Sow lighter. Sow more than one container if you really want it. Only use good soil, none of this cheap stuff. Use smaller containers to make planting out easier. Plant out early and often for best results. Save enough seed to resow later if germination fails.

My WS tomatoes did fine. they are much bigger than my volunteers. I guess I have learned what works for one zone/gardener may not work for another.

I would second the smaller containers. those were easier for me.

Also label the bottom of the container or place some kind of tag or label inside. The paint markers also work better. Some of my labels that were just sharpie faded in the sun.

Karen

Won't try tomatoes again. I only got 4 sprouts out of 20 containers and those "disappeared" after planting out.

Major successes:
lettuce, swiss chard, spinach, and lots of flowers.

Major busts: beans...DS ones are as big as the ONE I got WS

Listen to your "elders" here...their advice was correct.

Good soil, nothing bigger than 1gal milk jugs. Enjoy gardening in winter...it was heavenly.

My big failure was petunias, don't know what happened, but am upset because I need lots to fill hanging baskets! Toms, peppers, salad, broccoli, and almost everything else has done wonderfully. I am a converted direct sower, and I think starting under lights is not worth it in my zone. The toms I started inside are slightly bigger, but they are also a different variety, so who knows. I can also tell that it will be a hectic but fun time collecting seeds this Fall. I am also planning on saving some of my better containers, that does take some time preparing them, and takes some of the fun out of it as well. For markers, I cut some plastic cups into strips and used a sharpie on those and they seem to have held up nicely, plan on saving those as well. Who's next?

OK, My turn. :O)
Plant only one kind to a container.
start earlier with wsing.
Have beds started this Fall for next winter sown babies.
Put jugs off the ground will help take longer to get slugs.
Plant amathus out larger, bugs eat the babies.
Stock up on Ibuprofen!
Pattie

I agree totally with the one kind per container!! I have no idea what's what - but am ok with surprises since this is my first year. OCD is returning for next year.

I like token's idea of cups in a tote.

I grew WAY too many varieties - 650 I think. Next year, I'll reduce that number. (Is that possible??)

GOLD PAINT PENS!! Black sharpies failed on some jugs and now I have 4-5 varieties of who knows what in many many jugs...I'm still taking deep breaths with the "I love surprises" mind set.

Make or buy soil supplies in the fall. Frozen peat is a pain.

Have a nice hose nozzle/gun with a light misting setting for watering tender sprouts. Some of my sprouts did not appreciate the fireman hose watering style.

This was SO SO SO easy!! I'm glad I tried it!! This girl is sold on the concept!!

Like what everyone said.

Learned how to identify weed seedlings from seedlings we transplanted. I made about 2000-2200 sqft of instant bed this year. Weed seedlings came out after 2 weeks. Once you get the hang of it, you will easily identify which ones are weeds. There are still weed seelings that are tricky and I'm still learning. I need to let them grow bigger and will decide in the future. The echinops ritro seedling looks like a weed. :D

Lessons learned:
I like my 44oz pop cups but I'll ditch the lids and use plastic sandwich bags instead.
Always sow dianthus and alyssum they love the cold.
Don't forget the drainage holes.
Buy plastic knives in advance for my tags.
Gold paint pens rock.
I'll try and cut my sowing in half next year. 400 varieties was a lot. Besides a hundred of those were perennial.
Always sow some annuals for season long color.
Also more than one cup a variety means more than one chance for them.

Don't overdo too early. I got burnt out and didn't get all my annuals planted early enough.
Sow lighter. The containers with fewer seedlings were so easy just to put all in one hole.
I love the 2liters.
Plant more containers of one variety.
Now that I see this works, I think I will enjoy the winter even more. There was this little voice inside that kept wondering if I were crazy or if this would really work. Now I have NO DOUBT!
I agree that keeping the containers off of the ground is a good idea. I had major slug invasion.
Label on the bottom. I'm also trying a new garden pen (fingers crossed).
Don't plant centaura at the front - major flopping:(
I am already excited for next year. Winter has a whole new outlook for me now. Nik

Can you please give me more info on the gold paint pen. I would like to buy them and make sure I have a few waiting for next winter. I tried several different things this year and some failed. Is it a certain brand?

I'm pretty happy with my results for a first-year WSer. But I will make one change next year. I won't be putting any seeds into foil lasagna pans. Of all my containers, these germinated poorly or not at all. They were also difficult to move - they flex too much. I'll stick to the jugs or 2.5 gal water containers (my 'clamshells'). In fact, my clamshells were SO successful, I'll be taking the ever-popular HOOK with me next time I take recyclables to the center. We'll see how the fishing is... ;-D
Kris

I learned to put more soil in each container. Some of my containers had enough to allow seedlings to get a nice deep root system going. Others were shallow and caused some of my seedlings to have stunted growth.

I have also learned that some seedlings will sprout, but will have very very slow growth until the weather warms up to a point where they are happiest. Specifically my feverfew. It was one of the first seedlings I planted out, but only in the past month or so has shown vigerous growth. It taught me not to panic if something isn't growing at the rate I expect initially.

Also collect mini blinds and make tags using pencil. No fading at all. And people are always throughing some away. :O)
Pattie

The black "permanent" marker that failed on some jugs - Sharpie

The gold paint pen that has not yet failed - DecoColor. Mine is spent and worked well but the tip was too fine, making it harder to read. I'll order the larger tip online for this year - cheaper and better selection.

