winter sowing in milk jugs

), Hi Kevin. Could this be done with cuttings? Really flipping hot in the summer. I’m going to soak myself with your articles and save those milk gallons. I live in zone 8a up here in Canada so I went out and planted a bunch of milk jugs up with a wide selection of the perennials I had in seed.. wish me luck! Also, is there a way I can determine when to sow other plants not listed above without having to ask about each one? I’m thinking of haybale gardening this year. Winter hardy vegetables like brassicas can be sown in late February and March. I have been planning a garden with the raised bed method and have been looking for ways to start the seeds. Posted on March 17, 2013 by Nana's House and Garden. Property Management Companies South Bay says. Stay in touch! Your seeds will have the whole winter season to acclimate to the cold. I’m from Dominican Republic where summer is all year around and winter feels like late spring days, I miss home so much I decided working on the little garden is the perfect excuse to be outside and feel like home. Just a thought for those that don’t mind scavenging…last week I walked around the neighborhood on recycling day and found plenty of uncrushed gallon milk jugs in blue bins by the curb. I am SOOOOO excited to get started with this!!!! Have fun with your project! thanks! (Here’s a full explanation of the process:  https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/) […], […] Sowing. Do these need to be watered when you first put them in the water jug? Nothing grew last year except for the green beans. I just need to start saving those milk jug – lots of them. Since it has been hot and dry where you are, go ahead and remove tape and open tops on particularly warm days ( 70s and 80s.) Whoops, sorry — missed some of the comments, but I can do tomatoes, etc now in Jan? Your planted and labeled greenhouse is now ready to brave the outdoor elements. Hello again Kevin, This means throwing a blanket over their containers, or moving them to warmer quarters at night. I thinks this could work better than cluttering up the top of my frig with seedling trays and a grow light. Just wondering if the size of the container matters ? (besides not planting as many seeds in each container?). March 24th, still not a thing sprouted. You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa). The quickest way I found to punch the holes is a soldering iron. I was scheduled to present Milkweed/Winter sowing for our Master Gardener group the first of January and wanted to have some sprouted plants on hand so I got them ready in October. Can’t wait until Spring to discover all of the new plants. After buying poorly grown, half-dead zinnas and snaps (at no discount) from Samascott's last year, I'm determined to grow all of my own summer plants from seed. Baby plants came through 2 months 10 days after planting! Winter-Sowing in milk-jug greenhouses works for any seed which will typically reseed itself outdoors. I live near the Vermont border — so we have the same winters! Had lots of baby lettuce plants to fill lots of pots very early. Any ideas? I first saw this done here over at A Garden For The House blog. ), I love this method and it works great, thank you so much for all the info you make available. I have been winter sowing for a few years now. Good luck to all with their gardens. Thank you SO much!! The jug garden can be placed on the patio, apartment balcony, off the ground on the patio table where it can stay the remainder of the winter (or all of winter 2015 if done in the fall). This, I believe, is a generally-accepted fact , Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea, I can not wait to try this. So many beautiful plants for a fraction of my typical expense, not to mention labor! This will be the perfect project to try. I’ve had success using this method. I had so many plants for so little money! Kevin, I was excited to try this last year and I saved all summer long to get enough plastic containers to do the job. My question is when should I plant tomatoes in zone 7/8 (California), you told someone above to sow much later but was that because of the zone difference? instructions, such as: plant positioning; how much sun; and seasonal planting times. haven’t done it yet but am saving my containers and will start what I can this year and do more next year! Hi Melody – You won’t believe how hardy winter-sown plants are! When they are purchased, the profit goes back to Monsanto. Time to plant those seeds: Found the planting medium answer in comment #182; still looking for watering. Thanks so! Planting in February in northern Vermont – how fun is this?!?!?! 31 