Life #3: Ready For Winter Sowing

I’ve done quite a bit of winter sowing. In fact, when we moved to this new home, that was the only way I could afford to build up a good garden stock at a reasonable price.

Good idea. Thanks for sharing, Brad.

-- jroot

You certainly hit the “nail on the head”, jroot…...flowers are so expensive!!! I’ve been the same way with what’s in my yard. Practically everything in it has come from winter sowing!

Brad's Container Garden Tips

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

Hi Brad,

This is something new for me so I have a few questions:
1. So where do you place the plastic containers? Do you cover them?
2. Do you drill holes for drainage?

Sounds an exciting winter program .

-- Orchids77

Xploreorganics posted a nice blog about the process when our site first started.
It was fascinating then and fascinating now but I have yet to try it.

Perhaps a new blog on “how to” would be inspiring.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Yes. I can’t hardly wait.
Brad.. tell us more.
In the mean time I will have to go rescue those plastic containers before
dear hubby takes them to the curve since it is trash day tomorrow.:)

-- Orchids77

I would like to see a new how to blog also.Also what kinds of seeds you can start this way.Thanks.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

The price of plants keep going up, along with taxes and my paycheque…..well, it just cant keep up.

Thus the greenhouse.

-- Central northish Ontario

Winter sowing sounds interesting to me also. It seems similar to using a cold frame, but in smaller containers. My question is what if you do not have consistent snow cover? Our weather fluctuates so much between extreme cold and then warm that I am afraid the seeds would start and then freeze. With the cold frame, I wait until spring so the differences in temperatures are not so extreme.

-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi

here is Xploreorganics project on Winter Sowing

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Just got around to checking this post…..sounds like there’s some interest in winter sowing. It really is great.

I don’t have any time right now, but I’ll re-post later tonight and tell you how, when, where, i do it. I’ll try to find some photo’s as well.

I’m going to be putting up a page on my website…I’ll try to get that done too!!

Talk to everyone soon!!

Brad's Container Garden Tips

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

Orchids77, I place the containers outside on my patio. They get some afternoon sun. No matter how cold it gets, or how much snow falls…there’s never a worry. The seeds just think they’re doing what they were “born” to do. Fall on the ground, let winter come…..then they come forth in the Spring. The milk jug is kinda like a miniature greenhouse.

I’ve had plenty of times when it snows real deep, thaws, gets warm, then snows more and freezes….BUT…they don’t seem to mind!!!
I drill holes in the bottom for drainage. And so far, I’ve never had to water them in the Winter.

The cap of the milk jug is left off for ventilation and never needs put back on. It always seems to keep enough moisture inside for the seeds to be satisfied.

As far as seeds, I can only speak for my area….which is Kansas Zone 5…I’ve grown Marigolds, Zinnias, Columbine, all types of Daisies, Dahlias, vines, Petunias, Snapdragons, Coleus, Pansy, Sweet Peas, Bachelor’s Button, all types of Coneflowers…......etc. There are lots more, too!

Instead of re-writing everything here, I’ll have a step by step process mapped out on a page of my website…I’ll post the link here when I’m finished with it. It should only be a couple more days…I hope!!

Should I start a new how-to blog just about Winter Sowing? Is that what you guys meant? If so, do I make just a new series under my blog….or should it be done another way?

If anyone needs some other questions answered, I’ll me more than happy to try to answer them.

Till later,
Brad

Brad's Container Garden Tips

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

I didn’t know you could start petunias!

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

I tried it for the first time too last winter and had pretty good luck with it.
I plan on starting more next year too for 2010.

-- Gardening is Great Therapy!!.....Georgian Bay area....zone 5b

a thought popped into my mind earlier—wouldn’t it be fun to have a challenge. Everyone, well I guess, everyone in the northern climate, is to try at least one container. It would be fun to watch everyone’s progress.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Sounds like a challenge, Ms DebbieP. If I were to do it, I would start just after Christmas.

-- jroot

that’s 2 of us then.. so the challenge on. Since I’ve never done it before I’ll be following your lead ;)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

I’m glad there is a challenge going on! How cool!!!

This will be fun to watch.

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

This might sound stupid but do the containers have to be clear to let the light in?The only containers I have are heavy white plastic kitty litter jugs.I do drink small bottles of water sometimes are they too little to use?

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Ya, the containers have to be able to let the light in. Water bottles would work, but gosh you could only plant a couple of seeds.

I get lots of free distilled water jugs off of Craigslist. Milk jugs you have to wash out real good. Distilled water jugs, you don’t.

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

Oh, the challenge of finding re-usable plastic containers! We have been very successful in reducing our consumption of things that come in plastic containers so I will have to get creative in finding a source. I think Craigslist or Freecycle might be where I am going to have to look as well….

-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi

I used to keep all of our milk jugs from Costcos. Then they changed to a real dark white jug that didn’t let much light through. That’s when I got on the hunt for something different. I put a want add on craigslist for milk jugs, then some guy wrote back and said….”I have gallon distilled water jugs to get rid of”......I figured, wow…no cleaning.!! Cool!!!

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

Thanks for the info Brad.Now I gotta hunt down some containers.I don’t think it will be that easy where I live.but I’ll ask around and see what I can come up with.I love a challenge.(lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Bon, you’re right. It may turn into a challenge. But I hope all the best for ya. The first year I did wintersowing, I had about 50 containers out!! Ouch..that’s a bunch!!

Good Luck!!

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

Okay, I finished the writing and photos on my webpage.

If you want to check it out….go here…
Brad's Winter Sowing

Come Winter, Come!!.....Okay, not just yet!!

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

haha “come winter come” —oh what a little challenge will do for one’s perspective!

great blog. I guess now I just have to decide what type of seeds I want to try growing…

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan

Good article, posted in Brad’s Winter Sowing. Trudi ( the originator of the concept ) would be proud of your work. Thanks for sharing.

-- jroot

Thanks jroot….I hope she would be!

Brad's Winter Sowing

-- Brad, http://www.container-gardening-for-you.com

Brad I just read your blog on winter sowing.I found it to be really well written and informative.Thanks for posting it.

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

I agree with Bon, your step-by-step instructions are very clear and will be easy to follow. Thank you, Brad, and let the winter challenge begin!

Bon, I am thinking about trying some of the seeds you collected for my winter sowing project!

-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi

Radgal.I’m thinking of doing the same.(lol)

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more