What to Plant in February in Sonoma County: A Local Gardener’s Guide

February in Sonoma County is one of those months that tricks newcomers. The hills are emerald green from winter rains, the air still bites on early mornings, and the ground can be soggy enough to swallow a boot. But beneath that sleepy surface, this is one of the most important planting months of the year. What you do in your garden right now — the trees you plant, the seeds you start, the soil you prepare — sets the stage for everything that follows through harvest season.

If you have lived here long enough, you know the rhythm. Our Mediterranean climate, classified as USDA Hardiness Zones 9a through 10b depending on your microclimate, gives us a longer growing window than most of the country. The Sunset Western Garden Book, still the most reliable reference for our region, breaks Sonoma County into several distinct climate zones that account for coastal fog influence, valley floor frost pockets, and hillside thermal belts. A garden in Sebastopol will behave differently than one in Cloverdale, and February is when those differences start to matter.

Here is what deserves your attention this month.

Bare-Root Season: The Window You Cannot Afford to Miss

February is the heart of bare-root season in Sonoma County, and if you have ever driven past a local nursery and seen those strange, naked trees standing in buckets of sawdust, this is why. Bare-root fruit trees, roses, and berry canes arrive dormant, without soil around their roots, and they cost significantly less than their containerized counterparts.

More importantly, bare-root trees establish faster. When roots break out of dormancy and push directly into your native soil — rather than transitioning from a container mix — they develop a stronger root system from the start. The UC Master Gardener Program of Sonoma County recommends planting bare-root fruit trees while they are still fully dormant, noting that this is “the method of choice for gardeners to optimize strong growth from a fruit tree’s young age.”

What to Plant Bare-Root This Month

• Fruit trees: Apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, apricot, fig, and persimmon are all available bare-root in February. Choose varieties suited to your chill hours. Most of Sonoma County receives 800 to 1,000 chill hours per year, enough for most deciduous fruit trees.
• Berries: Blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. For blueberries, amend your soil with sulfur and peat to lower the pH — our clay soils tend to run alkaline for their liking.
• Roses: This is prime time for bare-root roses, and you will find the best selection now.
• Grapes: Table and wine grapes planted bare-root in February get a full growing season to establish before their first summer heat.
• Strawberries: The UC Master Gardeners recommend day-neutral or everbearing varieties for Sonoma County over short-day types.
• Rhubarb and asparagus: Both are long-lived perennials that reward patience. Plant them now and they will produce for a decade or more.

If you cannot plant bare-root stock within two days of purchase, heel them in by sinking the roots into a moist medium of compost, wet shavings, or garden soil. Do not let them dry out.

Cool-Season Vegetables You Can Put in the Ground Now

February is not a month for tomatoes — not outdoors, anyway. But several cool-season crops can go directly into the soil this month, provided the ground is workable. The UC Master Gardeners offer a useful rule of thumb: your vegetable garden soil should be moist but not wet, and dry enough to crumble when pressed in your hand. If it forms a sticky ball, wait.

Direct-Sow These Vegetables in February

• Peas: Both snap and shelling varieties. They actually prefer cool soil and will fix nitrogen, improving your beds for summer crops.
• Spinach: Fast-growing and cold-tolerant. Sow successively every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
• Lettuce: Head and leaf varieties. Start now for spring salads before the heat bolts them.
• Swiss chard: One of the most reliable crops in our climate, productive for months.
• Turnips and radishes: Quick to mature and perfect for filling gaps in the garden.
• Potatoes: Mid-February is the traditional planting time. Choose certified seed potatoes to avoid disease.
• Onion sets: Plant onion bulbs now for summer harvest.
• Fava beans: A Sonoma County garden classic. They enrich the soil with nitrogen while producing a crop that pairs beautifully with local olive oil.

Transplants to Set Out

If your local nursery has transplants of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale, these can go in now. They are frost-tolerant and will size up as the days lengthen.

Starting Seeds Indoors: The Smart Head Start

Here is where February gardening gets strategic. While it is far too early to plant warm-season crops outside — the last average frost date in Sonoma County hovers around April 15, and most experienced gardeners wait until early to mid-May — you can start seeds indoors now and have robust transplants ready when the soil warms.

