This is so much fun! :)
Like I said, I will be emailing all those that have signed up today later on with my address.So no worries you will hear from me!:)

Ok we have 2 more!!! :)

1-pulldownclaw
2-kiddo_1
3-retiredprof
4-susantexoma

Wow Angie great idea such a nice offer

If I am not too late, could you please count me in too...

1 sharpie with transparent tape over
2 3-4"
3 www.wintersown.org
4 winter tape
5 holes on the bottom
6 lids off
7 milk jugs
8 Part shade, but not sure
9 hunk-o-seedlings
10 Prairie Moon

Oh, I hope I'm not too late. Count me in. I'm finishing dinner and will be starting on the hardy annuals that some of the nice people here have sent me. Here are my answers:

1. Pencil or Sharpie
2. 3 to 4 inches
3. www.wintersown.org
4. Duct tape
5. Drill holes in bottom
6. Pokw holes/leave top off container
7. Milk jugs and 2 liter soda bottles
8. Dappled shade
9. Hunk of Seedlings
10. Generous people on this site who shares their seeds/Value Seeds!

Ooh, nice list.

1. Sharpie
2. 3 inches
3. www.wintersown.org
4. Duct tape
5. Poke holes in bottom
6. Leave top off and poke holes in bottom
7. Milk Jug and 2 liter bottles
8. Outdoors (probably dappled shade is best)
9. Hunk of seedlings
10. www.valueseeds.com

This will be my first time winter sowing I actually started yesterday with some daylily seeds, echinacea, and hibiscus. I'm in zone 5.
Her goes my guess at the answers:
1.Sharpie marker
2.3"
3.Wintersown.org
4.Duct tape
5.Poke holes in bottom
6.Leave cap off
7.milk jugs, juice bottles
8.South side, sun
9.Haven't O'nuff Seeds ????
10.Gardenweb

This sounds fun. :-) You are sweet, Angie.

Ok! We have 8!!!! This is awesome,I wonder if we can get 10 by the days end? :)

1-pulldownclaw
2-kiddo_1
3-retiredprof
4-susantexoma
5-syman
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom
8-paradisa

Thanks Annette and pitimpinai,we have to feed the budding addiction!....lol...:)

I am going to wait a bit longer to see if anymore people sign up before I send the email with my address. For now I am making seed envies and will start packing seeds up tonight!:)

Thanks to all that have responded,I cant wait to discuss your answers! You all did a great job!:)

Thank you for this opportunity! I hope there is still a spot left. :)

1) Name a preferred writing instrument for marking containers.

sharpie marker
2) How many inches of soil is suggested for best results?
3-4"

3) What website can you go to for the best info on winter sowing?(Other than here!;)
wintersown.org

4) What product is most widely used for keeping containers shut?
duct tape

5) What do you do to ensure good drainage?
poke up to 5 drainage holes in the bottom of your containers

6) What do you do to ensure good air circulation?
poke holes in the top of your containers or use a bottle that has an open top

7) Name 2 types of containers that can be used for winter sowing.
2 L pop bottle, takeout container

8) What is the best lighting to place your containers in?
partial sun/shade

9) What does "HOS" stand for?
hunk of seedlings

10) Name one great resource for obtaining seeds.
seed trading

Then there was 9!!!:)

1-pulldownclaw
2-kiddo_1
3-retiredprof
4-susantexoma
5-syman
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom
8-paradisa
9-dobiemom

syman,you do not have any of your email settings set so I can contact you with the details for the offer. Please set your email preferences so I can email you or please send me an email,so I have your email addy! Thanks!:)

Ok,I need one more....who will it be?:)

I have emailed everyone that has signed up so far except,syman!:)

Oh #10 where are you? :)

Can I be # 10??

My ansewrs
1.China pen
2.3-4"
3.Wintersown.org
4.Duct tape
5.Poke holes in bottom
6.Leave cap off
7.milk jugs, soda bottles
8.Dappled shade ??
9.Hunk of seedlings ????
10.Gardenweb/winter sowing

Donna Mae, who is a grandma to a baby girl, Today!!!