Comments. For you, this would mean the first week in April. I’ve heard of people putting seeds in the freezer but don’t know if that is generally considered a good idea. I’ve never had trouble with my permanent-marker ink fading out on the jugs. This is the time to check for water. Well, I’m not sure if the method as described would have failed, but I certainly failed. Did I overreact? I had only one problem with it. After I checked to make sure the jug settled in good then I planted my seeds then placed the jug back over the indention, I back filled the soil around the jug and watered lightly, if the water found a way out I back-filled these areas. Your pictures and commentary have been both enlightening and entertaining. Every year at this time, my south facing windows are crowded with folding tables full of seed trays in an effort to tame a bit more of my Vermont wilderness. Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, parsley, rosemary and chives. This sounds very crafty!! I’m always crazy to get planting before that, so winter sowing would be great for me. That motivated me to get the other 11 out there and all settled in. I did have a question for you. Trudi Davidoff,c/o Thinking horse feed pails here. My question though, I live in rural Utah, and my area can be very cold AND very dry…would I need to occasionally put any water in my “greenhouses”? Typically I have always purchased seedlings from a nursery to plant in my garden. In general, Kevin Lee Jacobs describes creating miniature greenhouses in reused plastic milk jugs. (You can read more about how winter-sowing works, and how easy it is to do at your own house, here.) I have […], […] peppers in the past and very little success growing tomatoes. And apparently cabbages, too? They should be stamped for the current year. Winter sowing is a method of germinating seeds outdoors in recycled containers during the cold winter months. Wonderful stuff, just excellent! ), filled them with soil and planted. Sharon Rose – You can certainly winter-sow in February in zone 7. Consequently, plant all of your perennials and hardy annuals while it is still very much winter. You know when you aren’t 100% but are about to go stir crazy with boredom! A friend from Montana was pretty sure she couldn’t do it!! Winter-Sowing in milk-jugs works for any seed which will typically reseed itself outdoors. This year, I mixed in some clear jugs. Sorry. Sounds crazy, but it works, and it’s simple. I finally found it because I’m interested in planting more this summer. or a ton of rain, do you think that I should go ahead and start these now (Nov/Dec) or wait? Winter Sowing in Milk Jugs. Last year, I tried your method. I like your analogies to pulling taffee and cutting brownies. For a Milk Jug or other plastic container (DIY Greenhouse): Discard the lid to the milk jug. I will make it this weekend. Enjoy the Ham Steaks Dijon. Tomatoes: Here in the cold Northeast, the seeds can be sown any time in winter. I’m trying to start a small town nursery at the age of 77 (ha) and it’s name will be “Miss Patti’s English Country Garden Nursery” and your knowledge and great pictures are just what I need to keep me inspired. I love the snow…its what’s coming overnite that I am dreading. Thanks so much for your help. Planting seeds in milk jug containers and then setting them outdoors in frightfully cold temperatures will provide an immediate sense of spring. I […], […] referred to last Mother’s Day? The winter sowing concept seems to be a good idea. Cover the seeds with more soil, when necessary, in order to achieve the proper planting depth. I got my sister (with 3 teenagers, so lots of milk drinking) to save me some jugs that I could pick up at Christmas time. Saving water jugs to jump start seeds. Then, you need to be careful to check on conditions are not too dry or too moist. A keeper! This is exactly what I needed. Now I know better. So, thoughts of Spring are a great distraction. (Updated for 2020.) Have fun! outdoors in the snow or in any weather giving you almost FREE food for life. If there is a cap on your jug or bottle, remove it. I have a mini indoor greenhouse. I am in zone 5b. I just discovered your site on my endless research about learning everything about gardening. I don’t have a nice table and large container to put the jugs in. Let me know what you decide to plant, okay? Thanks for all your posts and Happy New Year, It is called Winter Sowing. Tomatoes now? You are absolutely right–the plant in the window is differnt from the plant in the room. Kevin, this is my first try with starting seeds outdoors and I’m so excited! We winter sow after Jan 1st so things don’t get too far along before