7 Seeds You Can Plant on Your Windowsill in February – No Grow Lights Needed

February feels too early for gardening. The ground is frozen, snow is still coming down, and spring seems forever away. But south-facing windowsills get enough light by mid-February to start certain seeds without grow lights or a fancy setup.

Not every plant tolerates windowsill conditions, though. Most seedlings want 12-16 hours of bright light daily, which windows just don't provide in winter. Slow-growing crops that you transplant in late April or May actually benefit from an early February start anyway.

Starting seeds indoors on windowsills takes some planning, but it's way cheaper than buying transplants and it gives you access to varieties nurseries may not carry. I’ll share which are the best seeds to start on windowsills now, based on decades of indoor edible growing in my own home.

Tips for Starting Seeds on Windowsills

South-facing windows work best for seed starting. East or west-facing windows provide decent light, too, but north-facing windows won't provide all the light seedlings need to thrive. Clean your windows before starting seeds. Dirt and grime blocks surprising amounts of light. Position seed trays as close to the glass as possible without actually touching it.

Rotate containers daily. Seedlings lean towards light sources, which causes weak and scraggly stems that flop over. Turning trays 180 degrees each day keeps stems straighter and prevents leggy seedlings.

These seed starting trays from Amazon, which fit standard windowsills and have drainage holes built in make rotation easy. Keep soil temperatures around 65-75°F (18-24°C) for germination. Windowsills can get somewhat cold at night, so pull trays back from the glass after sunset to keep seeds warm.

Seeds You Can Grow on Your Windowsill

Now that you understand some of the basics of seed starting on windowsills for the best results, let's look at which seeds will thrive the most.

1. Lettuce

Lettuce seeds germinate quickly and handle lower light better than most veggies. Seeds sprout in 7-10 days at room temperature. They actually like cooler spots anyway, so windowsills dropping to 60°F (15°C) nights will suit lettuce seeds just fine. Varieties like bibb or loose leaf stay compact and sweet under limited light, avoiding bitterness from heat.

Start lettuce seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant when three or four true leaves show. Leafy types of lettuce manage windowsills better than heads since they grow faster and forgive crowding a bit.

Water when the soil surface dries. Lettuce hates being soggy, but wilts quickly if too dry. Harvest outer leaves early for a continuous supply of fresh greens right there on your windowsill, if space allows.

Shop a huge variety of lettuce seeds from Burpee.

2. Spinach

Spinach seeds sprout in 7-14 days, sometimes needing a chill for the best germination rates. It's a cool-season vegetable, so windowsills that stay cooler work well without overheating these leafy greens. Types of spinach like 'Bloomsdale' or baby leaf varieties hold onto flavor even in lower light.

Start spinach 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Thin to one plant per cell once true leaves appear – spinach transplants poorly when it's crowded. Keep soil moist, but not soggy. You can forgive some legginess with spinach since you're after the leaves. Mulch lightly with vermiculite to retain moisture without blocking tiny sprouts.

Explore tons of tasty spinach varieties to grow from seed from Burpee.

3. Herbs (Basil, Cilantro, Parsley)

Herbs germination timelines vary. Basil takes 7-10 days, cilantro needs 7-14, and parsley drags to 14-21 days. But all three manage windowsill light reasonably well. Basil needs warmth though, so keep it away from cold glass at night. Cilantro and parsley take cooler temperatures fine. Genovese basil stays aromatic, flat-leaf parsley packs flavor, and cilantro bolts slower in cool spots.

Start herbs 6-8 weeks before last frost for transplant, or grow on a windowsill permanently and harvest microgreens. Pinch once they are 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) tall for bushier plants.

This potting mix from Amazon drains sharp and avoids damping off that hits herb seedlings hard. Snip regularly to encourage side shoots and prevent flowering too soon.

Find herb seeds specifically designed for containers from Burpee.

4. Tomatoes

Tomatoes need 6-8 weeks to reach transplant size, making February spot-on for seed starting. Tomatoes like bright light, but manage windowsills if rotated daily. Tomato seedlings get leggy low light, but the fix is easy. Just bury stems deeper when you transplant for extra roots on the stems. Cherry tomato varieties like 'Sweet 100' stay compact and productive indoors longer.

Start tomatoes 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant when nights stay above 50°F (10°C). Use small pots first – seeds germinate better when confined. Once true leaves develop, move to larger pots. Bottom watering tomatoes helps prevent damping off. Support with stakes early if the stems start to stretch.

Discover your new favorite tomato in Burpee's large collection of seeds.

5. Peppers

Peppers take 8-10 weeks to reach transplant size, which is longer than most. A February start gives them time to mature properly. Pepper seeds need warmth around 70-80°F (21-27°C) to sprout. Once up, seedlings handle cooler windowsills just fine. Sweet bells or hot chili peppers both work, though hotter varieties germinate slower.

Peppers grow slowly, so transplanting at a small size is normal. They catch up outside. Keep soil evenly moist, as big swings can make quick work of your seedlings. Fertilize peppers weekly at half-strength once true leaves appear. Rotate for even growth and to prevent leaning toward the light.

Shop delicious sweet, hot, and bell pepper seeds from Burpee.

6. Broccoli

Broccoli transplants well and likes cool temperatures, which fits windowsills nicely. Seeds germinate in 5-10 days at room temperature. This cool-season crop is ready in early April for planting. Varieties like 'Calabrese' produce tight heads even from modest starts.

Start broccoli 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant when they have 3-4 true leaves. Some legginess isn't the end of the world since heads are the goal.

Keep soil moist and not waterlogged. Broccoli seedlings tolerate crowding better than most, so start multiple per cell and thin later. Harden off seedlings gradually before the outdoor move.

Who knew there were so many beautiful broccoli varieties? Find a uniquely delicious one from Burpee.

7. Kale

Kale germinates fast in only 5-7 days and grows quickly on windowsills without fuss. This cool-season crop prefers lower temperatures that windowsills provide. Seedlings stay compact even in lower light, which makes this veggie easier to manage than other leggier crops. Curly or Lacinato kale varieties hold texture and flavor well.

Start kale 6-8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant at about 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) tall. They don’t mind being transplanted when they are small. Water when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil dries out. Kale tolerates wet or dry better than most vegetables, though.

These plant labels from Amazon help you keep track of varieties since kale seedlings look similar. Harvest baby leaves for salads straight from the windowsill, if desired.

Explore exciting kale cultivars for sale from Burpee.

Common Problems & Solutions

Leggy seedlings is one of the biggest indoor seed starting problems by far. Stems stretch like crazy toward the light, becoming thin and weak. Rotate containers daily to minimize this. If seedlings get too leggy anyway, transplant them slightly deeper to bury those weak stems or use a small fan to strengthen stems indoors.

Damping off kills seedlings right at the soil level, causing them to topple over suddenly. This fungal disease thrives in overly moist conditions with poor air circulation. Bottom water seedlings instead of top watering. Use sterile seed starting mix, not garden soil. Space containers out for airflow between trays.