Woo Hoo Donna Mae! And congrats on your new grandbaby!:)

Ok,the seed offer is closed,but the thread is wide open!:)

1-pulldownclaw
2-kiddo_1
3-retiredprof
4-susantexoma
5-syman
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom
8-paradisa
9-dobiemom
10-moon458

Answers to the questions:

Ok,here is the "key" to the quiz!:) I am by no means a ws expert,this is only year two for me. These "answers" are all observations, and some experience, of mine while reading here at this forum. I am really hoping other suggestions will be made by more experienced ws'ers. I would love this thread to be put to good use while you guys wait for your seeds!:)

1) Paint Pen ( My preference), Sharpie (watch can fade in sun), Aluminimum tape, pencil ( I tried this once,it did not last for me),china pen
(*Note - I used Rustoleum brand paint pens last season,I salvaged containers from the previous years frenzy,well I figured I could use a bit of nail polish remover and wipe away what was marked,well it did not work! I would think these are very good paint pens!;)

2) 3"-4", I am making it just a bit deeper for perennials with tap roots this year.( I figure they will be in there awhile,I can not put them out there until they are larger here, because the pill bugs will get them!;)

3) wintersown.org....of course!!!! Thanks Trudi! :D

4)Duct tape is the most widely used from my observation,although people use other tapes and some use wire or string to tie them shut. There is also another method,were the containers fit together and stay together without any fasteners! (I cannot find the thread!:( )

5)Poke Holes and some suggest the "side bottom" also,just in case the bottom holes get clogged.

6)Leave caps off,poke holes in top of containers and making vents at the top.(I like the vents because you can control the air flow better)

7) If it can hold 3" of soil,you can see your finger through it and it has head room for your seedlings,you can ws in it! Some varieties are an exception to the soil depth and headroom rule,alyssum for instance, doesnt need the soil to be as deep and doesnt need as much head room.

8) Part Shade,Dappled shade is what I have seen suggested the most.Even full sun loving plants can fry as sprouts when inside a ws container on a warm sunny day.

9)"Hunk O Seedlings"...although I liked the suggestion of "Have 'onough seeds?"...lol...

10)wintersown.org,Seed Exchange,Round Robin,Various sites ( Be sure to check out GW"s "Rate and Review Vendors" forum.),bakemom,and other various SASBE offers......the woods,your local zoo...lol...JK!;)

All but one have been contacted. I will let you know when your envies arrive!:)

What an informative thread!

The pen question interests me. I have so far tried masking tape cut into the number (too long to make), acrylic paint, and a laundry marker.

My first 9 jugs I used masking tape to coz I didn't have duct tape.

And I didn't know that rule of thumb in #7 about "if you can see your fingers through it". Cool -- as soon as hubby's lactaid jug is empty I will try it.

My jugs are on my deck which gets morning sun -- I'm hoping it's ok. It's a great spot in terms of wind protection -- last week when the wind was blowing off everyone's shingles not one of my jugs fell over.

Maria,I am so glad you are finding this thread useful! :)
The morning sun is fine for your containers,it doesnt get as hot in the morning,especially here in PA...lol..I keep most of mine on my deck also!:)

I'm so excited about winter sowing. Was skeptical at first, but decided to jump right in.

I am using the milk jugs and juice bottles like the ones cranberry and grape juice come in, also have some arizona iced tea ones. My Question is if I leave the tops off do I have to poke more air holes in them too?

I have some small plastic hinged boxes that fruit(grapes) come in with the holes on the bottom and top. Can I use those if I tape up some of the top holes and around the edge where the top and bottom parts meet?

Also I was wondering what the advantages of winter sowing were versus starting them early inside or in a greenhouse?

I have winter sowed some seeds already. A very nice GW member gave me some daylily seeds that were starting to sprout - so I winter sowed them along with hibiscus, echinacea and gaillardia. I have them on my back patio in the full sun till late afternoon. I'm in zone 5. Should I move them or will they be alright till they sprout in the spring? Will the full sun make them sprout too soon?

