winter sown seeds

14 years ago

It is March 25. I checked my winter grown seeds and was suprise to see some tiny plants growing. I have a tomatoe growing. I just planted one seed and it came up! I didn't trust the process and didn't want to waste my tomotoe seeds but it is about one inch high. The poppy seeds are all up, as are some cosmos, zinnias, and marigolds. Some calendula popped up too but they were bending over because they didn't have any head room. So I transplanted the tallest five into indiviual seed contrainers tray and put them in a little mini plastic green house. I hope they will be okay. I was surprise that so much came up so quickly. Yet more than half the containers have shown no life so far. How is everyone else doing with their winter sown seeds. Also was it a good thig to replant the caledulas or should I have just taken off the top?

Blake from Maine

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Comments (4)

ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a
14 years ago
Hi Blake,
I have several containers that have shown so sign of life yet:
maybe it will take longer or maybe they won't germinate at all.
sometimes what I get in trade seems to not germinate.
But I have about 80% are coming up.

re the calendulas - you won't hurt them by re-planting them but are doing more work.
I don't know whether or not you could take the top off, are calendulas frost hardy?
I'm wondering what kind of container you used that they hit the top so soon, or perhaps they are fast growers.
caryltoo Z7/SE PA
14 years ago
Hi Blake, and welcome. Congrats on your sprouts, especially the tomato that far north. I have only two tomato sprouts, one opalka and one anna russian.

Are you convinced now that the process works? Last year I did just two jugs and was so pleased I did about 70 this year. Some of the ones I did in smaller containers like .5 L water bottles are outgrowing their containers. Fortunately they're cold lovers like lettuce so I can plant it out (when I have the energy or warm enough day).

Caryl
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Yes, we are talking about sowing the seeds in containers and then putting the containers outside for the winter until the seeds germinate naturally in the spring. Last year my sunflowers and morning glories survived that late snowfall we had and got so large over the summer that the morning glories grew into my neighbor's tree and the sunflowers are still in the ground b/c I couldn't dig them up. With winter sowing you seldom have a problem with damp off which is what usually kills seedlings started inside. Check out the winter sowing forum FAQ . Tha will answer most of your questions. You can winter sow most anything except the most tender tropical plants. I even do some tender South American Salvias but I do them in late March. This would be a good year to try it out on some of your seeds but I warn you that it is addictive. Quick tip: If you would like to try it, use good quality potting soil like Miracle Gro, Schultz, or Pro Mix and make sure that whatever container you use to sow the seeds is at least 3 inches deep and make sure the containers don't dry out once the seeds are sown. I think that wintersowing makes for hardier plants that are more resistant to disease. I grow a lot of zone 7 and 8 plants and some of them are on their 3rd year in my yard. This year I have added bottle brush buckeye seeds to my list and coral honeysuckle so I am hoping I get at least one or two of each. Wintersowing also workd great for seeds that take a long time to germinate or for seeds that need stratification. Between wintersowing and using my own compost in my lasagna bed I had had the most amazing plants both in size and variety. BTW, I also water my young plants once or twice with Aspirin water but that is a topic for another discussion. Penny Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowing FAQ
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mmqchdygg
14 years ago
Blake, Blake, Blake...have you no faith??? Didn't we TALK about this last fall at the swap at Annie's? I'm SURE we did- LOL!

I haven't done my 'maters yet; I use Fran's (littleonefb) schedule on those, and her style of WSing them. It works like a charm. Congrats on your sprouts!

Nope, don't need to transplant anything into diff't containers. Calendula last right through- and after- frost at my place, although I don't know if the SEEDLINGS are tender...not to worry. I THINK I've sown them this early before, and they've done fine. Unless they were 'special' seeds, I think I'd take them out of the GH and just let them do their thing.

Watch those zinnias carefully. This is quite early for them to be up, and they don't like cold AT-ALL, so if they keel because they're up so early with our wierd weather patterns, you'll know why. But again, if'n they weren't special seeds, I'd not worry TOO much about them, and sow another batch in April just to be sure I had 'stand-bys' in case the first batch doesn't make it.

Don't doubt this method; it works! Need more seeds?
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
14 years ago
Hello, blake! I have been meaning to send you a quick note through all this. I tried winter sowing this year, too. And, mmqchdygg was SO AMAZINGLY GENEROUS with seeds that I'm having a GREAT experience. My tomatoes have not sprouted, but a signficant majority of my perennials are doing so well. Even delphinium, which are considered hard to grow, are out there just a-growin' away! This weekend my Shirley poppy seedlings go out. They now have true leaves and I have read enough on this forum to know that they don't like being moved unless they are still tiny. So, off they go!

Isn't this weather wonderful for our plants? I love winter and will miss it, but this is the best way to have spring!

Deanna

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winter sown seeds

Comments (4)

ellenr22 - NJ - Zone 6b/7a

caryltoo Z7/SE PA

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mmqchdygg

deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b

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