Will these work? their containers, winter sown seedlings will become entangled at the roots, or If you haven’t tried winter sowing flower seeds, you may be surprised that you can sow seeds in small, homemade greenhouses and let the containers sit outdoors all winter, even if your climate sees more than its fair share of freezing temperatures, rain, and snow. I was very pleasantly surprised! you. a hinge for your lid. That means you won’t have to worry Really—winter sown seedlings are There always seems to be condensation on the inside. Divide your thickest flats of seedlings into smaller hunks to make plugs to plant. My phone number is 212-xxx-xxxx. They are also itching to grow! I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this. Then slice the seedlings lengthwise and crosswise, as if you were dealing with a pan of My Very Serious Brownies. Is there any disadvantage to that? I have had densely packed seedlings in the jugs compete with each other for an extended period of time as I procrastinated about releasing them. starting seeds in winter doesn’t have to be confusing. Then follow the seed packet Then I lay a note on my pillow that says DID YOU RE-COVER YOUR CONTAINERS? I love hunk-o-seedlings–the ‘Brownie Method’–for transplant. Several of my milk jugs have sprouted, but I’m still waiting on the snapdragons and a few other perennials. You’ll want to remove the lid during the daytime to harden them off and transplant them when the soil is warm enough. Garlic seeds are tricky to source, but you can plant garlic sets outdoor in mild areas … As of now only batchelors button has sprung up and looks great but everything else-columbine, snapdragon, foxglove, agastache to name a few have no signs of life yet. And if so, at what ratio? ….Just wondering what you do…. Always enjoy receiving your garden advise. Then they’re I’ve kept an eye on them and misted with a spray bottle through the tops occasionally to be sure nothing dried out. And they have the bonus of being good reseeders in the garden, I love their volunteer seedlings each spring. Can seeds be done in my garage, zone 5??? =) I’m in Zone 5b, Lisa – You can follow the same planting-schedule as me. Kevin, you inspired me to really push the season and try a modified version of winter sowing, by removing the bottoms of the milk jugs which I obtained by making all my friends remove their milk jugs from their recycle bins and give them to me. Our gardening obsessed editors and writers choose every product we review. (I failed @ WS last year, so I have alot of questions…). This is after all what God designed the seeds to do in nature: fall from the plant, wait out the cold weather, then germinate and sprout in place. Love your blog anyway…Cindy. Hi Kevin, its my first time writing to you, I been following you for a while, love all the recipes and share them with my 2 daughters, I am looking forward when I can buy your cookbook, have a Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you, Sandy, Hi Sandy – You can use the same winter-sowing schedule as me. I’d love to do cuttings of grapes ,lavender,ect. One-gallon milk jugs work perfectly, or you can use materials such as two-liter Use a pocketknife, ice pick, or other sharp Now residing in zone 9 and am curious about winter sowing. Is that the correct thing to do? I have a seed starting system in my house, but use windows, etc also. Perennials usually get potted up in quart or gallon pots. Gardening Channel. Winter sowing has the added benefit of producing tough plants that have experienced the ultimate in hardening off. They were in sun most of the day now I’ve moved them to full all day sun. I have sown about 70 containers. seedlings that don’t need to be coddled. This is how nature does it; release a million seeds and get one hundred plants.” tough enough to bounce back from this manhandling treatment. In addition to giving you a head start on your that winter sown plants get makes them tougher all around, resulting in hardy Bonjour Kevin! Kevin, You may have tried it yourself, in the vegetable garden, sowing spinach and corn salad (mache) in the late fall for harvesting soon after the snow melts. Hi Kevin, When it’s been above 50 degrees, I keep all my milk jugs open in full sun and they have had exposure to some wind. I keep reminding myself that patience is a virtue! Winter sowing to the rescue! Any ideas? without turning my house into even more of a crazy place than it already is. I’m in zone 7a, so who knows? seeds in the end of April for planting the end of May? Winter sowing is simple and yields sturdy seedlings that are ready to grow. Most of my jugs hold seeds for perennials and many of them are types that need cycles of freezing and thawing to break dormancy and sprout. What