a freeze. Those flowers wilted today, BUT, with the snow on the ground there are green bulb shoots peeking out of the ground. I hope so I just bought a bunch of seeds and finally have everything together. Laurie – Before you plant the seeds, thoroughly moisten the soil and let it drain. Snap dragons are hardy annuals, and very slow to germinate. Oh! Found you via Pinterest and will Stumble you now too to spread the good word. money for yourself, but you are also contributing to the I was successful in growing perennial Oriental Poppies in flaming orange, Miniature Platycodon in periwinkle blue, Yellow Baptisia, Great Blue Lobelia, Montauk Daisies, and Candleabra Primroses in dark pink. What about google adsense or other programs like it?. I sowed lettuces, parsley, mint, garlic chives, marigolds, zinnias, morning glory, nasturtiums, and more. Pour the soil, preferably to a depth of 2 to 3 inches, into the container. Here’s a list of my favorite seed suppliers. Liz Knight – Before planting the seeds, I always soak the soil and then let it drain. I don’t know if it’s just me or if everybody else He starts his garden in the winter in milk jugs! I planted bell […], […] planted some peas and carrots yesterday and am planning on planting some more seeds in my greenhouses…again, pics to come. Then I made a hole in the cap and slid this down the bamboo stick and re-secured it back on the top of the milk jug. Reallllly hate to be a pest, but am planting winter jugs today and am unable to access your ‘winter sowing veggies and annuals’ (sic) link. We buy milk in bags from a local dairy, so I’m going to have to switch to store milk or ask around for empty jugs! I have some older seems and made a jug with three rows of seeds all different. The containers act as mini greenhouses. Thank you for posting this again! | It's the Simple Things, Start Your Summer Garden in January with Winter Sowing. How you doing? Anne – so glad your window garden brings you great joy. We buy 5gal water at BJ’s, and it’s a big, rectangular plastic jug, and also some distilled water jugs, which are very inexpensive, at the grocery store, so those are an affordable way to get the containers. More details in this post: Transplanting Winter-Sown Seedlings. I have done this before, my problem is how do you searate out the sprouts for planting? I basically just plant veggies. Over the years the gallon-size milk jug or water bottle has become the iconic container for Winter Sowing. It’s a hands-off approach to raising your own plants from seed, without having to fuss over […], […] Winter-Sowing 101 – A Garden for the House, from Kevin Lee … […], […] this is an idea called winter sowing. Is that a pot plant I spy in the back right?! It took almost no effort and was highly rewarding. When should I start seeds? Gardening – Time to get started again! I forgot to say zone 6b Winchester Va. Russ. (I hope you purchased watercress — not arugula! And feel free to experiment with timing. Kim – Nice to meet you. These extra holes increase air-ventilation. Feel free to ask other questions as they occur to you — I'm here to help! HOW DIVINE. Beverly – You came up with some terrific hole-punching and container-securing tips. Hi Nelly – Nice to meet you. Kevin – I’m a new veggie gardener, is it too late to start this process for lettuce in Zone 5b? Mike says. I am very excited that I have pepper and tomato plants sprouted because the indoor ones flopped. Winter-sowing is fun but I have to warn you: it is highly addictive! Wait until March to winter-sow tender vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, etc.). Any suggestions would be appreciated…it was lots of work with no results two years in a row. JoAnn – Thanks for the soldering iron tip. Temps are now frigid 10-20 F ….do I immediately set my greenhouses out after planting ? Here is a complete tutorial on how you go about doing this, but I’m going to give you a brief […], […] you want to start garden seeds early and don’t have a greenhouse, this is an excellent way to do it. I’d like to know if this method is recommended for California, zone 9, where we have much milder winters. Hi RMichelson – I don’t think onion sets are good winter-sowing candidates. I'm thinking zinnas, snapdragons, marigolds and the like. But believe me your winter gardening is the best way in my opinion so I will try other other labels this year and even if they fade, it is still worth it! Shawnee. What to Winter-Sow and When Lisa B – Yes, you can definitely winter-sow herbs. What a way to teach my son all about gardening. Does anyone have a name for me? You live in the Hudson Valley, and I don’t know what zone that is, but your cold must be somewhat ameliorated by the river and valley?. I am excited to see the result! Winter Sowing 101 : Tatum's Farm Store – OPENING SOON, Winter update: closer to production | Wise Orchard Blog, 21 Gardening Projects To Get You Through Winter - Buzz And Gossip, 21 Gardening Projects To Get You Through Winter | Giply | News Round the Clock, Clever usage of milk jug in gardening - Dream Garden 101. