What to Plant in February

February marks the beginning of seed starting season for many growers. Start your earliest varieties indoors under grow lights.

Climate Zone:

🌱 Start Indoors

Classic Jalapeño

Classic Jalapeño

Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant after soil warms to 60°F.

Early Jalapeño

Early Jalapeño

Early harvest means you can succession plant for continuous production.

TAM Jalapeño

TAM Jalapeño

Excellent disease resistance. Thrives in humid climates.

Purple Jalapeño

Purple Jalapeño

Harvest when deep purple or wait until red for sweeter flavor.

NuMex Piñata Jalapeño

NuMex Piñata Jalapeño

Each color stage has unique flavor. Harvest at preferred color.

Jalapeño M

Jalapeño M

Resistant to common pepper diseases. Great for humid regions.

Fooled You Jalapeño

Fooled You Jalapeño

Great introduction to growing peppers for families.

Chipotle (Smoked Jalapeño)

Chipotle (Smoked Jalapeño)

Harvest red jalapeños for smoking. Green ones can be used fresh. 12+ week harvest.

Fresno Pepper

Fresno Pepper

Develops heat as it ripens from green to red.

Bell Pepper

Bell Pepper

Very productive. Pick green for continuous production or wait for sweet colored peppers.

Anaheim

Anaheim

New Mexico staple. Excellent for canning and freezing.

Poblano

Poblano

When dried and smoked, becomes ancho chile. Large fruits need support.

Cayenne

Cayenne

Harvest red for maximum heat. Great for hot sauce.

Serrano

Serrano

Very productive. Harvest green or allow to ripen to red.

Gigantia Jalapeño

Gigantia Jalapeño

Heavy producer of jumbo fruits. Provide calcium for thick walls. Excellent for stuffing.

Mammoth Jalapeño

Mammoth Jalapeño

Very productive. Similar to Mucho Nacho but larger. Space 24-30 inches.

Conchos Jalapeño

Conchos Jalapeño

Mexican variety with exceptional crunch. Perfect for nacho slices.

Señorita Jalapeño

Señorita Jalapeño

Early harvest means succession planting possible. Very space efficient.

Traveler's Jalapeño

Traveler's Jalapeño

Balcony and patio favorite. Use 5-gallon pot minimum.

El Jefe Jalapeño

El Jefe Jalapeño

Modern hybrid with old-school flavor. Very virus resistant.

NuMex Jalmundo

NuMex Jalmundo

Improvement over Mucho Nacho. Even larger with milder heat.

NuMex Primavera

NuMex Primavera

Reliable early variety. Good disease resistance too.

NuMex Vaquero

NuMex Vaquero

Produces well even in hot summers when others struggle.

Jalapa Jalapeño

Jalapa Jalapeño

Heirloom from Jalapa, Veracruz. Balanced heat and complex flavor.

Zapotec Jalapeño

Zapotec Jalapeño

Heritage variety with complex taste. Great for traditional mole.

Mitla Jalapeño

Mitla Jalapeño

Heat lovers choice. More kick than typical jalapeños.

Orange Jalapeño

Orange Jalapeño

Ripens green → orange (not red!). Slightly sweeter than green.

Lemon Spice Jalapeño

Lemon Spice Jalapeño

Ripens green → lemon yellow. Beautiful in salsa and garnishes.

Jalapeño Popper Hybrid

Jalapeño Popper Hybrid

Uniform size perfect for consistent cooking. Commercial favorite.

Coolapeño

Coolapeño

Heat-sensitive eaters rejoice! All flavor, no burn. Great fresh eating.

Delicias Jalapeño

Delicias Jalapeño

Regional favorite in northern Mexico. Authentic traditional flavor.

Espinalteco Jalapeño

Espinalteco Jalapeño

Regional Mexican variety. Excellent for hot sauce production.

Huasteco Jalapeño

Huasteco Jalapeño

Huastecan variety handles humidity well. Fruity undertones unique.

Rayado Jalapeño

Rayado Jalapeño

Collector's variety. Stunning ornamental value. Save seeds carefully!

