February on the Farm: Signs of Spring Amidst the Cold

This winter the polar vortex has made sure we haven’t been spoiled with our usual mild weather. Being on the same latitude as Washington, D.C., we’re used to a longer stretch of warmth—but this year has been a different story.

Despite the chilly days, February brings a welcome change: noticeably longer daylight hours and continuous seed-sowing for flowers and seed starting for vegetables. Thankfully, the ground has never fully frozen, which means we can begin early cleanup and planting. This month is all about growth—both in the greenhouse and in the fields. We’re busy germinating seeds, pruning our shrubs, fruit trees, and perennials, and waiting for the forsythia to bloom, which will signal that it’s time to prune our rose bushes.

We’re especially excited to see our ranunculus and anemones looking strong and healthy after weathering the winter. Overwintered flowers may not put on much visible growth during the colder months, but beneath the surface, they’re establishing deep, strong roots. This slow and steady development leads to bigger, taller, and earlier blooms come spring.

Speaking of early blooms, our narcissus bulbs are starting to poke through the soil! These aren’t your standard yellow roadside daffodils—our fancy varieties will be the first to bloom, followed by our specialty tulips. We’ve also spotted our peonies beginning to emerge. Last year, we planted over 20 new peony roots, but since they’re still young, we have to be mindful not to over-harvest. As always, our peonies will be reserved for our subscribers and brides first, though we hope to have extras available at our flower stand this year.

We’re in the final stages of germinating our second and third rounds of spring flowers and experimenting with growing baby’s breath and carnations for the first time. We used to think of them as grocery store fillers—common and forgettable—but grown locally, they have a beauty and vibrancy that’s completely different from the mass-produced versions.

Looking ahead to March, we’ll shift our focus to summer flowers like sunflowers and zinnias while also expanding our vegetable growing. With food prices rising, we’re excited to grow more of our own produce—not just for fresh eating, but also to share tips with our community. If you’re interested in starting a vegetable garden this season, follow along on Instagram and Facebook! We’re documenting the entire process step by step in an informal vegetable grow-along.

For now, the biggest challenge is keeping spring fever in check—how about you? Are you itching to get your hands in the soil yet?