# DON'T WAIT! Start These 10 Crops In February (For Huge Harvests) Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzEd1ecqF-o Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/bzEd1ecqF-o Generated: 2026-02-01T23:33:34.919+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The urban farmer plans to start planting 10 specific crops in February inside high tunnels to get a massive spring harvest, detailing the setup of his indoor seed starting area, which includes LED grow lights and environmental controls like a humidifier and heater, and also shows off a custom-built Santa Maria-style barbecue pit under construction. **Key Points:** - The farmer plans to start planting 10 crops in February inside high tunnels to ensure a massive spring harvest, despite expecting temperatures to drop to 5 degrees Fahrenheit overnight. - The indoor seed starting area utilizes multiple wire shelving units illuminated by Barina T8 LED grow lights, which the farmer has used successfully without replacement. - Crops being started include Red Beets ('Boro'), Scallions ('Evergreen Hardy'), Dill ('Thalia'), and various lettuces like 'Salanova green and red butter' varieties. - The farmer uses a soil blocker to create small, dense seedling plugs, which reduces transplant shock compared to traditional cell trays. - Environmental controls in the basement seed starting room include an AC Infinity smart controller managing a humidifier (running to maintain humidity) and a space heater (kicking on when temps drop below 60°F or humidity drops below 50%). - The farmer is also building a large Santa Maria-style barbecue pit using a heavy-duty metal grate suspended by a winch system, planning to use it for cooking for chefs/friends. - The video contrasts the cold, snowy outdoor conditions (February 1st) with the warm, controlled environment of the indoor grow area. ![Screenshot at 00:13: The farmer shows the 10 crops he is starting indoors under LED grow lights, including onions and beets, to get ahead of the outdoor planting season despite freezing temperatures.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/bzEd1ecqF-o/00-00-13.jpg) **Context:** The video features an urban farmer, identified as Chef Mike, working on his farm during the early spring (February 1st) while snow covers the ground outside his high tunnels. He details his strategy for getting a huge spring harvest by starting seeds indoors under grow lights, showcasing his multi-tiered shelving setup and various environmental controls necessary for winter propagation. He also pivots to showing off a large, custom-built Santa Maria barbecue pit he is assembling in his basement workshop. ## Detailed Analysis The video begins with the farmer, Chef Mike, outside in the snow on February 1st, noting that 6 inches of snow fell the previous night and temperatures are expected to reach 5 degrees Fahrenheit. He emphasizes the importance of starting crops early inside high tunnels so they are ready for a massive spring harvest. He then transitions to showing his indoor seed starting setup in his basement, which features multiple wire racks equipped with Barina T8 LED grow lights. He mentions these lights last a long time, saving him the hassle of frequent replacement. The control of the environment is managed by an AC Infinity smart controller, which automatically activates a humidifier when humidity drops and a space heater when temperatures fall below 60°F or humidity below 50%. He shows trays of various seedlings, including onions (which he notes he doesn't grow for profit), Red Beets ('Boro'), Dill ('Thalia'), Scallions ('Evergreen Hardy'), and lettuce (Salanova green and red butter). He highlights that he uses a soil blocker for the lettuce to minimize transplant shock. He also shows off his progress on a custom-built Santa Maria-style barbecue pit, which uses a winch system to raise and lower a large cast iron grate over a future fire pit area, intended for hosting private dinners for chef friends. The video concludes by showing the mature broccoli crop ('Fiesta' variety) growing outside, contrasting the success of his controlled indoor environment with the year-round growing possibilities. ### Winter Preparation - Snow fell overnight with temperatures hitting 5 degrees F, necessitating the use of high tunnels for early planting. ### Indoor Seed Starting Setup - Farmer uses wire shelving racks with Barina T8 LED grow lights; environmental control via an AC Infinity smart controller managing a humidifier and heater. ### Crops Started Indoors - Ten crops are being started, including Red Beets ('Boro'), Scallions ('Evergreen Hardy'), Dill ('Thalia'), Parsley ('Giant of Italy'), and various lettuces (Salanova green/red butter). ### Transplanting Strategy - Seedlings are started in soil blocks to reduce transplant shock; lettuce seedlings are held for about two weeks before planting out. ### Profitability Note - Crops like onions are grown for personal use/chef dinners, not primary profit, unlike lettuce which is a good money-maker. ### Santa Maria Grill Build - The farmer showcases a partially assembled, custom-built Santa Maria barbecue pit featuring a winch system to adjust a cast iron grate. ### Outdoor Success Example - Shows fully grown 'Fiesta' broccoli harvested from the field, demonstrating the long-term results of his growing strategy. ![Screenshot at 00:01: The farmer stands outside his snow-covered high tunnels on February 1st, indicating the need for controlled growing environments.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/bzEd1ecqF-o/00-00-01.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:17: A close-up view inside the basement grow room shows trays of seedlings under bright LED grow lights, including onions and beets.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/bzEd1ecqF-o/00-00-17.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:33: A clip showing the farmer outdoors harvesting large bunches of red beets \('Badger Flame'\) from the field.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/bzEd1ecqF-o/00-00-33.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:28: Inside the high tunnel, the farmer points to the beds where he installed frost blankets \(Agg 50\) to protect crops during cold snaps.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/bzEd1ecqF-o/00-02-28.jpg) ![Screenshot at 04:15: The farmer stands inside the grow tent area, showing the multi-tiered shelving system fully equipped with long LED light bars.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/bzEd1ecqF-o/00-04-15.jpg)