The UC Master Gardener Program specifically recommends starting tomato and other warm-weather vegetable seeds indoors in February. That means:

• Tomatoes: Start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before your planned transplant date. Look for disease-resistant varieties. The abbreviations on seed packets matter: “VFN” means resistance to Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, and Nematodes.
• Peppers: They germinate slowly and benefit from bottom heat. Start them now.
• Eggplant: Same timing as peppers.
• Basil: Start indoors in a warm, sunny window.

You can also start sweet potato slips this month. Place a sweet potato in a jar of water on a windowsill and let it sprout. The slips will be ready for outdoor planting once soil temperatures reach 65 degrees Fahrenheit, typically in late April or May.

Do Not Forget Your Existing Trees and Shrubs

February is not just about planting new things. The UC Master Gardeners and the Press Democrat’s “Advice to Grow By” column both emphasize that this month is critical for maintenance:

• Prune dormant fruit trees if you have not already. The leafless structure makes it easier to identify crossed branches and shape the canopy. See the University of California’s guidelines on pruning and training fruit trees for detailed technique.
• Spray fruit trees with dormant oil and copper after pruning and before buds open. For peach trees specifically, spray fixed copper just before bud swell to control peach leaf curl.
• Fertilize citrus with nitrogen. Most mature citrus trees in Sonoma County need their first application in January or February, just before bloom.
• Prune roses and ornamental grasses. Dispose of all rose canes and debris to prevent disease carryover.
• Cut back perennials that have become leggy, but leave frost-damaged plants alone until warmer weather reveals whether they have recovered.

Soil Preparation: The Foundation of Everything

If there is one thing that separates thriving Sonoma County gardens from struggling ones, it is soil preparation. Our native clay soils hold moisture well but can become compacted and heavy. February, when the soil is still moist but workable on dry days, is the ideal time to:

• Top-dress with finished compost. The UC Master Gardeners advise letting winter rains and soil organisms work it in naturally rather than tilling it aggressively.
• Install drip irrigation in vegetable beds. Water conservation is not optional here — it is a way of life.
• Mulch around established plants. Keep mulch at least 4 inches from the base of plants to prevent rot and pest issues.
• Test your soil if you had problems last year. Many local nurseries carry soil test kits that measure nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH.

Native Plants: A February Priority

California native plants are increasingly popular in Sonoma County gardens, and for good reason. They require less water, support local pollinators, and thrive in our specific conditions without the coddling that exotic species demand.

February tasks for native plantings include cutting back dead portions of perennials that have become leggy, topping off mulch, and watering young seedlings only if there has been a dry spell. Do not prune natives whose buds have already set.

If you are considering adding natives to your landscape, this is an excellent time to visit one of Sonoma County’s native plant nurseries and plan your spring installation. Plants like California fuchsia, coyote bush, manzanita, and native bunch grasses establish well when planted in late winter while the soil is still moist.

Pest Watch: Get Ahead of Snails and Slugs

As the UC Master Gardeners warn, February is when snails and slugs begin making their presence known in Sonoma County gardens. Look for silvery mucous trails and search under boards, pots, and other hiding places during the day.

Hand-picking at night is the most effective organic control — every night at first, then weekly as numbers decline. You can also place copper barriers around raised beds and set beer traps at soil level. Eliminating daytime hiding spots is the single most impactful step you can take.

Planning Your Year-Round Garden

February is also the perfect time to sit down with a garden plan for the year ahead. The UC Master Gardener Program offers a printable vegetable planting summary specific to Sonoma County that shows what to plant and when, month by month. Experienced gardeners may want to explore succession planting and companion planting to maximize garden space and extend the harvest window.

Record your planting dates, varieties, and observations. This kind of documentation, mundane as it seems, is what transforms a casual gardener into a skilled one over time.

Ready to Transform Your Outdoor Space?

Whether you are planning a new edible garden, redesigning your landscape with drought-tolerant natives, or simply want expert guidance on making the most of your Sonoma County property, the team at Geared for Growing has been helping local homeowners create beautiful, functional outdoor spaces since 1983. From landscape design through construction and ongoing garden care, we bring over four decades of Sonoma County expertise to every project.

Schedule a free consultation and let us help you make this growing season your best one yet.

Ready for next month? Our March planting guide for Sonoma County covers what to start, transplant, and harvest as the season shifts into gear.