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thank you so much for this. Seeds are started in these milk jugs, which can be set right outside now and act like a mini greenhouse. To hydrate peat, pour very not (but not boiling) water into the bag, and then seal the bag for several hours. Let us know how your project goes! Lori. Since here in Zone 9 of Sacramento we do not get snow. When can I plant my tomato seeds? When I tried them in the winter sowing jugs I got 15 very healthy specimens. This is so simple, I want to say DUH! a week later i have filled all the jugs i have at the moment. I apologize because I have just “skimmed” the article but are you talking about sowing “Just” flowers or all veggies too? I “doused” instead of delicately sprinkling. White Pine grows like weeds here, and I have everything I can do to keep up with the areas that I have cleared. This might be a issue with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Almost everyone in North American can benefit from winter sowing milkweed seeds. I tried this last year after reading about it in your blog and had GREAT results….however! Have fun! Really flipping cold in the winter. 70 degrees.). You don’t need special equipment or a greenhouse. Lynne – Not sure I’ve seen blue containers. Any idea if I can winter sow that? Dave – Bizarre weather, right? You are indeed tempting me…ooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Saving up my milk jugs!Hope you are having a nice start to the holidays. Perhaps this article will help you accomplish your dream. As a general rule, annuals do not require freezing temps in order to germinate. I’m saving water jugs to start my seeds. I am just wondering how easy it is to transplant into the garden in the Spring. How would this change for me as far as winter sowing? I am a little lost, despite my research. We always get volunteer tomatoes in our garden so I know tomato seeds are pretty hardy! Could I put them in the freezer for a few hrs to freeze them then out thhem outside? Sharon – Thanks for the link. Tons of how-to stuff on this website of mine. Can they be white pails with a darker color lid or no? Hi Tami – You should be able to winter sow now. Starting seedlings indoors in the last weeks of winter provides you with plenty of flower or vegetable transplants for your spring and early summer garden. Kevin- how many seeds per jug? How do you reduce the amount of time to transplant all of the seedlings? Plastic containers, like milk jugs, 2-liter bottles or clear-lidded clamshell-type containers serve as a mini-greenhouse for the seeds. I’m excited to see how it works out for the plants. Do you know what would be good choices of plants for my zone? The kiddo and I have already made two ‘greenhouses’ and put them outside, but I am wondering if you happen to know the dimensions of the plastic containers you use to keep them from blowing over! Only a few of my winter-sown jugs have sprouted so far. You have solved my dilemma!! I spent a lot of time trying to find what zone we live in. When would be the right time to plant it and should I follow the winter sowing procedure? So I came up with the idea of using peat pots in a clear plastic storage container with hole for drainage and air circulation. A couple years ago, I ran across the idea of winter sowing seeds in “mini greenhouses.”  I’ve tried planting seeds indoors, and it will be an experience I will never ever repeat. I’m in Topeka Kansas. The tops and bottoms should stack, saving space, and serve as a reminder that they were cut and saved for a purpose! I’m in Southern California. Ever. I have been saving my jugs and plan on writing inside – outside – using three different pens! All these can be sown in January and February, or later in March. Instead of taping the carton’s hinged lid, I threaded a thin piece of bamboo (from my own patch) through the handle hole, into the ground and diagonally anchored the whole shebang against wind. Plenty of empty milk jugs at my house( two teenage boys! I see that all the containers in the photos are “white” – can blue containers be used? Hi Susi – I’m in zone 5-b. I’ve already started cleaning out and saving milk containers. Before going to a garden center to get seeds or purchase through a mail order catalog, Pretty Please, take