Allotment jobs for February

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Discover seven allotment jobs for February, below.

Harvest the last kale leaves

Kale leaves are delicious and nutritious, and whichever type you're growing, from the purple 'Redbor' to the Italian 'Cavolo Nero', all are winter-hardy. In February, new side shoots appear which can be cropped for a few weeks before the plant runs to seed.

Buy kale seeds from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Sarah Raven

Pick mizuna and sow more

Mizuna, rocket and winter lettuce plants sown last autumn should now be ready to harvest, providing fresh green leaves for meals. Don't worry if you haven't grown any of these, as you can sow all three in the greenhouse in February where they'll respond well to conditions of low light and cool weather.

Buy mizuna seeds from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Sarah Raven
Buy winter lettuce seeds from Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Sarah Raven

Prepare beds for sowing

Preparing beds before sowing begins in spring is one of the most important February allotment jobs. In doing so, you'll help to aerate, drain and warm the soil. When digging over, be sure to incorporate plenty of homemade compost or composted manure. Alternatively, give beds a dressing of organic matter, then cover in plastic for a few weeks to reduce weeds and warm the soil. A trusty garden fork and spade are essential tools for this job, while a wheelbarrow is often useful if you're using alot of compost or manure. Our experts have tested a range of products to find the best border forks, best garden spades and best wheelbarrows. In a hurry? Here are a selection of best buys from these tests:

Clean and set up cloches

Now's the time to get cloches ready to warm the soil for early sowings, and provide protection for seedlings and young plants. Clean the sides with a scourer and warm soapy water, before rinsing off. For early crops, prepare and rake level the soil, before putting the cloche in place a few weeks before sowing.

Plant rhubarb

For tasty harvests of rhubarb, choose a bright, open position and prepare the soil by digging deeply and incorporating plenty of rich, homemade compost. Plant the crowns so that the buds are level with the soil surface, so make sure your the hole is big enough to allow this. Firm in and water well. Let plants establish for two years before harvesting.

Buy rhubarb crowns from Thompson & Morgan, Dobies and Crocus

Prune autumn raspberries

By pruning away the old canes of autumn-fruiting raspberries now, you'll give the new shoots plenty of time to grow and strengthen, to hold the fruit crop. Prune old canes hard back to the ground, to avoid damaging the new shoots that'll emerge between them. You can also plant new canes now.

Sow broad beans undercover

Broad beans are easy to sow under cover, and will provide a rewarding harvest in late spring. Sow indoors now in peat free compost in deep pots or modules, before placing in a cool, frost-free location, such as an unheated greenhouse or cold frame.
See our guide to peat free composts to find a range that suits your needs.