All about winter sowing

If you haven’t tried winter sowing and you enjoy trying new gardening techniques, you’ve got to give winter sowing a try. (But don’t start all your seeds like this.) Try some until you see if it’s something that works for you.

When I first heard about winter sowing I was incredulous. Seeds are typically started with plenty of warmth and moisture and this thing called winter sowing is done outside? In winter? It happens that some seeds need something called stratification–a cold period in preparation for their germination. So while it’s called “winter sowing” the seeds are actually sown into open top containers with drainage holes (using something transparent like milk jugs) which act as a mini greenhouse. You place the jugs outside and they experience winter weather– snow, rain, wind and sunshine. It’s best to keep them in a sunny spot but protected from strong winds and animals. Your seeds will remain dormant but as spring approaches, light and heat increase and germination is triggered.

Here’s a list of seeds you can try. And yes, if you plant this weekend, you can still give it a go! Is it snowing outside? Good! Your seed babies will get their first drink and blankie!

Vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, leafy greens, peas, spinach
Herbs: dill, mint, thyme, oregano, parsley
Flowers: (there is a looong list, here are a few to try): foxglove, lupine, bee balm, anemone, coneflower, rose campion

There are plenty of benefits to winter sowing. Like, it’s simple to do. You won’t need grow lights. You don’t have to concern yourself with leggy seedlings if you’re trying to grow in a windowsill. There’s no need to harden off the seedlings as they have already acclimated to the outdoors. And it allows someone that doesn’t have the money, setup or space, to start seeds successfully.

If you’re like many gardeners, you will enjoy this method of starting seeds.

If you don’t have your garden set up and ready for your new spring seedlings, we’re ready to help get you started!

Materials you’ll need for winter sowing:
Milk jugs (transparent and plastic)
Seed starting soil mix
Duct tape
Scissors or box-cutter
Paint pen/marker
Selection of seeds
Drill

Instructions:
Drill holes in the bottom of clean jugs for drainage.
Cut open jug horizontally around middle leaving section below handle to create a “hinge.”
Throw away jug lids.
Add 4 inches of moistened soil to the bottom part of jug.
Sow your seeds following depth guide on packet. Cover your seeds with a thin layer of soil.
Label your jug with name of seeds and sow date. A sharpie will fade so use a paint pen. Trust me, the extra trip for a paint pen is worth it.
Use duct tape to close the jug around the middle.
Place in a sunny location outside away from strong winds or areas that flood.
Check jug on sunny days and water if it’s looking dry.
Transplant seedlings to your garden following timing given on seed packet.

More resources on winter sowing:
Garden Answer video on winter sowing and Garden Answer’s update on how it turned out
The Spruce, interesting article on winter sowing and the woman it’s attributed to, Trudy Davidoff