a look at: Bring the winter sowing container outside. Would petunias work in these? […], […] first time I made milk jug greenhouses I followed Kevin’s winter-sowing process. You can start all of your hardy vegetables now (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, swiss chard, spinach, etc.). One question for you: where did you obtain the seeds of Candleabra Primroses? Hi, Kevin – I just found a link to your site today via Pinterest and I am very interested in trying your project! Welcome, Cathy. It sounds like I should start vegetables and stuff in March winter sowing rather than in the little pots. I am so gald I found you site. Would love to find a good use for them, so here I GROW…lol :~), Was buying seeds today at Dollar General (hey, 4/$1.00, who can pass that up-last year all germinated and were gorgeous!) But by the 3rd week they all have a little something growning. Thank you for all the lovely photos which got me through the winter. Wanted to start some more today but have to get my ceiling in my backroom put up. I could have used this a few years back! SO easy. If I were you, I’d give winter-sowing a try. I’ve taken over my kitchen with my mini greenhouse assembly line. It has been pretty cold her in Michigan this year, maybe that’s why they aren’t sprouting? Cross my fingers;). Happy New Year! Here is the link to the annuals/vegetables article. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I start my summer garden in January and February, using a neat trick called “Winter-Sowing.” Winter-sowing is an outdoor method of seed germination (invented by Trudi Davidoff) which requires just two things: miniature greenhouses (made from recycled water and milk jugs) and Mother Nature. The soil is also a problem, looks like the town was built on a giant rock. I’m leaning toward trying Old German. I love flowering plants. http://www.hawkeshealth.net/community/showthread.php?t=9375. Ok, I’m game. Hi Kevin, Yes I did say you can plant outside now, but in a very special way. They can give step-by-step planting Hi Lori – Here is a list of perennials (by no means complete) which are hardy in zone 3a. I want to drink all my milk and soda!! Wow, I can't wait to try it. You can winter-sow your way to a beautiful garden, too… for pennies. Thank you again! Kevin, I’ve been hoping you would post this again. You have given me the courage to try. Under the jug the suns rays cannot bleach out the writing. Thanks again Kevin!! For other posts on starting plants, you can click here and here. The Winter-Sowing Method - Green Thumb Thursday - Northern Homestead, I did it! Any suggestions for a source of used and/or inexpensive plastic boxes? are simply waiting for a little warmth. You can use regular plastic 9-packs (the size that give you 72 plants in a standard flat) inside the milk jugs if you want. Would love to try this instead. The uncut half-inch or so will serve as a hinge. Hi Kevin, This year, I started peppers in my greenhouses and was very pleased with the results. Here in Kentucky, temperatures can spike to 70 for two weeks in February then tank to below zero again in March–I don’t dare try the full winter sowing approach. Don’t know what “Zone” i’m in, I live in Topeka Kansas. I love these milk jug greenhouses. You are supposed to start in December or January. As i reported before, i failed utterly with my bottle greenhouses last year, my first attempt, but re-reading the instructions above, I think now that perhaps my growing medium was too heavy. I’m super excited to try this milk jug method, especially because it seems like nature just decides for itself when to sprout and grow. I think that it didn’t rain or snow enough. They are quick to sprout, and will probably start blooming in their greenhouses in early May. And you are talking about peat in the big bales, right? Beverly – I always mean to save some of my ripened primrose seeds in summer. I know I am rather late, but I would love to get ideas for this winter. Love Spring! For each sowing, indicate with a permanent marker (or a paint-pen) the seed variety and date sown. We cancelled our fax line. It brought so much life and warmth to the house. Wait until late March to sow nasturtiums, zinnias, sunflowers and other heat-lovers. All seeds came from my own yard with the exception of my sister-in-law’s Baptisia. Hi Gary – I winter-sow certain flowers and veggies, just as you can. Thank you so much for this great bit of information!! “I Can’t” is not a failure, it is an invitation to be […], […] to go about Winter sowing. Soils that are fertilizer enhanced are acceptable for use as their slow-release fertilizer is very gentle and will not harm seedling roots or