—it’s seed-starting season!
- What to Plant in February in Zones 7–8: Transform winter waiting into garden growing as seed-starting season hits full stride.
- What to Plant in February in Zones 9–10: Get a jump start on summer vegetables while enjoying the last of the cool-season bounty in your southern garden.
Plant Close-Ups
This month, we’re diving deep into the plants that keep us going through the long winter months and beyond—from growing kale in pots to choosing the type of basil that best fits your needs:
- Growing Kale in Pots for Fresh Greens All Year Long: Love kale but don’t have the space or climate to grow it? Switch to growing kale in pots and enjoy this green anytime you want.
- How to Sprout Broccoli Seeds at Home: Learn how to sprout broccoli seeds at home and enjoy the delicious crunch of a nutrition-packed afternoon snack.
- Supercharging Your Potato Harvest: A bumper-crop blueprint for maximizing potato harvests through optimal spacing, strategic fertilization, and perfect timing.
- The Best Way to Plant Peas (and 3 of the Best Peas to Grow): Discover the best way to plant peas so you can enjoy this garden sweet treat as early as possible.
- 5 Different Types of Basil Gardeners and Chefs Love: Discover five different types of basil and find out which are chefs’ favorites and gardeners’ delights.
Get Your Free Raised Bed Gardening Special Issue
Our Raised Bed Gardening Special Issue is your personalized guide to successful raised bed gardening. Raised beds give you control in a way that traditional gardening simply can’t. You decide the soil quality. You get better drainage. You reduce weeds. You can plant earlier—and grow more in less space. We hope this special edition inspires you to dig in, build boldly, and discover just how easy and abundant raised bed gardening can be.
Featured Videos
This month, our videos focus on planning gardens, starting seeds, and exploring gardening with grow bags:
- The Best Seed-Starting Methods for Max Germination: You can go with traditional seed-starting methods—but what’s the fun in that when you can recycle eggshells and toilet paper rolls?
- Planning Raised Beds for Your Garden: Before you start planning raised beds, let’s talk about hills, wood, soil, spacing, and a few other deciding factors.
- How to Start Gardening with Grow Bags for Vegetables and Fruits: Grow bags are perfect for vegetables, fruit trees, and trap crops when you need extra room or don’t have space for raised beds.
- How to Start Seeds Indoors: Grow Kits vs. DIY Methods: Should you buy or create your seed-starting supplies? Learn how to start seeds indoors both ways and see which method works best.
- Home-Grown Comfort Food Recipes: Consider these five sweet and savory staple meals when you’re craving home-grown comfort foods.
Easy, Healthy Spinach Recipes
We’ve put together a collection of easy spinach recipes that bring out the best in this versatile green. From light and refreshing to rich and indulgent, there’s something for everyone—plus a few tricks to make cooking spinach even easier:
- Spinach and Mushroom Risotto: Rich and creamy risotto infused with sautéed spinach and earthy mushrooms for a luxurious, comforting dish.
- Easy Spinach Pie: Buttery phyllo dough, creamy spinach, and rich cheese come together in this appetizer favorite. Scoring the dough before baking ensures even portions for everyone.
- Creamed Spinach: Spinach can be more indulgent than it gets credit for. A little butter and cheese transform it into a classic, comforting side dish.
- Strawberry Spinach Salad: A match made in heaven that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
- Green Juice Recipe for Kids (and Adults!): This kid-friendly green juice uses celery and spinach as the base to reduce sugar—while apples, carrots, and mandarin oranges keep the flavor bright and sweet.
Let Garden Planning Inspire You
Don’t forget to download your Raised Bed Gardening Special Issue. Gold Members can also explore our Gardening Kits tab for additional resources:
Check them out now and download your favorites!
February is a time for quiet intention. The garden may appear dormant, but beneath the surface, life is gathering itself—and your imagination can do the same. February invites you to linger with your ideas a little longer, to fine-tune the beds you’ll reshape, the varieties you’ll try, and the colors that will return when the soil finally softens.
Here’s to a hopeful February and the quiet confidence that everything you’ll grow is already on its way.
Warm regards,
Christy Page
Editor & Publisher
P.S. How do you get ahead of the gardening season? Do you rest up and wait, or do you make charts and plans? I’d love to hear how you plan your upcoming garden and if you are starting seeds yet! Share your garden planning ideas in the comments below!