do I do come spring? I want to harvest them in November (around Thanksgiving) so they can be harvested after a couple frosts. I plan on logging and documenting my growing experience in this series of weblogs titled as Winter Sown Seeds Weblog. I have used the WS method many times with great success. until your soil is damp but not waterlogged. Many insect pests just love teeny tiny seedlings. The following types of flowers,herbs, perennials, and vegetables are good bets for Once the seedlings are tall enough, and have grown their first few sets of true leaves, it’s time to plant them into the garden. In comparison, direct sowing is the process of planting seeds in your garden. I appreciate all of the wisdom and knowledge you share on this site. season. What soil do you suggest I use? For heavy sowing to make plugs my two faves are alyssum and wildflower blends. In one container I’ve not thinned. A very good writer and understander of the people who you focus on. I really enjoy all the information that you have shared.v. It’s like they’re drunk. Should I water them? The seed lies dormant all winter and is ready to sprout the first chance it gets, in the spring. In all my years of transplanting winter-sown seedlings, I don’t think I’ve lost a single plant. Winter sown annuals may only get potted up briefly in cell packs, giving them a chance to form really good roots before planting out. More Plants! . Keep reading to learn I live in the PNW, our climate is dismal but not severe. I was so inspired by your blog post that in late January I scavenged seven milk jugs and sowed two varieties of clematis, black eyed susan, geranium, vernonia and swiss chard. Perhaps I’ll try again next winter. Pull them apart as gently as you can, but I also don’t have full sun on my property but have a community garden plot that hopefully will stay open this season otherwise it will be the front lawn! It makes me wonder if the layer is preventing those seeds from germinating. This is my first time growing them. I welcome the thought of working far ahead of time for a great reward later. When you’re ready to move winter sown Hi Beverly – I’ve tried refrigerator/freezer stratification too, and it did not work. By planting in the “dead of winter”, you can be fairly confident that the seeds won’t start until spring is beginning. As for boxwood, I propagate the plants this way: https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2014/09/how-i-propagate-boxwood/. showers become a deluge and seedlings have had enough hydration. Could that have been what went wrong? I’m in zone 5-b, too! I, too am so happy that you are married. Any thought are appreciated. In fact, the early exposure to the elements Later that season, the Brussels sprouts greeted me with…of all things…Brussels sprouts. And they can be prepped and executed at a time when the gardener has not too much else to do, at least in the Northeast. K.R. Thanks. Wait until April for the warm season veggies that are frost-tender such as cucumbers, pumpkins, peppers and of course, tomatoes! It’s a fun method and it works like a charm. I have mounded a little extra soil at bottom of the stem, but that helps for an hour or so. Different Methods for Sowing Seeds. Hi Lisa – In which hardiness zone do you garden? If you have avoided starting seeds because you lack space or sunny windows, check out winter sowing. Here’s another way to remove seedlings from a milk jug: Cut off the front side of the “greenhouse”…. Winter Sowing is a cost-effective, low-maintenance way to grow many types of seeds into healthy baby plants. It will be my first time to winter sow this season. I even posted a link on my business FB page to your site! I’m so disappointed with the results of my first effort at winter sowing. Afraid they’ll be too leggy and fall over on me. Should i mix it w/ Perlite? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. so be sure the seeds you’re planning to use will work. Hi Kristy – I sow seeds of vegetables and tender annuals in milk jugs in April. Tawni – Keep everything outside. (See my post What to Winter-Sow…and When.). Missouri is bad for freeze and thaw. ready to be planted in their permanent spots in your garden according to each Thanks so much! We are having a really exceptionally warm spring. With all the benefits that come along with starting seeds in winter, there’s really no reason to wait until the warm weather rolls in to get started on your springtime garden. Winter Sowing (Yes You Can Garden in Winter) - Gingham Gardens Thank you again, Winter-Sowing 101: The Basics protect winter sown seeds from the cold, you’ll need some plastic containers. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. Kevin, thank you very much for everything you do for Winter Sowing. A Garden for the House, linked here has some wonderful information about Winter […], Your email address will not be published. Then break the young plants apart, as described earlier. Quite different climate from the zone 6 to which I was accustomed. They all look happy and perfectly healthy, except for the fact that the two largest seedlings don’t want to stand upright. Whatever your reasons are for winter sowing, You have a lot of loyal fans! Kevin, Replaced the milk jugs and hoped. The winter sowing method uses clear bottles, such as milk jugs, as small greenhouses. With Winter Sowing you can sow at your own pace throughout the winter season. Seeds cost money and may be highly valuable when trying to grow a survival garden. or the description in the catalog or on the website for the following key Do I WS them now? Give it a whirl! Carrots. Not your most organized gardener I had them sitting out on a deck area that only gets a few hours of late afternoon sunshine. tool to punch a few drainage holes in the bottom and about half an inch up the Can you tell me when to start annuals? What to Sow in Milk Jug Seed Pots Winter sown One thing to remind your followers to check out is that their zone code is correct. Not all seeds are suitable for winter sowing, They did extremely well when unceremoniously yanked apart and potted (to allow them to reach a larger size before being placed into the perennial border.) Since the jugs are placed outside during the winter, the seeds naturally begin to germinate when conditions are right. I notice that you use the semi-transparent jugs that milk and ice tea often come in. I would think that the individual seed plugs would allow seedlings to grow more before planing out, but on the other hand take up a lot more space and can get more expensive buying the plug trays. Of course, hardy annuals (like snapdragons) don’t require any frost protection, and neither do perennials. Hi Beth – So glad you found me on YouTube. But because these seedlings have developed in tough conditions, ~ Peg, Kevin, This is my first year winter sowing . If so, how do you separate and transplant the seedlings? I just want to ask your opinion on sowing seeds in newspaper pots then put inside the milk jugs for winter sowing? find specific timelines for various plants listed by growing zone, Bok choy (Brassica rapa subsp. In spring, All Rights Reserved. They both cut easy and can make edging or beds in a flash. When the weather warms your seedlings can fry if you don’t prop them open during the day. when more delicate plants that have been catered to and babied might struggle. The layer of green seems more prominent on the containers that have not sprouted anything yet. Hello Kevin, I am in zone 6a (Indianapolis). Seed starting mix is for seeds. don’t worry if you need to tear the roots to separate the seedlings. This fast … work of moving them later if you place your containers in a sunny spot now. Many are doing wonderfully. Click the link that reads: Winter-Sowing 101 for more details. This is my first blog post pertaining to growing trees from winter sown seeds. Your email address will not be published. Any thoughts on what the issue is? sure to avoid positioning your plants under awnings or anything else that would (Don’t mean to rub that in!) Thank you for being so prompt! I’m in zone 5a and I planted several milk jugs and soda bottles this winter. Thanks again! as miniature greenhouses to keep the young plants safe and warm. To get started with winter sowing, you’ll need … Absolutely nothing has sprouted! They are in a protected area on the south side of my house and I’m concerned about them drying out. The winter jugs are handy and useful. Winter sowing allows me to start even more plants from seed (YEA! Then winter sown seedlings begin to grow inside of containers that act Algae forms under warm, moist conditions. Seedlings which are moved from outdoors to in will often perish from the dramatic change in temperature/humidity. Thanks for all the great info! Hi Pauline – Winter-sowing refers to outdoor seed germination. Even more surprising, winter-sown plants tend to be stronger and more resilient than indoor-sown seeds. I’ve been doing it for the last two years, since I first read your column on how to do it. I am in zone 7a and was planning on transplanting soon, but I am worried they won’t make it. Hope this tip isn’t redundant. stand in the way of them getting some rain. My rabbits got loose in my greenhouse and ate all my winter starts. I do my Solstice Sow seeds usually on December 21st but some years I've been out visiting or too busy with family festivities. I brought my plants in and put them under lights because it’s going to be getting under 30 degrees for the next few days…and only the broccoli had germinated…is this ok?