Does it matter if the dirt and seeds in the jugs freeze? Or is that the point? We are supposed to get more snow thursday.

Anything else I need to do other than make sure the soil is moist once a month?

Is there a list of what kinds of seeds can be winter sowed? Can I sow tomatos?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I'm doing this right.

Thanks,
Lorraine

Hi Lorainne! :)

Yes I would go ahead and some holes,or you could wait to be sure there isnt sufficient ventilation. I am a fan of a vent because you can cut it,keep it closed and when you need the air ,open it accordingly. Trudi assured me last year that I would know if I didnt have proper ventilation,and she was right. The vents were great because you can open them a little or a lot!:)

I didn't have great luck with those berry containers,they dried out very fast. Maybe someone else will pop in and say they had great luck with those,but I did not! I am glad I only experimented with 2 or 3 and used seeds I had loads of.Another issue is head room,some seedlings grow very fast.
But when you are scrounging for containers later on,you may decide the extra attention is worth it.

WS plants do seem hardier and take more abuse,they are way better than any store bought plant and I think that is mainly because you are growing them locally. Starting under lights/GH is great for things that have a long time until maturity,some tender perennials may not bloom or bloom very late in the season if started too late. I had great results with both methods last year. Also remember you do not have to harden off ws plants!I think someone mentioned GH/indoors is fastest,ws is second fastest and direct sowing is last. The majority of my plants will be started via ws,but being a shorter season,there are a few I will start under lights! ;)

As for the daylilys,I sowed seeds last season using the ws method and had awesome results,but my seeds were not sprouted. I dont know if yours being sprouted will be a problem. If you do not get an answer on this thread,start a new one and ask that direct question,I am sure someone will be able to give you an answer!:)

Freezing is great!...lol..When the soil freezes it is the same condition the seeds would suffer in the "wild".Of course some seeds would not want to be frozen,but those are ones we dont ws!;)

You can find an awesome list of seeds that can be ws in your zone at wintersown.org,there is a great data base there. I printed out the data for my zone last year and found it was super handy!

I know many people here ws their tomatoes with great results. I start mine under lights because I am super impatient when it comes down to maters...lol..I am thinking your zone and how long of a growing season you have would come into play on that one.If you have a tomato that will mature in 80 days,you have that to think about that when sowing your seeds. Do a search of this forum for tomatoes,there are some great discussions on the subject!:)

Dont be sorry about asking questions,how else will you learn? :)

Please if anyone feels I have put out any misinformation here speak up! All views are welcomed,I think the more points of view there are the better these new ws'ers will understand!:)

Thanks for answering my questions.
I feel more comfortable with ws now.
I received a few more jugs and if we don't get too much snow tomorrow will go out and winter sow some more. Would like to try some tomatos.
Thanks again,
Lorraine

Hi! The first envy arrived today! I will post as they come in!:)
1-pulldownclaw
2-kiddo_1
3-retiredprof
4-susantexoma
5-syman
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom
8-paradisa - Envy arrived to me today,Thank you!:)
9-dobiemom
10-moon458

I received 5 envies today and sent one out!:)

1-pulldownclaw -envy arrived to me today!thank you!
2-kiddo_1 -envy arrived to me today!thank you!
3-retiredprof -envy arrived to me today!thank you!
4-susantexoma -envy arrived to me today!thank you!
5-syman
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom - envy arrived to me today!thank you!
8-paradisa - seeds are on the way!:)
9-dobiemom
10-moon458

Sent my envelope yesterday,hope it reaches you quick...cant wait..

Hi Sy! Your seeds are all packed up and ready to go! As soon as your envy arrives they will go right out and hopefully be there to you within a few days so you can get them ws'ed!:)

Mine is on it's way...