Jalapeño Brown

Jalapeño Brown

Collector's item. Nearly impossible to find. Save seeds!

Jaloro Jalapeño

Jaloro Jalapeño

Ripens green → golden yellow. Mild heat, sweet flavor.

TAM Veracruz Jalapeño

TAM Veracruz Jalapeño

Perfect for commercial mild jalapeño production. Very productive.

Señor Jalapeño

Señor Jalapeño

Reliable yields. Good disease resistance. Professional growers choice.

🌶️ Ready to Harvest

Classic Jalapeño

Classic Jalapeño

Start seeds indoors in mid-March. Transplant in mid-May when soil temperature reaches 60°F. First harvest typically in mid-July.

Cayenne

Cayenne

One of the easiest hot peppers to grow. Plants produce heavily. Excellent for drying.

NuMex Piñata

NuMex Piñata

Developed in New Mexico, perfect for these zones. Multiple colors on same plant add visual interest. Very productive.

Jalafuego

Jalafuego

Thrives in these zones. Hotter than standard jalapeños - handle with care. Excellent for hot sauce making.

Jalapeño

Jalapeño

Start seeds indoors in mid-March. Transplant in mid-May when soil temperature reaches 60°F. First harvest typically in mid-July.

Early Jalapeño

Early Jalapeño

Early harvest means you can succession plant for continuous production.

Cayenne

Cayenne

One of the easiest hot peppers to grow. Plants produce heavily. Excellent for drying.

Bell Pepper

Bell Pepper

Very productive. Pick green for continuous production or wait for sweet colored peppers.

Señorita Jalapeño

Señorita Jalapeño

Early harvest means succession planting possible. Very space efficient.

Traveler's Jalapeño

Traveler's Jalapeño

Balcony and patio favorite. Use 5-gallon pot minimum.

NuMex Primavera

NuMex Primavera

Reliable early variety. Good disease resistance too.

Chipotle (Smoked Jalapeño)

Chipotle (Smoked Jalapeño)

Same growing as jalapeños. Leave peppers on plant until fully red and starting to dry. Perfect for smoking and drying.

Jalapeño

Jalapeño

Start seeds indoors in mid-March. Transplant in mid-May when soil temperature reaches 60°F. First harvest typically in mid-July.

Cayenne

Cayenne

One of the easiest hot peppers to grow. Plants produce heavily. Excellent for drying.

Jalapeño M

Jalapeño M

Thrives in these zones. Disease resistance makes it ideal for humid climates. Very productive throughout summer.

Early Jalapeño

Early Jalapeño

Excellent choice for these zones. Early maturity allows for succession planting. First harvest in early-mid July.

Coolapeño

Coolapeño

Heat-sensitive eaters rejoice! All flavor, no burn. Great fresh eating.

TAM Veracruz Jalapeño

TAM Veracruz Jalapeño

Perfect for commercial mild jalapeño production. Very productive.

TAM Jalapeño

TAM Jalapeño

Performs exceptionally well in these zones. Milder heat makes it versatile. Very productive plants.

Purple Jalapeño

Purple Jalapeño

Stunning in containers or garden beds. Purple color most vibrant in full sun. Harvest when purple or wait for red.

Señorita Jalapeño

Señorita Jalapeño

Ideal for these zones. Seedless peppers save prep time. Milder heat makes them family-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start pepper seeds indoors in February?
Whether you should start seeds in February depends on your climate zone and last frost date. Generally, pepper seeds should be started indoors 8-10 weeks before your last frost date. Check the climate zone selector above to see specific recommendations for your area.
What peppers can I transplant in February?
Transplanting timing depends on your climate zone. Peppers should only be transplanted outdoors after the danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are consistently above 60°F (15°C). Use the climate zone selector above to see which peppers are ready for transplanting in your area this month.
What peppers are ready to harvest in February?
Harvest timing varies by pepper variety and climate zone. Most peppers take 60-90 days from transplanting to reach maturity. Check the "Ready to Harvest" section above for varieties typically ready in February in your zone.