…should I put them back outside? The roots of winter-sown seedlings do eventually become entangled, and even root-bound. Thanks Kevin. The weather has been getting quite warm here so I opened up the containers to give the seedlings some sunlight. Potting soil maybe too heavy for the roots of starters. It is my first time trying winter sowing. I’m with you on alyssum — it’s one of the best edging plants, plus it offers sweet perfume. Transplanting seedlings and direct sowing are the two main methods of introducing plants to your small garden. If your seedlings have grown truly thick in a When is the right time to transplant winter sown plants in the garden beds? Should they by now? Keep them coming! Hi Brittney – If you live in a cold climate, there’s no need to worry about water until the seeds germinate. Hi Rocky – Do you live in the Northeast? Have fun with your project! I have four seedlings a bit smaller then the ones you have pictured. Thank you, Hi Kevin, Thank You, fulfilling their need for water without requiring any time or attention from time to transplant them into your garden. Spring arrived very late here (and, heaven help us, another cold-front is headed this way), so winter-sown seeds will be slow to germinate this year. With time and warmth, the pokey seeds will germinate and grow! I’m worried that the non-diffused light might cook the seedlings after they germinate. winter sowing. My own seeds are under 18 inches of snow! Is it unusual that some have not germinated yet? It’s February and I am already planting my tree seeds for spring! Hello fellow gardeners, I plan to repeat my gamble every 2 weeks. Formerly from Kansas but Tina from SW Iowa now. Your posts are very informative especially to newbie gardeners like me. I was so happy to stumble upon you on YouTube. Kevin, Thank you! ), […] of the extra seedlings. or hardening off. Will this work for zucchini, cukes, butternut squash, watermelon etc. More winter-sowing features at A Garden for the House: Remember, these babies were not coddled indoors under “grow” lights. Hello. Sounds easy? THIS method of sowing seeds and then transplanting them into the garden is THE BEST! Check the seed packaging Sowing seeds in the fall or winter is an old technique used worldwide. Seed is relatively inexpensive and we should sow many more seeds than will reasonably germinate. compost, fish emulsion (or anything, for that matter)? Since it is so dry here and so warm right now, i have felt I needed to lightly spritz some of my babies. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. seeds as directed. portions suitable for planting, just like you’d slice a cake. It’s hard to duplicate this indoors, even with refrigerator stratification. Hi Debra – The sign-up link for my email newsletter at the very end of this post. Oops! Brussels sprouts are always sweeter after they’ve endured a couple of autumn frosts. Please advice. I have always been in zone 7 , but for 30 plus years our winter always goes down to as much as 12 below zero. In your pictures above, when did you transplant them into your garden. Hello Kevin, Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you for your informative website. Seeds which have not yet germinated won’t be harmed from the cold. Please see these two article for more information on both methods: Seed Starting 101: Winter Sowing in which I share how I use milk jugs outdoors as mini greenhouses to start seed. Transplanting is the process of planting a baby plant, or starts, into your garden. Here are a couple of ways to separate and transplant the seedlings: First, let’s look at some Brussels sprouts seedlings I winter-sowed one year. I’ve just used a mister on them in order to keep them moist, especially since I’m not seeing a lot of condensation on the jug. You can save yourself the Sowing my winter jugs for the second year! your drainage holes, you’ll find the task easier if you fill the containers I just found this posting but don’t see a place to sign-up. A quick question about growing brussels sprouts- Have you ever had a problem with them leaning? Found your blog via browsing Tammy Schmits’ site and the info you have is really great. Mine has actually changed in the last 10 years. I would love a purple mixer. Yes I’m in Maine. .. and this is an awesome blog! Jan. Hi Jan – You could spritz the seedlings, but here’s an even better watering-method: Put the jugs in a large pail of water, and leave them there for about 20 minutes. Well, Brick, let me answer your most important questions. We start collecting milk/water/juice clear jugs from November on… If you choose to use a drill to create COPYRIGHT© 2009–2021 | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | KEVIN LEE JACOBS. Tawni – I only cover the frost-tender seedlings, and then — only if I have the energy to do so! soft drink bottles, takeout containers from restaurants, or any plastic Seeds will take their cue from nature and germinate on their own in the I have been a gardener for 74 years and always looking for new ideas. WinterSown's Hunk-O-Seedling transplant method will help you to quickly and easily pant your garden. Try to get all of the roots when digging and transplant to a well-draining spot. seedlings into the garden, hold your hand over the top of the container and Hi Kimmy – Not too late to winter-sow or “spring-sow” veggie seeds and other annuals. I sow most of my seeds using two methods, Winter Sowing and also indoors using your standard seed starting Equipment. I tried soapy water without luck. I have never winter garden in the jugs and am looking forward to doing so next year. container that’s easy to cut with scissors, you can simply remove the front, To control it, just continue to open the tops of the jugs on warm, sunny days, as this will increase air circulation. For my indoor started seedlings, as a rule of thumb I wait until Copyright © 2021. I noticed there was a green substance covering the soil. Required fields are marked *. I live in Montreal, zone 5a, and I can’t wait for spring to arrive. Keep watch for a few years on your weather and make sure you are listed correctly. They were born outside, and subjected to snow, ice, sleet, and driving rain. I’d winter-sow these in milk jugs, and transplant to the open garden in one of the manners described above. I winter-sowed about 25 jugs this year. I pushed the bottomless jugs into the soil of a large flower pot and planted the seeds within the outline of the milk jugs. They tend to have significantly less transplant shock than seedlings from a nursery. Today I purchased a clematis and bleeding heart roots that are in bags in the garden section of Home Depot / Walmart. My grandma used to winter sow this way. The best time to start your winter sowing varies based on your location and what you’re growing. Well, it is! We don’t buy these items, but I can get clear jugs from the water we use at work. It was neat to see this! If you are worried about your broccoli seedlings, just throw a blanket or towel over the jug on below-freezing nights. collapsing in on you when the drill is applied. This is such a great idea, I have about 15 jugs under the snow right now and have another 15 to work on. Winter Sowing Uses Fewer Seeds. seedling’s specific planting instructions. phrases, which are signals that you can use winter sowing. instructions (or planting information from the catalog or website) to sow your Then cut almost all the way It would be nice to plant in the pot I intend to grow in and just thin out as opposed to transplanting. When is the right time to transplant winter sown plants in the garden beds? Ready to get a jump on your spring garden with winter sowing? This week, I received the following email from reader Brick: Kevin, you’re extremely good looking. But, I too did not do so well with my first year’s milk jug growing. I’m trying winter sowing for the first time and am only trying annuals and herbs. You’ve probably heard about how starting seeds in the winter can give gardeners a jump on spring, saving you time and energy when things are busy. The 104 Homestead covers Starting Seeds in Winter, A Garden for The House covers How to Transplant Winter Sown Seedlings, A Garden for The House covers What to Sow When, A Garden for The House covers Winter Sowing 101, Penn State Extension covers Successful Winter Seed Sowing, Flower Patch Farmhouse covers Winter Sowing of Seeds, Gardener’s Supply Company covers When is It Warm Enough to Plant, Gardener’s Supply Company covers When to Start Your Seeds, Get Busy Gardening covers Best Seeds for Winter Sowing, Get Busy Gardening covers Winter Sowing Seeds, Winter Sown covers Seed Lists for Winter Sowing, Filed Under: Gardening 101 Tagged With: direct sow seeds, mini greenhouse, seed starting, sowing winter seeds, winter gardening, winter gardening tips, winter seed planting, Your email address will not be published. The containers are in direct sunlight. Hello Kevin and everyone. As a general rule, most annual vegetables should be sown indoors about six weeks before the last frost in your area. You can even use winter sowing in areas that In the past, I’ve had tomato plants survive below-freezing temps in their milk jug greenhouses, with no covering whatsoever. One thing – little green beasties ate my brussel sprouts last year. Hi Kevin, I love your site. sides of each of your chosen containers. spring. I use a clip clothes pin on the bottom rim then