The basic idea is to use containers like milk jugs and soda bottles as mini greenhouses. Think of it like direct sowing outdoors, but the seeds and seedlings will be protected from the worst weather in their containers. They also require no hardening off, won't suffer from damp, and should be able to plant out sooner than nursery raised or indoor germinated seeds.

All that said, here's my setup. I use mostly two liters, but I also have a planter, some tin foil lasagna pans with clear lids, and some plastic storage containers. All have holes in the lids and the bottom for air/water/drainage.

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I have sown all my perennials so far. I will wait until March to do my annuals and tender plants. I do have sprouts already in some containers and all have made it just fine through the past week of really odd weather. It was 14 last night with snow on the containers and my dianthus seedlings are still kicking even though they only have two leaves.

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If you want to use nursery pots, be sure to have 3" of soil. You can cover them with plastic, baggies, anything clear that you can punch holes in so that rain and air can get in. You need containers that drain from the bottom. I use two liters and cut slits in the bottom for drainage. Use a good potting MIX. Fill your containers, water well. Sow your seeds right on top of the soil. Press down to make contact. Put the cover on and sit them outside. Ignore them until the temperatures start to warm up. We should be able to start planting out in NC around late March for perennials and late April for annuals.

As for watering, if there's no condensation on the covers, they need to be watered. You can see condensation on my two-liter bottle up there. I'm still a little sketchy on when to remove the covers myself, but I know it's got to be too early right now even though I have sprouts. Maybe someone else can help us there.

That's it. Any other questions, just holler. :)

Oh, and it's never too late to start. You can sow all the way up til June. At that point, we just call it spring sowing. ;)

Mary: Welcome to the forum. See the FAQs at the top of the page. After reading them, come back and ask your questions.

You're not too late at all, it's only January. Plenty of time left.

My wintersown milk jugs
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Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: FAQs

Mary, Just in case you're nervous, here are some hollyhocks, cupids dart, and nicotiana that sprouted in early January when we had temperatures in the 60s. I think next year I will actually wait until late January to get started. I just took these pictures 5 minutes ago.

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They can take the colder temperatures inside the containers. I wasn't a believer either until last week.

All of you are angels!! thanks for the answers and advice! as for the faq, I did look, found some very interesting info which I am going to check out. I just didn't know if I was to plant the seeds in the ground or what. That cleard up my confusion. As for the ones with liter bottles now I must give that one a try.

I do have a bunch of Holly hocks I certainly want to grow this year. So any container, ok here I go!! again thanks for the info. Mary

I read somewhere that you shouldn't put the WS containers in the sun. Is that right? That would seem right to me because the sun sure heats up a closed container, and I am afraid they will sprout too quickly. However, I am having trouble deciding where to put my containers. In summer I have tons of shade from trees, but in winter I have a lot of sun. Can someone give me some guidelines?

sooner-
I'm a zone north of you in New Hampshire, and my containers are always on the south- full sun side of my house. There are 4 schools of thought on positioning, obviously, but full-sun is not out of the question at all. When the weather starts to turn, just keep good eye on them, and allow for the difference in temperature (is it 20- degrees?) between the inside & outside of the container on whether you need to take steps to cover/uncover them.
Perhaps there's a reason that it might be 'easier' to have them on a not-so-warm side of the house...maybe it keeps you from having to do the whole covers on/covers off thing...I should ask the 'covers off' folks what the positioning is of theirs on the other thread.

Same here...my containers have always been placed where they receive south and west sun exposure. Some Perennials and many hardy annuals don't usually start germinating for me until around March...it's ok; they can tuff it out :)

Vera

With over 500 containers one year I have put them everywhere, full sun, morning sun/p.m. shade, morning shade/p.m. sun, full shade. For germiation purposes they all worked fine. Each positioning has it's own needs regarding watering and ventilation. Check the containers and water/ventilate as needed.

Once the seedlings sprout one needs to take their sun requirements into account. Shade loving seedlings will need to be put in a shady environment. Sun lovers will grow best if placed in a sunny environment. Unless one wants to keep them in their containers or pot them up they can be planted in the garden as soon as they have their second set of true leaves.

Moving containers out of the full sun will reduce the frequency of watering needed. That may slow the growth of the seedlings but if they are being planted out soon it will generally not be a problem.

Hey token,

Where do you get those lasagna pans? I need to score some of them.

Thanks for your help. I started sowing today and I thought I had found a good spot.....now I learn it doesn't matter. LOL Well it will matter later and I can worry about moving them then. I appreciate the information that I get from the experienced winter sowers. Thanks to all.

Dollar Store and Wal-Mart has them. $2.18 for a pair at WM.