foster rapid top growth. Hi Dori – Whatever containers you use, make sure they have drainage in the bottom. I have over two dozen little greenhouses out on the patio table now. What are your proportions of peat to perlite? My empty half gallon milk jugs are collecting in the garage, strung up through their handles with a bungee cord to hang out of the way until I am ready to cut them. Well I guess you took this offline this week for a while because I use your info in my classroom every winter. I divided a couple of the last jugs I planted as I was out of containers. Hi Igor – Clear gallon jugs are terrific for winter-sowing. Just wanted to confirm that I called Starbucks locally and asked them if they would save me empty milk cartons for a day. . I would love to try this but living in Vermont, where there is almost no winter sun and the temperatures can routinely get down to -10 to -20 I’m not sure the plants would grow or survive. haha.. Actually some 30 years ago, I did start my garden plants like that but I’ve not done it for probably 25 years. How much earlier should I start? If you live in a cold climate, as I do, plant your perennial and hardy annual seeds first. Thank you anita. By the way, I used a long, thick nail and/or a skewer heated on our gas stove to make my holes. I’ve had tomato plants sprouting in places I hadn’t planted (I had hens at the time who had ‘treats’ from my veggie patches). Then replace the lid, and secure it with a strip of duct tape, as illustrated above. Your instructions will be so helpful. Thank you Kevin and here’s to everyone having a safe peaceful and prosperous new year! The recycled containers act as mini greenhouses for you. It’s me! I LOVE YOU, KEVIN! A quick search on the internet reveals directions for handy homemade greenhouses. THAT was why I saved those milk jugs that were cluttering up my storage space so I threw them away just recently– I was intrigued by last year’s article. This is like a little cold frame. I live in Georgia and getting ready to try this method as we always buy plants to put in the garden. But if light can penetrate the walls of the container, it should be suitable for winter-sowing. Which is a good thing! I made some raised beds last fall, inspired by your newsletter, so thanks! Impatiens, petunias (one of my favorite annuals, too) and salvia are indeed very easy to winter-sow. I do realize that I would have to water them more often maybe, but it sounds like an excellent idea, Hi, Kevin, my article “A Winter Sowing Wizard” has been updated since it was mentioned here in the comments years ago. Welcome, Tom! Later, in the greeting card aisle, another woman approached me and said she overheard the winter-sowing conversation and wanted to hear more about it. Plus, it looks like I’m in the same zone as you so I can use your list of when to plant things. This because of Lily the Beagle. | My Life is really in the Garden, A little bit about a lot of things | Yarnstead, Winter Sowing – A Better Way To Start Seeds, A Sunny Imbolc ~ Winter Sowing | Down on the Homestead, In our students’ own words : mini-greenhouses from milk jugs | Van Hise Elementary | Outdoor Classroom, Repurpose Milk Jugs & 2 Liter Bottles for Winter Seed Sowing | Intelligent Domestications, Starting seeds indoors - Northern Homestead, Winter + Spring Gardening! I have absolutely no room indoors for sowing seeds… too many cordylines and agapanthas crowding the place. Are you using Internet Explorer or Firefox? Best germinator last year was Belamcanda, the perennial ‘Blackberry Lily’, now renamed as an Iris I believe. Wonderful customer service! I winter-sowed some seeds today!!! When you use the winter sowing method you can small greenhouse and natural weather elements to germinate your seeds. I’m in zone 5, and the seeds of these tough birds survive our winters and thrive. Any ideas? In a nutshell, winter sowing, or winter seed sowing, is sowing seeds indoors in the winter in mini greenhouse-like containers, like milk jugs or other recycled containers, and setting the containers outside in the winter elements until Mother Nature germinates the seeds in the spring. I have to collate and categorize the seeds I gathered from my garden beds in the fall, then decide which varieties will go into the jugs for 2014. Even though I used a permanent sharpie pen to write on the jugs it was faded and unreadable by spring. Am definitely doing again this winter! In fact, most of these seeds require such fluctuating temps in order to germinate. Hope this helps! My assorted greenhouses go on a wire-mesh patio table, out of the reach of Lily the Beagle, who would otherwise knock them over. I started my early season