Donna Mae

I mailed more seeds today! :)

1-pulldownclaw -seeds are on the way!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds are on the way!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds are on the way!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds are on the way!:)
5-syman
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom - seeds are on the way!:)
8-paradisa - seeds are on the way!:)
9-dobiemom
10-moon458

Donna Mae,I am sure it will be here by Monday,sometimes they take awhile. As soon as it gets here it will go right back out...with seeds in it of course! :)
I hope everyone is having a pleasant weekend! :)

Hi agirlsgirl,

Just checking to see if you received my envie yet. It was mailed on Tuesday! I have my containers ready to go...
Thanks,
Karen

I received 2 more envies today syman and moon458! Your seeds are in the envies and ready for tomorrows mail. I will email to confirm! :)

Karen,it hasn't arrived just yet,I bet it will arrive tomorrow. Sometimes it takes them awhile for some reason,I will let you know as soon as it arrives! :)

Here is an update:

1-pulldownclaw -seeds are on the way!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds are on the way!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds are on the way!:)
5-syman- envy arrived to me today!:)
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom - seeds are on the way!:)
8-paradisa - seeds are on the way!:)
9-dobiemom
10-moon458 - envy arrived to me today!:)

Angie,

I received your seeds today. Thank you so much!!! I am so excited. The only problem is what to winter sow first as I only have 4 jugs saved! I keep telling the kids drink milk!! drink milk!! I think It's gonna be scabosia, coreopsis, amaranthus, and malva. I'll have to make some calls for more jugs!
Thanks again for the seeds - I love them all. I do have to look up Arcotis Venusta yet, I don't have a clue - but I'm sure I'll love it.
I'll keep you updated on my winter sowing adventure.

Thank you,
Lorraine
Paradisa

Angie, got your seeds yesterday! Thanks so much for spending the time to enable us crazed noobs! ( : >P)

I'm now trying to figure out what to sow first, looking up the hardy annuals on Trudi's site, gonna sow tonight!

Thanks again!

-Noah (Pulldownclaw)

Hi all!:)
I got word of a few envies arriving safely at their new loving homes! Thanks so much for checking in with me,you guys have been GREAT! :)

Lorraine,uh-oh! You better find yourself some containers...lol..have any friends or family with kids? Neighbor? bakemom says she gets great containers from recycling night using the excuse "School Project" she suggests you have a kid tag along!;)
Kris,kiddo_1, has adventured to larger scale "container snagging" by hitting the local recycling drop off bins! :)
Don't worry you will find some!:)
Here is some info on the Arctotis venusta,it is a great plant and so very pretty,it has a very striking presence! :)
I would love to hear your updates! Enjoy your seeds! :)

Noah,you are so very welcome,I am so glad you like your new seeds! It is so fun looking up new plants and planning what you are going to ws,enjoy yourself!:)

I know I said they all were annual,but the Malva is ,Malva sylvestris 'Moravia' it is a biennial perennial,blooming prolifically in it's first year! :)
This type of Malva is more commonly found as Malva sylvestris subsp. mauritiana.
Sorry about that,I wasn't sure on that one until just recently myself! :)

Ok here is an update:
1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds are on the way!:)
5-syman- seeds are on the way!:)
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom - seeds are on the way!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom
10-moon458 - seeds are on the way!:)

WooHoo - The seeds arrived today. Thank you so much for sharing with the newbies. I have just been out uncovering some of my things today because I have lots of sprouts. I think I am officially out of the newbie category now and have a pretty good stash. Only a few more perrenials to plant.......and then there are all of these annuals. I'm hooked.

Awesome Carol! Thanks for checking in!:)
Congrats on the sprouts,as spring draws near you will see more and more of them! :)

1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds are on the way!:)
6-karenillinois
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom
10-moon458 - seeds are on the way!:)

What an informative thread. I have been debating wintersowing some seeds this year. I usually do not plant until after Mother's day here so I think I still have time.

I just need to get some soil and containers... Time to raid the recycle bin :)

Karen

Karens envy arrived today!:)

1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds are on the way!:)
6-karenillinois- envy arrived today!!!:D
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom - have not heard from
10-moon458 - seeds are on the way!:)

Hi Karendee! I am glad you have found this thread informative! Glad to hear you decided to join this madness! Good luck and if you need some seeds let me know via email! ;)

thanks agirlsgirl!

