So I sowed! I did it! First Time Winter Sower

15 years ago

It is a lovely day here in Brooklyn New York, so it was really nice to set foot in the garden, even if only for a few moments to set my containers out. It was sweet to be face to face with a downy woodpercker too, instead of watching him from inside! I went slipping across the ice several times, but didn't fall. Got my composting where it belongs while I was out there too.

I used some milk containers, some zip lock bags, and a few take-out Chinese containers. I put slashes in the tops and bottoms of all containers, I pinned the zip lock bags open , and made sure everything was watered and drained before putting them out.

I haven't gotten a shipment of Spring seeds yet, so I found some from last year that were on Paula's list and I threw in some I thought I'd take a chance on.

Cardinal Flower (this hasn't worked for me the refrigerator way, so I am very hopeful it will this way)

Hollyhock

Love Lies Bleeding

Basil( I know that is risky)

Lettuces

Marigolds

Don't remember what else

Can't believe any of them will ever sprout and grow! If they do I'll be a die- hard convert to winter sowing all right!

THANKS for all your advice everyone!!

Is there anything I should re-do?

Audrey

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Comments (16)

teequiltbarbie
15 years ago
HEAYYYYYYYYYYY Audrey~~~I'm a newbie too..isn't it fun? Walk carefully when outside so you don't get an "owie" falling on your bum. The first night I put stuff out I started feeling sorry for the little seeds out in the freezing cold. I had to tell myself that's the POINT of this. They all seem fine..still frozen and waiting.....
Good Job...going to do more? Makes winter go fast, huh?
anewgarden
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh, yes, teequiltbarbie, (wonderful name BTW) I shall do more. I am starting to order seeds. I have to try and be careful not to spend any real money.

Last year I didn't have enough zinnas and cosmos and moonflowers. I had some , but not enough. I have a lot of yellow flowers, I want more pinks and reds, and of course more tomatoes and basil. So I am trying to find ways to start earlier without having what my family calls: Damn-pots-of dirt-everywhere-they-look-or-want-to sit-for three months. Something tells me there will still be pots o'dirt all over the place!
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Hmmm....... peat pellets will be hard to keep moist. I recommend large containers, preferably milk jugs. My container of choice is gallon size milk jugs. Half gallons and 2 liter pop bottles work well, too. Many veterans here use these, aiming for 3-4 inches of good potting mix. Moistened first, sown with seeds, and put outside, they don't need additional water until the weather warms in spring. The rain and snow water them. Then we add more ventilation holes to the top and eventually remove the top half of the jug completely when the weather is warm. Containers need holes in the top of precipitation and airflow and in the bottom for drainage. We do you live? Wet or dry climate? Hoping for the best, I'd make sure there are adequate holes top and bottom and place in the shade. For the rest, try milk jugs. See Truidi's site, wintersown.org. Don't miss her free seed offer. Also see the wintersowing FAQs, which I'll link. Then come back and ask questions. This is the most friendly forum on GW and the experts will be glad to help. Welcome to wintersowing. Your garden will never be the same! Karen Here is a link that might be useful: FAQs
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I think the goat is kinda cute, goats have pretty eyes. Does he whine or mew or bleat or whatever sound goats make when you're paying more attention to the dog? Many years ago I wanted to increase my columbines, so I took the dried stems of the few I had in the garden and shook them around here and there. It took over a year before I saw all the blooms, but I had an array petal count, some with or without spurs, and a range of blues, pinks, purple, plum, white and an odd grey color--well, the grey wasn't bad and actually was lovely--you just don't expect grey for a flower bloom. Open-pollinated columbine seedlings are like a mixed litter of kittens, you never know what you'll get but you'll love everyone. I do a lot of seed packing here and as expected some of it hits the floor :-O but waste not want not--I have a new bagless vacuum with a catcher cup which I dump over the side of the porch behind a shrub. I don't know all that will sprout there but it will amaze. Yesterday I finished packing out a large bag of mixed wildflowers--once you get to the bottom there's more chaff than seed, though it is still loaded with a lot of very small seeds. Well, it doesn't look right for sharing so I dumped the remainder over the other side of the porch railing--that's gonna be a sight when those sprout and grow too. Direct sowing can be a hazardous thing--not to the sower but to the seeds. Seeds are food! and Mother Nature will take as many as she can. So, when you're direct sowing you must sow heavily to avoid disappointment, you must be realistic and expect less than a ten percent of the seeds you sow will survive long enough to bloom--ten percent might actually be a high number. But if you're sowing 40,000 poppy seeds then 400 plants is still 400 plants. Obviously results will vary based on predator, climate, and skill and tools of the gardener; but when it comes down to it direct sown seed survival is mostly dependant on luck--you either get eaten or you don't. Mother Nature is very hungry.
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PVick
15 years ago
Congrats, anewgarden! Welcome to the fold.

