I remember reading about winter sowing last year, and decided I'd try it this year. While at a nursery a couple of days ago I asked several people working there if they knew anything about it. They had no idea what I was talking about. So, I found two great sites with lots of information. The first one is the Winter Sowing forum on Garden Web. There were lots of very helpful people there that answered my questions.
I also found another great site Winter Sown.org. The directions seem pretty clear and simple. I have plenty of seeds as I mentioned in my previous post, might as well try it. I'm in zone 7 (or 8) depending on what chart you look at. According to the replies to my post on the winter sowing post I can start hollyhocks and larkspur now. I'm going to try columbine too, just to see what happens.
A few of my supplies: seed starting soil, covered foil pan, seeds and water.
They really were easy to do. A bit messy, I probably wouldn't do it on my kitchen counter next time. I went a little crazy with the water and it overflowed everywhere. Oh, well.
Here are the finished products. Hopefully squirrels or raccoons won't make a mess out of them. I'm going to try to do a few more in March. I'll update on here occasionally to show if anything happens. Hopefully something will.
If anyone else has had good results or experiences with winter sowing I'd love to hear any advice you might have.
I just heard of this recently and also sowed some seeds on the 1st of January. Will be curious to know what happens. It occurred to me though that most of us already winter sow. I throw hollyhock seeds and sunflowers and colombine and so on out in the garden in the fall. I think this is the same thing, just that you can't keep up with the seedlings as well. I hope it works and I hope yours does too! Looking forward to seeing the results!
ReplyDeleteI just put some out this week...my first try as well...and they are in little chinese dinner containers that look just like yours! :) HOpe they work!
ReplyDeleteTina - Do your hollyhocks or columbines ever bloom the first year when you just sow outside in the fall? I wonder how soon these ones will sprout.
ReplyDeleteAllenaim -Good luck with yours! I hope we all have success. It's something new and fun to try.
I've been hearing about this quite a bit, too. Thanks for posting sites to check out. I'm going to have to give this a try.
ReplyDeleteWOOHOO! I'm wintersowing this year too. You can do any hardy perennials now. Save any annuals for later in the year. I've already got hollyhocks germinating in NC, zone 7.
ReplyDeleteHi Catherine, those look ready to go. I throw larkspur out soon right in the ground where they are to bloom. I saw it on a blog last year and tried it, sowing early February. I had never put seeds out at that time of year before and had doubts. There is plenty of cold weather here, zone 7, after that date, but the seeds were fine and I had the best larkspurs ever.
ReplyDeleteFrances
It all looks great Catherine! Over the years I've tried many different ways, containers, and such- but it only took once to be bitten by the bug and I knew I'd be sowing my own seeds...on way or another, from that point on. It is so exciting to see them come up and actually bloom! Have fun with it and remember, the number one mistake made is over watering! (take it from me, I do it all the time :) Good luck with the seed starting shelf! And make sure you post about it when you're building it!
ReplyDeleteMelanthia - It seems so simple, I hope it really works. Good luck if you try, and let me know if you get any results.
ReplyDeleteTom - that's good to know. I'll have to dig through my stash and see what else I've got. How long til something appears?
Frances - I think I may get some more larkspur and do just what you did. Hopefully some will come up.
Tessa - I know, I'm really bad about the overwatering. Nothing worse than drowning your plants. Last year I lost several to dampening off. I will definitely post when we do the shelf.
I haven't tried this. I do love Larkspur! I wish you much success. If it works---you'll have a lot of bloomers.
ReplyDeleteWay to go! I cannot believe it is the end of Jan. already. I got all excited about seed planning and then got distracted with life. I'll try again. I winter sow (but haven't yet) lettuce, chard, broccoli, nasturtiums and other cooler weather sprouters. Then, warmer temp sprouters, I'll start inside and after they sprout, the move out to the garage under a shop lite. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAnna - Larkspur is a favorite of mine too. Hope I will have lots!
ReplyDeletePetunia's gardener - I think if these work, I'll try some veges too. I hear it can be addictive.
hi Catherine
ReplyDeleteGood luck. watch for light levels at this time of year, you don't want 'leggy' seedlings.
Rob
You might want to consider 'bottom heat' for your seed starting inside. Here's a link to the one I just built. Good luck with that winter sowing!
ReplyDeletewww.melissa-majora.blogspot.com (click on garden projects in sidebar) :-)
Rob - Thanks for the advice, I'll take all I cant get :)
ReplyDeleteKris - Thanks! I'll go check it out. I also saw one on Seventh Street Cottage.
Kylee at Our Little Acre is top-notch in my book when it comes to winter sowing. Check out January Jitters post, Tuesday January 13, 2009.
ReplyDeleteShady - Thanks! I will definitely go look at that!
ReplyDeleteKris - I'm going to check out your bottom heat link. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be trying that this year. I live in Zone 5-6 (depending on how detailed the zoning map is) in Southeast Indiana, and I'm planning on trying out stuff that'll work in my area this year.
ReplyDelete