No more lasagna pans for me - only small cups. Although my basil and lavendar in the pans JUST same up this week! I'd put them in the trash pile :)

WS is easy -- keeping the sprouts aline after planting is hard!

stock up on soil -- I keep running out

and what y'all said as well!

Leisa

Enough's as good as a feast (from Mary Poppins).

I personally can't re-landscape my yard in one year, even with wintersowing. I know others can, but I couldn't. I lost lots of plants because the sheer number of jugs that sprouted that first year froze me in my tracks and I didn't plant them before they fried on the deck.

This year not so many jugs, and I did learn to move them to a cooler spot after sprouting, until I have a place ready to plant them. :]

Oh, and I'm learning to stop hoarding seeds... no, really... I am. I'm down to one box now. It's a start. :D

ha, ha, I have learned the definition of plunk and run! I also learned I like to plant in cups and milk jugs best. The 2 liters were hard to get the seedlings out of.

I have learned to trust and relax. It really does work. 20 jugs all germinated, now living happy in my garden. Even the pokey columbine, which sprouted last week. Amazing.

Christy

I've learned to just be happy with what I get. There wasn't much rhyme or reason as to why some things sprouted and some didn't. I've decided next year to invest less money in doing it, in case this happens again.

My lupine, portulaca (seeds collected from my nursery plants last year), mexican hat, blackberry lily, lacy phacelia and black eyed susans are all doing well and have made this whole thing worthwhile.

And thanks to the experienced WSers who have been so gracious and welcoming...answering even the simplest of questions.

Okay... this is NOT my first year - and I embarrassed to say that it is not only my fifth year, but that I still do not know the actual names of my plants.

For example: I have tons of BESusans - but there are so many - I don't know the other names for them.. goldstrum, etc. I don't know which is which..Same with Silene - I grew it, it bloomed this year, but I don't know what it is?

Bachelor Buttons are easy - only one name - Bach Buttons - but there are several types of Silene, BESusans, Salvias, etc.

So, someday I am posting pictures of only the blooms and maybe I can get an idea of what the heck I have! :0/

Carrie

"Okay... this is NOT my first year - and I embarrassed to say that it is not only my fifth year, but that I still do not know the actual names of my plants. "

Carrie is my hero :)

check out her beautiful garden that she does not know the names of.

ML

LOL, ML

As you can tell from my above post, I obviously do not save my seed packets or label the "species" of my flowers... but I AT LEAST I know the "genus" of what I planted...(Otherwise I would be in BIG trouble...if someone visited and asked "what's that?") :0)

ex. I did remember that the Penstemon that I sowed last year was "Mystica"... but if I didn't remember that name "Mystica" and wanted to buy more seeds (in case of not harvesting), that's where I would run into trouble.

Same with Rudbeckia - I know that, but which ones do I have?
Triloba, Fulgida, Grandiflora? Â just donÂt know (or remember) exactly what the species is.

So, from now on, I am going to jot those names down - I bet there are lots of types of Silene - which one do I have? Not a clue! :0/

Carrie

my learnings

- i can also do it.
- it is very very addictive.
- old cheap bargain seeds also work. you get enough plants if you sow that whole packet.
- neighbours don't like bottles/jugs all over the place so get a rack before next winter to place containers neatly :(

Carrie, last year I bought a plant that was labeled "Autumn Colors" by the nursery that grew it. Is it? I don't think so. That plant died shortly after setting seed, but I harvested a lot and planted them. The babies are now in the garden and about to bloom, like yours. I also collected regular Rudbeckia. By that I mean a yellow flower with a dark brown/black center. What variety is it? I have no clue. The seeds from these two types were kept separate until they were sown. Now, I have no clue which is which or what color the blooms will be. Doesn't matter to me. I know they're both Rudbeckia.

The shastas I grew from seed last year should be "Alaska". The ones I sowed this year...turns out some of them are scabiosa. Oops. That's what I get for sowing all my white bed seeds the same day. No wonder they're about to bloom after only 3 months in the ground.

The moral of the story: If it matters to you, spend some time and energy on labeling both seeds and their offspring in the garden. If it doesn't matter, like with me, enjoy the blooms and take the surprises in stride.

advice well understood - I do enjoy whatever grow - especially with my rabbit problem!! :0)

However... while I would try and gather seeds from ex: Penstemon "Mystica"

and maybe had no success in harvesting them, and didn't know EXACTLY which Penstemon it was, then I wouldn't know what to order again.... So...that is why I would love to know what I have just in case...

Carrie

I was able to plant a few more jugs this weekend and have more to add:

I think too much sun impeded sprouts. Some jugs are very big, with half in the shade most of the day and half in the sun. You can actually see the line!! NO sprouts in the sun side.

Cutting a milk jug through the handle, leaving a bit for a hinge works really nice for carrying jugs, but some sprouts, if the seeds are sown heavily, get beat up at planting time - unless the "lid" is removed. The handle indents on my milk jugs and a clean removal hasn't yet occurred. Since I loved the handle/hinge for carrying, and I'm reusing my jugs next year, I'll continue to sacrifice a few sprouts.

My sprouts are (today) teeny tiny compared to what I could buy, so I did buy some plants. However, no way could I have the varieties I am growing without GW seed swapping and WSing.

I killed almost EVERY sprout that I started GUL.

Almost every WS sprout that's been planted is growing in my garden:)) The rabbits have snacked, but since I have little idea what I've planted (too many new-to-me-varieties in each jug), I haven't fallen in love with anything - yet. Although I am HOPING HOPING HOPING I have hairy balls;)