winter sowing containers

The container method of winter sowing utilizes various recyclable containers, such as two-liter plastic soda bottles, plastic water jugs, large plastic juice bottles, and plastic milk jugs. Tall containers work best since they have plenty of room for plants to grow tall.

What seeds are good for winter sowing?

Seeds of tropical and tender plants will die in the cold. Some good choices for your first efforts at winter sowing include: Flowers: Alyssum, butterfly weed, calendula, coreopsis, cosmos, foxgloves, hollyhocks, petunias. Vegetables: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard, carrots, kale, mache, radishes, spinach.

When should I start winter sowing?

Generally, only a few varieties of seeds can be successfully sown indoors this early. But one can begin winter sowing any time after the first day of winter and as long as the nights are still chilly.

What flowers can you winter sow?

Flowers for Winter Sowing

Bachelor buttons.
Delphinium.
Evening primrose.
Poppies.
Nicotiana.
Calendula.
Violas.

Can you winter sow zinnias?

Winter Sowing Flowers: Snap Dragons and Zinnias

You can grow so many types of flowers using Winter Sowing!

Will seeds germinate in cold weather?

Cool-season crops can be planted when the soil and air temperatures are at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit. ... Hardy vegetables tolerate cold temperatures the best—their seeds will germinate in cool soil, and seedlings can typically survive heavy frost.

What seeds can I plant in December?

Vegetable seeds to sow in December

Broad beans.
Onions.
Garlic.
Lettuce.
Lamb's lettuce.
Mustard greens.
Microgreens.

Can I winter sow poppies?

Poppies are best when they are grown from seed that is planted in fall or winter, even in cold winter areas. The seeds need to go through the natural freeze and thaw cycles to germinate and that is accomplished by fall sowing. They can also be sown in early spring, about a month before your last frost date.

What do you do with seedlings in the winter?

Protect the roots from cold winter temperatures by sinking the containers into the ground in a vacant spot in the garden. Or place the pots in an unheated garage. Insulate the roots with packing materials, bags of potting mix or other similar materials. Water whenever the soil is thawed and dry.

How do you start seeds in milk jugs?

How to start milk jug greenhouses step by step:

Step 1: Cut your jugs in half and toss out the lids. ...
Step 2: Moisten the soil really well. ...
Step 3: Add seeds. ...
Step 4: Close your container and seal all air gaps with duct tape. ...
Step 5: Label the jug. ...
Step 6: Set them outside in a full sun location.

Can you winter sow lavender?

A cheap easy way to grow your garden and plant more lavender! Winter sowing is a fun and easy way of planting seeds outdoors in winter. Seeds are planted in miniature greenhouses made from recycled plastic containers (like milk jugs!), and then put outside in the snow and freezing cold.

Can you winter sow marigolds?

Bachelor Buttons, Poppies, Violas, Snapdragons, Calendula and Cleome are some common hardy annuals that germinate readily with the winter sowing method. ... Marigolds, Love-in-a-Mist, Four O'Clocks, Cosmos, Petunias, and annual Salvias can be started by the WS method in early spring.

Can I winter sow snapdragons?

Winter sowing is a technique gardeners can use to start growing seeds outdoors during the winter months. ... I started seeds in January and February last year with this method and successfully grew several types of cool-season flowers: delphiniums, poppies, snapdragons, bachelor buttons, and Canterbury bells.

What do you do with zinnias in the winter?

Preparing Annuals for Winter

During the growing season, gardeners often deadhead or snip off spent flowers from favorite annuals, like zinnias (Zinnia spp.) and marigolds (Tagetes), to stimulate repeat blooming.

What vegetables can you winter sow?

Though winter sowing is not appropriate for all plants, it is for many common garden plants. In January through February, winter sow perennials, cole crops such as spinach, kale, brussel sprouts, and broccoli, and herbs like thyme, sage, cilantro, oregano, dill and fennel.

Can you winter sow tomatoes?

Tomato seeds do just fine in cold soil throughout winter and germinate when the soil and air temperature are right. If the seeds germinate too early, they will most likely freeze if you grow them in an environment with fluctuating temperatures.

What is the cheapest way to start seeds indoors?

Use Yoplait Kids Plastic Cups/ or any other item in your kitchen to start your seeds indoors. Use Plastic wrap over each of your homemade containers until your seed sprouts to keep in the warmth. Use Seed Starting Soil Mix– it's lighter. The other stuff may work or it may not.

What temperature will kill seedlings?

The general rule of thumb is that most plants freeze when temperatures remain at 28°F for five hours. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Seedlings, with their tender new leaves, often give up the ghost when temperatures dip to 32-33°F.

How do you start seeds indoors in the winter?

How do you grow seeds indoors in the winter? Gather clean containers, such as seed trays, peat pots, or flats. As an alternative, you may choose to go DIY and add drainage holes to recyclable plastic egg cartons. Add equal parts vermiculite and perlite to soilless peat moss to create your own soil for seed starting.

What can I plant now for Christmas?

Tags

Cabbage.
Cabbage white caterpillar.
Carrots.
Christmas.
Growing potatoes.
Hoverflies.
Kale.
Leeks.

What should I plant in December?

A complete listing of vegetables that can be planted in December and through the winter includes beet, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, collard, endive, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leek, lettuce, mustard, onion, peas (English and snow), radish, rape, rutabaga, shallot, Swiss chard and turnip ...

What vegetable can I plant in December?

Most can be planted or sown directly outdoors to ensure that your winter vegetable garden is fully stocked.

Onions and Shallots. Autumn planting onion sets are easy to grow and will virtually look after themselves over winter. ...
Garlic. ...
Spring Onions. ...
Perpetual Spinach. ...
Broad Beans. ...
Peas. ...
Asparagus. ...
Winter Salads.