It is, as someone here once said (maybe that was Trudi) rather counterintuitive. I had my doubts about it, too, a few years ago, but finding myself without a greenhouse for the first time in several years, I simply had to find another way to sow. Now there are very few things I start inside with heat. I have healthier, happier plants than ever. Thank you, Trudi, and all the rest of you great wintersowers!

Welcome, Mary, to the joy of winter sowing. Glad you gave it a chance. Ha, WE know were not crazy.

I think we know that if we are crazy it is not a malicious madness.
It is in general soothing and exciting. People who know you may start crossing the street to walk around you but that is more of a communication problem. :)

Yeah, we saw the door open a little, saw you peek in, but we were practicing our nekkid moon dance that day, and figured that's why you left. But we all looked around at each other and said "she'll be back" and kept on dancing.

It's full moon tonight...care to join the dance?

I practiced winter sowing this past fall. I did a few outdoor containers last spring, but nothing like I did this year. 180+ containers. I've lost count. And I still continue to trade seeds. What is wrong with us?

The question is not what is wrong with US, so much as why hasn't the rest of the world come around to our way of thinking?
But look how long it took us to get from cave-dwellers to here...I think the road will be long.

mmq: I just think so many people have gotten used to starting seeds indoors, under lights that it's going to take some time to break the habit. Now, if the gardening companies would start selling 4" deep containers with instructions for wintersowing, it would be different. Just think of walking into Wal-Mart and seeing wintersowing supplies next to the summer blooming oriental lilies and other bulbs. Or seed racks in the fall rather than in spring. Someone could make a fortune.

It's the conventional wisdom thing. Sometimes it's good (hair should not be set on fire, don't drink poison, get out from under the falling tree) and sometimes it's not (the world is flat, the colonies belong to England, seeds are meant to be started indoors) Whenever someone things differently from me, I try really hard to see things from their viewpoint, because who knows, they might just be onto something!

Mary, congratulations on your seedlings, hope you have many more. And don't underestimate your teens need for you at home right now, those are tougher years for kids these days and you with more time may be a blessing disguised :)

And it is a full moon again tonight but darned cold for nekkid dancing, even here...

HI Mary,
When did you start your jugs? Just curious. I didn't start
in jugs & I just posted my own dilemma.

Next year for sure I am going to start in the fall.
I can't let another WS season get by me.

The Other Mary
z 5b KS

Here is a link that might be useful: Did I do the right thing?

this is my first year wintersowing, and when I mentioned it to my husband, he just gave me the one raised eyebrow look, shook his head and said ok, after all I suppose it wasn't as bad as last years request to have a larg dead tree planted in my yard, so my woodpeckers would be closer to the house, you shoud have seen the look I got with that one..lol. But when I went to walmart to get a couple of the .20 cent pack of seeds, took them to the check out and the girl said "wow planting seeds already" I said yes, but actually I think I'm a little late, and the look she gave me was close to the look I got when I requested the dead tree be planted in my yard. So I not sure if sharing the info about wintersowing to family and friends is a good idea yet, I may just sit on this a bit and see what happens with this first go around.

I understand your hesitation. Next year you'll be the one in the store in January asking why they haven't got their seed racks out yet, and when they say "people don't start their seeds just yet" you will have to correct them and tell them that YOU are one of the crazy (smart) ones that does, and that you start them OUTSIDE in recycled milk jugs and get great results...

I tend to talk fast, making light of the fact that I have no money and no patience for an indoor setup, and this method works GREAT.

And if I get lucky, I'm talking to someone who is more than happy to pose an interested "really? That sounds great!"
I gotta start carrying around some of trudi's brochures so I don't sound like a fruitcake...cuz if you get me started, and you don't glaze over on me, I WILL talk your ear off about WSing!

Welcome, Mary -

I joined this forum almost five years ago and met a bunch of terrific people here - helpful, fun and knowledgeable - You picked the right forum!

Carrie

Thank you all for such a warm welcome. Don't think I'll be converting anyone anytime soon they have stared and laughed but I don't worry about that anymore, it's not like my hair is on fire, lol. Not quite sure about nekkid dancing during the full moon, maybe in my house during the day when no one is home, may have to work my way up to that one, looks like I'll have plenty more to be celebrating soon.

The Other Mary, I started 3 jugs and one of those clear cake containers from walmart in January with older seeds left over from last year. Only one of those has sprouted so far. About 10 more in Feb. half of those have begun to sprout and there's no stopping me now, I've been doing a couple each week, I hope to put out 6 this week, I don't think it's too late for us.

MARY

Mary
Thanks for the info.
I just started mine last week, so I am a bit behind.

Those packages that read "start indoors" 4-8 weeks
before setting
out, I figured I at least had a running chance at
something surviving.

The Other Mary
z 5b KS

Welcome to the loony bin, Mary, lol!!!

Glad you are joining in on the fun. I guarantee this will be a turning point in your gardening life!

