best medium for winter sowing?

14 years ago

hi all - I'm new to this so I'm curious what everyone uses for their 'soil' (be it soil or not) medium for planting the seeds in their outdoor containers. Obviously, I can just stop at the store and buy a bag of Miracle Grow potting mix if that's the best, but if there is something better I'd like to know that too.

Last year I assembled the square foot garden mix for my outside containers, which did fabulously, but considering the space (and cleanliness!) constraints with winter sowing I'm more apt to buy something pre-made at the moment.

thanks for any input you have!

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Comments (7)

gardenweed_z6a
14 years ago
Many folks here on the WS forum recommend Pro-mix but since that isn't available where I am, I asked for its equivalent at a local seed/feed store and they sold me a brand named Fafard. What you need is seed starting mix rather than soil or potting soil altho' there are folks who use that successfully. Seed starting mix is lighter weight and doesn't compact into a brick inside the containers. Since this is my first year to winter sow I can't report on the pros or cons of using the professional mix but I thought I might give myself a little better chance of success by using that. I did mix in a little Miracle Grow just to use it up since that's what I bought first.
If you need any perennial seeds, I still have lots left you're welcome to in exchange for a SASBE.
Good luck and welcome to the asylum. They're all very friendly and helpful here.
mnwsgal
14 years ago
You don't need to use a seed starting mix which is generally more expensive. Most any light fluffy soiless mix works well.
I use whatever I can find though I prefer Pro-Mix. Others prefer Miracle Grow or other brands. I have also used a special mix that a local nursery uses in their sowing. Some people mix their own from their compost and various additions.
You can search by putting soiless mix in the search box at the bottom of the page and find several threads that have discussed this question.
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Not trying to get into the wintersow vs. not wintersow debate here but....... The only time it makes sense to wintersow is when you are sowing seeds needing cold stratification and I know some of the ones you listed do not need it. I sowed the Asceplsis incarnata in early August and plan to put them in the ground under mulch all winter. I am winter sowing some native shrub seeds needing a couple months of cold strat. in pots outdoors and three others that are perennials that specifically need it. There are no hard fast rules to this. To each his own. I rather enjoy sowing indoors in winter and have had very good results and it gives me an uplift in winter to do that. I have had good head starts on healthy plants this way and have sowed many SW shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, cactus, etc. I always have something indoors in winter I am sowing. I usually start them in October or November in a large sunny S. exposure window and grow them very cool in the coldest dark months sort of in a wait pattern, then let them get warm again in late Feb when the sun comes stronger. I use lights sometimes if necessary but usually they just sit there in the cold. I am not a wintersower to the degree popularized to a hobby level of lots of containers with holes, lids etc craze with every seed I get being done that way. I just use regular pots in the shade under the carport for the seeds specifically needing a cold period. For penstemons its good, they come up when its still very cold. Some seeds needing cold I direct sow. Sometimes I experiment and try all different ways to see what does best with a backup supply to resow in spring. Look up your different varieties and see what they need and go from there. I have sowed seeds as early as October and had established plugs to put into the ground come spring. Other times I put the late summer sown seedlings in the ground in late fall and cover them with leaf mulch and had good well rooted starts that way in spring. Look at nature, she does that all the time with seeds that have fallen. Mostly, make it fun for yourself and do what you want. Save extra seeds for insurance, or try multiple ways and experiment. Do a test in a damp paper towel with a few seeds to see if they sprout in a few days. Often that will tell you want you need to know.
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neverenoughflowers
14 years ago
Does anyone have experience using Miracle Grow Organic Mix?
It is the only soil The Lowes closest to me has right now and I have never heard of the Organic Mix. Any comments would be great.

Carol
silverkelt
14 years ago
I would think the organic tag is a for marketing purposes... Its not going to add any value to your containers thats for sure, alot of companies are slapping that tag on thier wierdest places!

BTW not to get into a huge seperate debate, but alot of these "organics" CAN and I want to stress can, come from unregulated companies in south america or south asia. Its dubious at best what they refer to organic is the same as certified organic in the states.

For the most part, organic can be tagged on MOST soils sold in the state as long as they are not treated with chemical fertilizers or treated with seed suppressent. I wouldnt go out of my way to buy organic soil, thats for sure.. Lowes has pretty much closed up shop for gardening supplies until early spring, do you have any farm stores or feed stores, alot of these will carry promix or a something similiar. They like a sale even during wierd months to them.. they dont complain to dig some out of the snow =).

Silverkelt
kqcrna
14 years ago
You can also try going to local nurseries and asking them what they use for their own seed starting. I've done that and at one I ended up with Fafard and at another Sunshine MetroMix. Both worked well for me.

I bought the Metro Mix this year- good stuff, and $14 for 2.8 cu ft.

Karen
gardenluv
14 years ago
Miracle Grow here. It is what is available year round at Home Depot, and I have never had any issues with it. I have used both moisture control and regular and didn't notice too much of a difference.
neverenoughflowers
14 years ago
Thanks, I just found regular Miracle Grow at Kmart, I think I'll mix them together just in case. Thanks for your help.
Carol

best medium for winter sowing?

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