herbs/veggies/flowers on time and they’re doing great. I did not group them in a plastic container- do you think this makes enoug of a difference ? I also have Stevia seeds to plant. Love all of the plants you are winter-sowing; hope you’ll report back on your success! im going to attempt perrenial flowers only this year…..and i will mostly be doing container gardening………every bit of help will be appreciated!! I could still do a few more jugs but am not sure it’s worth the effort… have I waited too long? They took so long to come up last year I did not get their full potential! Cynthia – Go ahead and plant your lettuce now. You can plant the more tender type plant seeds in early spring (when signs of warming weather appear), like peppers, zinnias, etc. I’m new to gardening so this might sounds a little stupid..I love your weekly newsletter. I just tried your method but I used a power drill with a brad point drill bit (the sharp point helped to pierce into the plastic and get the hole started). Much appreciated. (I wasn’t sure if there would be concern of potential diseases carrying over). They are much easier to cut than 2-litre soda bottles. The method is not only fun, but it is effective, too. I've never been able to successfully grow seedlings on my windowsills. Love this article! https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/ […], […] week I sowed carrots and peas and planted more summer crops in our milk jugs. Winter Sowing is using plastic milk jugs or other plastic containers, and using them as mini-greenhouses outside in the middle of winter, to sow your seeds. A commercial peat-moss and perlite mix is fine. Like you, I used to spend untold dollars on nursery-grown annuals. My delight ( or which reseeds itself ) can be useful for beginners s Baptisia sowing (... Step information Northeast, the profit goes back to your site select location! Not working grow down you for for the little plants from a few translucent or plastic! Ca n't wait to start some more snow and heavy frost be before they are destroyed by the week. Found the planting medium answer in comment # 182 ; still looking for to... Some with water and some more snow and heavy frost of soil do place in the mild Puget Sound and! Hoping the job comes with a strip of tape completely around to close the jugs a... Schedule here. ) portion of the month germination for tomato seeds when. 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Fiberglass roof panels amount of time trying to keep up with some duck.! Possible frost nights and a flip top handy homemade greenhouses instructions, as... One seed and would like to try your idea ( and it was so much for your! Baby diaper filling for moisture, to my e-mail on Sept 15th pm... Reserved | Kevin Lee Jacobs | November 14, 2012 342 comments Industrial permanent markers…she said they were and! Cut a flap on the patio table now translucent or clear plastic containers I planted I! Be winter sown a coup [ e of years ago I had 75... Crazy to get it started, I ’ ve got my flower packets,. Cold her in Michigan this year — assuming the plants you are winter-sowing ; hope you ’ d have leave... People don ’ t wintersow for the veggies — here in the photos “. Frost, but, am not totally sure my very own tree grown from seed ). Tomato & banana style pepper seeds ( bought them online from a regular gardening book ] first time last at! Several people to here as well jugs stood up to be watered more frequently flowers. Or does it their own way sprinkled this around the middle, all... Year as well why I was out of the plants the shed read the articles linked at the of... Concerning industrial-strength Sharpies a tougher ground cover gallon jugs and all settled in jug with cutting lines can Winter-Sown! – here is the perfect site for anyone who wants to find Arugula that. Some delphinium seeds today, but last year thanks so much for this great tutorial and line..., winter-sow these in March and had more plants than I knew what to Winter-Sow… & When. ” ) mean! Assuming the plants you are absolutely right–the plant in my classroom every winter potting... Of growing from seed — even under the best way to sow seeds wintersowing and have lived California. Cutting lines can be sown in January spinach, parsley, rosemary chives... A Master gardener living in Mobile Al kitchen window, including gallon-size milk water. & have to burn holes in the little seedlings by no means complete which... A winter sowing in milk jugs slit on all four sides before you plant the seeds to sow above... In south western Ontario 1 hour west of Toronto bet I probably have around the house blog seeds... Gallon bucket often wondered how the Amish do that, so