Karen

Wow I can't believe my envie hasn't arrived yet. :( I hope it gets there soon. If all goes well I will post some pics of the beautiful flowers I grow with your seeds in the summer Angie. Thanks again for offering to help out us newbies! :)

dobiemom ,I forgot your envy was coming from Canada,so I am sure that is why there is a delay! ;)
I will let you know the moment it arrives!:)

I am excited for all of you,you guys are going to have such a wonderful gardening experience this year! Last year was my first season and I could not believe the results! I was a direct sower before ws'ing,so the idea of having sprouts earlier and the sprouts being protected from the critters and elements,was very intriguing to me. I am so glad I tried it,because not only did my gardens look better than they ever have,it cost me very little to accomplish it all! :)
I wish you all a great first season,I look forward to reading your posts on how wonderful it has all worked out for you and of course to seeing pics of all the beauty you have created in a milk jug! ;)

Here is an update:
1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds are on the way!:)
6-karenillinois- seeds are on the way!:)
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom - envy is on it's way to me
10-moon458 - seeds are on the way!:)

My seeds arrived today. Yipee.
I went thru the links of the pics these seeds that are at the beginning of this thread.
I really, really like the ARCTOLIS VENUSTA. I have never seen these. I have an all white moon garden (the full moon in Aug will spotlight it best). These will fit nicely in that garden along with the poppies. Thank you so much Angie!!!

Donna Mae

Another ???

Can these be sown now??

Donna Mae

Hi Donna Mae! I am so glad you are happy with your seeds! I really like the Arctotis too. It is not only beautiful,but a really well behaved strong growing plant also. I had blooms from them from shortly after they were planted out, all the way into fall. They never stopped! :)
I sowed mine in March last year and had sprouts sometime in April. I read that it is considered a half hardy annual. So if you get sprouts and you get really low temps you may want to keep an eye on it!:)
Thanks for letting me know your seeds arrived,have a great first year ws'ing! :)

oops! forgot the update! :P

1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds are on the way!:)
6-karenillinois- seeds are on the way!:)
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom - envy is on it's way to me
10-moon458 - seeds arrived!:)

Syman received his seeds! Thanks for letting me know they arrived Sy!:)

1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds arrived!:)
6-karenillinois- seeds are on the way!:)
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom - envy is on it's way to me
10-moon458 - seeds arrived!:)

Hi all,Karenillionois has received her seeds. It was a few days ago,I didnt have any computer time to do an update sooner,sorry! I hope you all are having fun with your new seeds and thanks to all of you for being so thoughtful and prompt!:)

1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds arrived!:)
6-karenillinois- seeds arrived!:)
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom - Still waiting on the usps to deliver her envy to me,they are taking their good ole time!
10-moon458 - seeds arrived!:) I also want it to be known that dobiemom did send her envy out in a very timely manner. It is coming from Canada and I am hoping that is why it is taking so long, and that the USPS didn't lose it out there somewhere! I am hoping it will be here by Saturday,so she can have her seeds before summer!:)
Have a great day all of you! :)

1-pulldownclaw -seeds arrived!:)
2-kiddo_1 -seeds arrived!:)
3-retiredprof -seeds arrived!:)
4-susantexoma -seeds arrived!:)
5-syman- seeds arrived!:)
6-karenillinois- seeds arrived!:)
7-soonergrandmom - seeds arrived!:)
8-paradisa - seeds arrived!:)
9-dobiemom - ENVY IS HERE!!!! :)
10-moon458 - seeds arrived!:)

My seeds arrived! YAY! Thank you so much for the abundance of seeds... I was completely surpised and so excited by them all! I can't wait to see them all in bloom. I will definitely send you some pics once they have grown! :) I can't thank you enough!!

Hi All!!!

It does work!
Got my first sprouts on the first day of spring. Jug #43 Coreopsis! They are teeny tiny but I'm so excited.
Thanks again Angie for all the seeds.

Paradisa

Some of mine have sprouted too! Thanks Angie!! I can't wait to see them when they're in bloom. :)