rest the top of the milk jug on the pin to vent the container. flip it upside down, then remove the seedlings and turn them right-side up A Growing Dome Gardener’s Expert Tips on Transplanting & Seed Sowing . Many many thanks to you for updating and sharing this planting information and technique. I obviously did something wrong. of soil to the container and wet it thoroughly. even rootbound. You may have accidently snapped them. Wherever you’d like to set up your miniature My biggest problem was losing them after setting them out! BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | February 11, 2015 66 Comments. Two days ago, I planted out 5 jugs and will do more every two weeks with different seeds. again in your hand. I noticed on your blog you started all your boxwood did you start in the milk jugs? Your seeds will have the whole winter season to acclimate to the cold. I am in zone 6a. Love sharing all your positive posts and energy! Hallelujah for winter-sowing! Now you’re ready to add three or four inches I had great success with gardening in the past – just need a decent place for it now which is not easy to find in Colorado. Want to add a cautionary note here. Do not sow too early in the season or you’ll end up having to transplant seedlings into bigger containers more often because conditions outside still aren’t suitable for outdoor planting. And planted them individually in a raised bed. Do I need to water them at all? The temps inside the containers can be 20+ degrees warmer than the outside temps. Not at all unusual for some seeds to sprout ahead of others. I live in south east MI and usually cannot plant until after Memorial Day because of frost. …And slide the seedlings out, all in one clump. Hi Josie – The green stuff is algae, and not harmful to seeds/seedlings. My garden zone is 6a and I’m wondering if it’s too late to sow my seedlings outside? For an exceptionally early crop of carrots in spring try growing Adelaide. This method works for many seeds, especially perennials, cold hardy annuals, many herbs and vegetables, and any seed that self-sows. Thinking of Brick, I’m so glad you’re married; otherwise you’d be mobbed, including by me, and I’m old enough to be your mother. It’s survival of the fittest, but growing exclusively outdoors, they are great at surviving all sorts of challenges. We do mist the seedlings in our milk jugs. I am having better success then I ever had starting indoors. So, I have not winter sown. I live in Spokane wa when will they sprout? Thank you! I quickly inverted the clump again, so that the seedlings were standing in an upright position. Five seeds you can grow this winter ... February is too cold to sow seeds directly in outside soil, but people can start preparing their gardens for later in the year. oh, I lust after a place where I can have a garden, even more than lusting after that purple mixer! Zone 7 is not suppose to go beyond 0 degrees. Hi, love this site! Growing plants from seeds is cheaper than buying plants, and starting seeds with the winter sowing method is cheaper than starting them indoors. So be brutal when you separate the seedlings. The soil will absorb water through the drainage holes in the bottom of the jugs. They are tough as nails. they’re hardy enough to handle their roots being torn and severed when it’s Containers with lids give you the added benefit of being able to pop the they’ll need to get sunlight so they start to grow. I may have the earliest kale, butter crunch lettuce and arugula anyone every imagined. Love the mixer didn’t know there was such great colors.Im still talking about the blue one! This keeps the sides from (Probably I should move the link front and center! Just click the link “What to Winter-Sow…and When.” The link is located at the end of the article above. To create your miniature greenhouses that My containers look dry inside. Left in I started some inside and I found that last year they were very spindly and many died when I transplanted them into the garden (cucumber, squash, chard and kale). Don't thin your seedlings, instead hunk them! Of about 10 different perennials, only about 2 actually survived to plant. And when did you harvest them? Did not try again this year, maybe I’ll give it a try again next fall. And what about extremely crowded seedlings, such as the creeping thyme pictured above? chinensis), Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group), Mache/corn salad/lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta), Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. I do enjoy. Thanks for the help and your very fun blog! Should I start over? clump, you can actually use your scissors or a knife to slice them into
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