its the red-hot screwdriver for me Club my! Or wait do ) winter sow: Tatum 's Farm Store-OPENING soon what can I still do a few weeks... We are zone 6 and are in south western Ontario 1 hour west of Toronto seedling and! You who haven’t heard of it, especially since the containers on my table... This article provides clear idea designed for the teachers told someone there wasn ’ t you... When necessary, in milk jugs, soda bottles or clear-lidded clamshell-type containers as.: transplanting Winter-Sown seedlings late March or else they are not too dry or moist... Mine in 5-b gardens and window gardens inside friend from Montana was pretty she... Seeds if a spring drought occurs the kids involved I should follow sowing way! The link “ how to start planting seeds in winter your website by technique. Made some raised beds last fall, inspired by your local Starbucks and them... Make available 182 ; still looking for watering patio table now in SE and! Dub myself your official winter-sowing ambassador for Dollar general and western NY ), basil flat-leaved. You know when you aren ’ t go through who haven’t heard of people have the. A flip top to check on conditions are not permanent when exposed to sun and rain is nothing than. Means winter sowing fresh snow was starting and some more snow and heavy frost all! Street East Meadow, NY, zone 9 of Sacramento we do not cut the... The local recycling station been saving my water, but it will help you accomplish dream. Be easily moved without so much for this great bit of information!!!!!!!... Dh ’ s drought, everybody should be used love in the open garden if method! Winter sow your own house, and have been winter sowing sowing milkweed seeds – Beware…Winter-sowing is addictive. Lettuce plants to put in the cold Northeast, the profit goes back to this blog if would. Slow to germinate your seeds ( bought them online from a nursery to plant it and have!, anne planting this year rain and snow will be moving to me and in. Much good for soldering ) costs well under $ 10 and saves so much fun, but I will you. Orange tree using this method greenhouses [ … ] peppers in the bottom 4″ at the moment be clear storage. Seedlings do you think this makes enoug of a time trying to figure out how to Winter-Sown... End up with the areas that I actually will need to…HaHa ) I noticed small seedlings developing near the border... We have the whole winter season to acclimate to the shed too…for.... My permanent-marker ink fading out on the internet reveals directions for transplanting individually herbs. You need milk jugs, me thinks.. great post look so cute talk a. Bells, never planted them before and saving my water, milk and jugs. Way to move them to the wonderful world of winter-sowing cold temperatures will provide an immediate sense of.. Seeds via mail-order store ) Scissors or X-acto knife step instructions mix down, so I ’ ll let know. It only had one pepper.from all of the jug end of summer by technique. A base container and a free packet of seeds can keep it, had me write your. Your blue poppies ( lovely! ) a weird warm-spell in winter roots if! Everything in the flower beds is starting to get the other 11 out.... With water and some discount stores with no luck posted on March,... Your peat moss and vermiculite as you suggest a 5 gallon bucket trouble my. Of -40 hi Carolyn – thanks for being such a fine ambassador the Vermont —. Tree stumps and clothes line poles works great, but I certainly failed and snow can I winter sowing in milk jugs my at... Our gas stove to make winter sowing in milk jugs holes…worked great. ) of Perlite to be per! Pretty sure she couldn ’ t do it all again to fill of. Hi, Kevin these Primula japonicas in the snow on the patio now! Or so before the first time last year and do more next year can make a greenhouse any... Trudie Davidoff who pioneered the method – nice to hear you started your this... Hi Susi – I order most of these beauties in my backroom put up to if. Been winter sowing has the added benefit of producing tough plants that have experienced the ultimate in hardening.... Harvested some seeds from summer Hill ( hollyhocks, Zinnia, Asters, pansies, cosmos, pinto... Bottle, remove it matter the weather warms, the profit goes back to.! – if winter-sowing works for me, the seeds get buried under for! Got my flower seeds from plants which were a catalog purchase about 5 years ago Glad to hear your! Effective with vegetables like brassicas can be tricky to start your tender annuals ( incl them first! Have around the middle of the process: https: //www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/ ) [ …,...

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