I first heard about the Winter Sowing technique for starting seeds on a podcast over three years ago. The hosts were homesteaders in Texas. They had extensive gardens and also sold plants. They propagated most of their seedlings using this method. Of course, a quick Google search provided me with much needed additional information including a definition that follows.
" Winter Sowing is a method by which seeds are sown into containers that act like mini greenhouses. These seed vehicles are then located outside, experience the chill of winter, and eventually germinate in the spring." It is a phrase that was first coined by Trudi Davidoff. You can
read more about her on her website www.wintersowing.org.
At that time I did not have a greenhouse so finding a suitable area to start seeds was very
difficult for me. The notion that I could use the outdoors as a place to start seeds set my wheels in motion, so I gave this method a try.
Flash forward three years and I am hooked. That is not to say that I had a 100% success rate
and all has been perfect. But the pros outweigh the cons and I am going to use this method of sowing certain seeds every winter.
Here area few very important keys to success that I have learned over the last three years.
#1 This will provide you with a mass of seedlings that will need to be divided and transplanted.BE PREPARED
#2 Seeds that need the cold stratification work best. I try to do my homework and be selective about which seeds I pick for using this method.
#3 This method has been amazing for perennials that I desire mass plantings of for the bees, butterflies and pollinators.
Here are the steps that I took for this project.
# I sorted through my recycling to find an assortment of potential plastic containers. Milk jugs, vinegar jugs, fresh greens containers, large fruit plastic containers, and liter beverage bottles all went into the potential winter sowing pile.
#2 I decided to start with perennials. I have good luck with direct sowing annuals in the garden
but not perennials. So I end up spending a fortune on new perennials.
#3 All summer I collected seed packets, buying some when they went on sale after the planting season rush. I tried to focus on plants that I wanted in mass and ones that I have not had great success with direct sowing. Here is an example of the many I tried.
Parsley, both the curly and the flat leaf( I need an abundance of these for my Spicebush Swallowtails to munch on). Hollyhocks (I am still experimenting with this beauty, as it always dies in
my garden. But I am determined). Butterfly Weed, (to add to my Butterfly Garden), plus some Coneflowers and various other perennials. I tried to stick to seeds that required cold stratification to germinate.
#4 Early in January, I enlisted the help of my husband to prepare the bottles for me. I have a
lousy track record with knives, so I thought this the best approach.
#5 The milk and vinegar jugs, were cut open about 1/3 of the way down and just 3/4 of the way around. So it resembled a lid that opened but was still attached. By doing this, I was able to plant the seeds evenly. And I figured that when they are ready to venture into the real world, I will be able to transplant them into the garden swiftly. My husband created drainage holes on the bottom of the
plastic jugs using both a box cutter and a drill to make the drainage slits and holes. The salad greens containers already had hinge type lids and just needed some additional drainage holes.
#6 I purchased seed starter mix and filled each vessel with the correct amount of mix. Next, I made sure the soil was wet.
#7 Following the directions for seed planting depth and coverage, I sowed each container. Then I watered them into their winter home. (HINT: the seed packages are your best friend when it comes to information on planting.)
#8 I marked each filled container in two places. First I used a water soluble pen and wrote on a plastic knife and duct taped it to the side and in addition I labeled each jug by writing on the container. I have added this step, I make a chart that has the seed packets attached and the layout of the seed containers marked. It has been one of the best things I have added to this process.
#9 At this point I wished them all a good growing season and battened down the hatches. I used duct tape to seal the flip tops, and made sure the caps were off the jugs and took them outside to my patio table.
All throughout February, March and into April they endured the snow, sleet, and rain and I did nothing to them. By the end of April I was starting to see some sprouting, then in May there was a lot of significant growth. Near the end of May, I began to transplant my hundreds of seedlings into pots and the gardens.
I would estimate that I had about a 60% success rate the first year and now it is more like 80 %. Here are the reasons for the failures.
#1 The salad containers worked the best. The holes in the bottom of the vinegar jugs and coke liter bottles seemed to get stopped up, not allowing the water to drain efficiently. Thus causing the containers to fill with water and destroy the seedlings. So ever year since I have focused on better drainage.
#2 Initially my labeling system was a big miss. I double labeled all the growing bins, but only
about 1/2 of the labels were still legible after a couple months. Fortunately I had saved all the seed packets, and had to do a guessing match game. I now make a chart and attached the packages. It
has proven to be the ticket.
#3 I need to be more proactive with transplanting the seedlings. I lost quite a few due to not separating, thinning and putting them either into pots or safely in the ground. My lack of experience with transplanting seedlings was an issue. But I learned have done better each of the following years. The greenhouse and screened porch at the lake house afford me valuable pace to spread out the seedlings. I also have become more selective with the amount of seeds I start using this method.
The bonus to this method is that each year I have hundreds of seedlings, from Foxgloves to Parsleys to Butterfly Weed and much more. It is a perfect way to start perennials that require the cold to sprout.
Winter Sowing will always be a part of my seed routine. It is just one seed starting process I use among several others, However, this method has a very distinct and important niche.
I hope you will give this fun project a try. If you have any questions, please email me I am happy to help.
No comments:
Post a Comment