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What is winter sowing

14 years ago

I know this is a stupid question on a forum for winter sowing but I can't find an answer to exactly what it is.

Is it the same as a cold frame and could you start seeds now in a cold frame? I have seen on this site that people start seeds in small containers with clear plastic lids on them, is this not the same as a cold frame only smaller.

I have a cold frame and the materials to build more if needed.

What mix do you use in your containers to start your seeds.

I know this makes me look bad with a question like this but just trying to learn.

Thanks,

Wade

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Comments (4)

token28001
14 years ago
We got a live one, ya'll! He's already got a cold frame!

Wade, You'll want to start with the FAQs at the top of the page or at this link. We sow seeds in the winter using a variety of containers, recycled/purchased/repurposed. Perennials are started now while it's cold. Once the weather warms up and the last of the frosts are close, we sow annuals and veggies. If there's a seed for it, we can almost certainly grow it. You just have to know when to sow it.

Many recommend Miracle Grow potting MIX, not soil for their containers. Another one is ProMix. Me, I use anything I can get my hands on that's light, fluffy, and has good drainage without packing down.

I have a cold frame too. Tomorrow, I'll be sowing a bunch of containers to put in there. They'll germinate quickly and get planted out as soon as they have their second set of leaves. Perennials can handle the cold, and our soil never truly freezes except on the north side of the house. It's gardening all year long.
pitimpinai
14 years ago
Hello, Wade. Welcome to the forum.

Yes, as token said: we sow seeds in mini greenhouse or cold frame whatever it is called.

The emphasis is on drainage and ventilation.
We also try to keep our cost down by using recyclable containers, such as milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, pastry trays, etc.

There are many good reasons to Winter Sow:
Â· It is the easiest and cheapest way to grow plants from seeds.
Â· No damping off problem.
Â· No need to harden off the seedlings.
Â· No need for grow lights.
Â· Germination is great - often too good...lol
Â· It is a fun thing to do in winter.
Â· You'll get to enjoy the camaraderie at this forum.

:-P

Please check out the FAQ
and please give it a try. You'll never regret it.
:-D
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The Freedom of Winter Sowing
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Freedom from hardening off young seedlings. Freedom from damping off. Freedom from growlights, heatmats, etc. Freedom from sticking to a strict indoor seed starting schedule based on the last frost date. I sow whenever I have the time, and feel like playing in the dirt. The seeds will sprout at the appropriate time. Freedom from the high shipping charges for transplants from the mailorder companies. Freedom from being charge $15 - $20 for ONE of the lastest, hottest new things. Example: One Echinacea 'Tomato Soup' plant is $20 at Garden Crossings. Rudbeckia 'Cherry Brandy' cost me $1.20 for 20 seeds from Pinetree, and looks just about the same. Freedom from having those same mail order companies send half dead plants that must be brought back to health, and then hardened off, or hassling with them to get replacements. Ahhhhhhh ... freedom feels good!!! Bonnie
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Winter sowing is absolutely the most fun a gardener can have in the winter. It's also a cure for the winter blues, giving everyone who sows something wonderful to look forward to. The reward in the spring changes the way you look at gardening. It's an addiction, a lifestyle... a whole new way of life. It makes ordinary people do unimaginable things, all in an effort to acquire a few containers to sow in or to snatch a few seeds.... seed collection addiction can be it's own addiction, or it can become one due to the act of winter sowing. You may find yourself doing things like: Purchasing winter sowing containers with food in them, not food in containers. Raiding your neighbor's recycle bin to grab the 2 ltr bottles and mik jugs. Dumpster diving at your local recycle center. Dead heading at public parks, libraries, roadways, your neighbors... in the effort to swipe the seeds. Checking with every establishment you can think of to ask them to save their coffee grounds, milk jugs, egg shells... Checking the forum as you sip your first cup of coffee in the morning. I could go on... but you get the idea.
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Comments (4)
Folks, looks like we've got a live one! Charlie, the best way to describe it is, we put seeds in recycled containers filled with some good potting mix that's moistened to the consistency of a brownie. We stick in a label, close the containers and set them outside in December, January, February, March and let Mother Nature do what she does best. The containers act like mini-greenhouses to protect the seeds from the forces of evil (read squirrels, mice, chipmunks, birds, etc.) that would otherwise keep them from finding somewhere to germinate. Some of the seeds need the winter cold to break dormancy and germinate; others don't. Either way, they get what they need from Mother Nature with little human intervention. Along about March, those protected seeds begin to germinate. On the chance that you're skeptical, I winter sowed 66 new perennial seed types and so far have germination on all but 2. That says, "It works!!!" to me!!! I've even got ornamental dogwood trees, Siberian iris and hardy hibiscus growing from winter sown seed not to mention blackberry lily, Echinacea, stokesia, rose campion, columbine, foxglove, lady's mantle, lupine, bee balm, poppy, rudbeckia & Chinese globeflower. Try it! It works!
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Hi, Antiqueorchid! We were in the iris swap together. There are a few people who wintersow inside unheated greenhouses or coldframes, it's really just one big container to them. Will you still have tops (not screwcaps, but a top like from a cut-apart milk jug) on containers? Seeing condensation on that tells us that the soil has good moisture. If you will just use pots in the coldframe, you'll have to gauge the moisture level some other way--perhaps just seeing moisture on the coldframe lid will be the same indicator. Regarding when to sow, there are a very few seeds that need warm-cold-warm, and now is the time to sow them. Then we start with regular perennials in true winter all the way to May--some seeds need more cold stratification, and should be sown before May. People do have success sowing annuals anytime, but some of us have them sprout in a warm spell and then die in a frost, therefore many people wait to sow tender annuals until a few weeks before their last frost, or even after it, since those plants usually like it warm. Same thing for legumes--they are more likely to rot in cold and wet, so doing them later is a safer bet. I hope that info helped! Please be sure to ask for clarification, or any other questions you may have. It can take a long time to sort though search results, but you can get answers pretty fast if you post them.
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gardencrazy
14 years ago
I dont usually give advice but since everyone else seems to be out doing something else tonight I will chime in here. After you have read the FAQ and understand all of the benifits of Winter Sowing then I would like to add that I prefer using the Winter Sowing method for perennials so that they do not take up room in my little greenhouse. I don't have a cold frame but I would probably feel the same way about it too, since I am in a colder zone and have a shorter growing season. And I do plan to try spring sowing annuals this year too.
pippi21
14 years ago
Welcome to the WS message boards. Stick to this board and you'll learn so much and find some very knowledgable people who are willing to share their experiences and are very generous. Great people..type in the words Wintersown.org into your browser..and you are in for the ride of your life!

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