I'm in Brooklyn too; I haven't grown basil, but the other seeds you listed should be fine.

The only thing I'd suggest you rethink is using the Chinese food take-out containers; if they're the ones I'm thinking of (clear plastic with domed cover?), they might be a bit too shallow. 3-4 inches of soil is good - and remember that those inches will shrink down over time. Not to worry, though, I've used these too and stuff grew just fine - had to watch them a little more closely for moisture than the others.

I'll be listening for your screams of dee-light when your sprouts start showing!

PV
anewgarden
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks PV!

My take out containers have flat lids, but maybe they are not great. You think milk jugs are better? Or big zip lock bags? I am in Sunset Park, how come we are in different zones?
ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
15 years ago
Congratulations anewgarden, and welcome neighbor.

A "Hollyhock grows in Brooklyn", huh? :)

I also would suggest 3-4 Inches of dirt. I use one half of a gallon water container.
I tried the take out foil pans, and they are too shallow.

good luck, you'll be a believer, 'fore too long.
PVick
15 years ago
Audrey - I'm in Flatbush, near the BBG and Prospect Park. Depending on which zone map is used, I could be in zone 7; but since I started out as 6B, I just left it that way.

I've started using Â½-gallon milk jugs in the past couple of years - I'm liking them much better than what I've used in the past. My containers of choice used to be 4-in. transplant pots, although I've used all kinds of stuff - plastic take-out containers, yogurt cups, 16-oz. plastic cups, styrofoam cups, aluminum foil pans. Never used the zip-loc bags, though. It doesn't really matter what you use - whatever you like best - but do try and use stuff that can hold the 3-4 inches of soil. The roots on WS seedlings can get very l-o-n-g; you'll see. And the deeper the container, the less you have to worry about them drying out too quickly when things start to warm up.

You're gonna love this WSing thing; if you have time, take a look at all the stuff I've grown over the years.

PV
organicallygrown
15 years ago
PVick, your photos are gorgeous!

Is EVERYTHING in containers? Wow, you've given me hope!

Just beautiful!

Cynthia
mayblooms
15 years ago
First timer here too - I sowed 6 1/2 gallon jugs yesterday and have several packs yet to do. I can't quite believe that it is going to work but if it does, I am hooked! :) Glad to join in on the fun!
auntyara
15 years ago
I tried it for the first time today too.
4 lassanga type tins with clear lids from the dollar store.
might have put to many holes.
planted convolvulus, nasturtium, petunia, and lingularia.
I had to dig a trench thru snow and ice. hope, hope, hope its worth it. saving gallon milk jugs. got one under the sink waiting for friends.
terrene
15 years ago
PVick your photos are just beautiful!! Your porch looks like a gorgeous jungle of flowers. Like a secret tropical garden. I really like the photoshopped photos, too.

Way to inspire the newbies. You guys will love WSing!
anewgarden
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you so much for showing your lovely photos!

If you have time could you tell me when, you put what, outside?
Including those amazing tomatoes!!

Audrey
agirlsgirl
15 years ago
Welcome! Don't worry you are on your way to the best addiction ever! You will not be disappointed! Questions are always welcomed and answered ,so when in doubt ,just ask! The people are awesome here,and I attribute my success in my first year to all of the wonderful people here! No question is too silly or dumb! ;)

I look forward to when you post your very first sprouts!:D
Angie
PVick
15 years ago
Audrey -

Seeds that need cold strat - perennials and hardy annuals - go out in January - February.

Hardy annuals, perennials that don't need cold strat go out in March; tomatoes and peppers get sown in March too.

Everything else gets done from March on.

This year, I'll be trying more food plants, so I'm figuring on starting beans/peas, spinach, lettuce in March; carrots and other stuff probably in April. Hope it all works.

All that being said, I garden on a balcony with a "roof", right outside my windows, so I do have a bit of a micro-climate up here. But I think you can put stuff out at basically the same time I do.

PV
floodthelast
15 years ago
Wow PV, your pics are lovely. You have grown a vast array of plants. My toddler liked your kitty-kitties too. :)
This is my first year WS. I seem to be doing on a grand scale. At least it seems that way. I haven't grown more than annuals from seed before. Oh and tom's.
I am so excited about all the flowers I might have. I have some serious shade at times and drainage issues so I have never had much color.
floodthelast
15 years ago
Wow PV, your pics are lovely. You have grown a vast array of plants. My toddler liked your kitty-kitties too. :)
This is my first year WS. I seem to be doing on a grand scale. At least it seems that way. I haven't grown more than annuals from seed before. Oh and tom's.
I am so excited about all the flowers I might have. I have some serious shade at times and drainage issues so I have never had much color.
anewgarden
Original Author
15 years ago
You sure are an inspiration! All that on a balcony? wow

So I sowed! I did it! First Time Winter Sower

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teequiltbarbie

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So I sowed! I did it! First Time Winter Sower

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