:)
Dee

Welcome to the asylum! er, I mean forum! Pretty soon you'll be talking to complete strangers about this wintersowng thing with your eyes all big and waving your arms around wildly as people start to back off. But every once and awhile you'll see someone with that same wild look in their eye as they say "no spit, this really works?" and you know you've got a nibble the line!
Plus the ones who don't believe(yet) will give you milkjugs to get rid of you!!LOL!!
-B

Welcome, Mary.

I forgot who made this picture. Thanks anyway. ;-P
Here it goes:

{{gwi:352697}} ????

Hi Mary! (And hi the other Mary)

I am a newbie also. I have been sowing jugs as much as I can get them since the end of Feb.

I am having lots of fun. No sprouts yet but I am hopeful!

good luck!
Karen

I love that shirt!! My kids would die if I wore it-B

ROFL I love that shirt too.. we should seriously market it ! hehe I would so buy one.. I love showing off my jugs! *snicker.. snicker.. SNORT!

Welcome Mary!!!! We are a lil crazy.. but it is SO MUCH FUN!

~Wendy

Karen, it is nice to see other newbies out here in zone 5, as well as those with more experience.

That t-shirt is hysterical my daughter wouldn't be seen with me wearing that, and she doesn't embarrass easily.

My hubby buying me a T-shirt

you say tomato, I say Lycopersicon esculentum

Would be happy to get "the jugs" as well...

Mary,
that lawn has to go... it is so overrated... and there are so many options- plant world is at your feet... you could do "rain garden", native garden, you could get seeds from all over the world to grow there... sky is your limit...

Hi all, Another newbie here from zone 5/6. Those Zone maps can't make up their minds what we are. Niagara Falls NY. The Niagara River and neighboring Lake Erie confuse the issue.Anyway I have 7 jugs and 8 cat litter boxes full of cups and covered with the zippered plastic storage bags blankets come in. See I learn fast. It's only been a few weeks since my first jug. My DH just came home from the Hospital today after a 5 day stay. He's doing well.I must confess one of concerns after the big important one of his health, was the fact he was not here to drink up his usual gallon of milk a day to give me another jug. My shame is our secret, OK? No sprouts yet. Anyone WS with success, lamb's ears. I hope so, I have 6 jugs full. Elizabeth

Heh barbe and morz. Where about in Wa. state do you hale from? I'm from Winlock, about an hour south of Olympia. Connie.

I'm afraid hubby won't let me get rid of the lawn in a single season, but if I push him out little by little maybe he won't notice.

Elizabeth, I hope your husband recovers quickly, and is up to drinking his regular quantities of milk soon. I can only imagine how much I would struggle if my family left me to do it on my own. But seriously, I hope he's OK.

Hi to both Marys. Last year was my first time winter sowing. Had mixed results, but am back again this year with about 200 jugs planted thus far. Started in late Dec. and am still planting every time a trade or round robin comes in. It's not too late. Everything sprouts at it's own right time. I will start planting my annuals soon as our weather settles down abit. We are still getting snow and hail squalls here in Washington. Talk about your crazy weather. There's no sign of globle warming here. I have about 20 gallon jugs sprouted thus far. We are not crazy. Unless we're crazy like a fox. I will have at least 100 new types of perennials, shrubs and trees this year all for the price of some potting soil and a few stamps and bubble envelopes. Imagine what it would all cost if we bought those plants at a nursery. Connie

wren-garden That's too funny, like something from an A. A. meeting!
"it's only been a few weeks since my first jug"
LOL!
-B

I'm really dangerous to sit near at neighborhood association meetings. All it takes is one raised eyebrow about my collection of jugs, pans, etc., and I start evangelizing about winter sowing and how you can grow all these plants that are either way too expensive or impossible to find in the garden centers.

Oh well, if you have to be known as the weird woman in the neighborhood, I guess better for the seeds going outside in January than the "Deliverance House" where you can get a contact high on summer evenings.

Welcome to our brand of madness. Pull up a chair and enjoy.

shiny- you got the idea...frog...boiling water...he'll suspect nothing.

Shiny, Thanks, He is doing well. A good nights sleep at home has done wonders. This was the 3rd A Fib heart episode in 5 years. The Doc is talking specialist and possible permanent fix. But he is back to his normal funny self today. (Meds) He will be back to work in 10 days and I can stop holding my breath. I serf the GW and research plants and garden wisdom as my stress management. Love it. Thanks you all. Elizabeth

I am thankful I don't have a neighborhood assoc. I can just imagine them passing a special amendment to ban my jugs. Luckily, I live in a college town, the kids don't much care what I do. Unfortunately, they don't much care, and neither do their landlords, not much to look at in my neighborhood.

It's been two days since I last WS'ed and I just know I'll fall of the wagon tonight, three empty containers calling to me with their Sirens' song and BEAPs on the way.
Now boiling water I can do, but where do I find frogs this time of year.
I don't think I'll get anywhere near 200 jugs this year maybe 40 but that's it.
WS as stress management, now that's the excuse I was looking for. It's not an addiction, it's therapy.