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Cottage Gardens

Winter sow seed swap seeds ?

15 years ago

Say that three times fast! I now have a bit of time to think about all my wonderful seeds I received in the seed swap from you all. (I did fondle the packets when I got them though and did the happy dance) Is it necessary to winter sow or do any of you great gardeners have good luck direct sowing? I don't have that much experience with seeds. Sometimes they grow, sometimes not. Of course those of you that are warm and toasty outside all year just garden all year. I sure want to have a bountiful garden from all these seeds. Sue

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Comments (4)

natvtxn
15 years ago
And would that also be by the sea shore? Could no resist.
I am willing to bet your great grandparents never heard of winter sowing.
If your swappies don't have the time listed for planting in your area, find a website that sales seeds and see if they have a planting guide listed. Maybe try winter sowing some and tossing some out where you will want them.
I tossed out larkspur poppies and nigelia seeds the day I took possion of this house, right before Halloween. The ones on the South side of the house are about 1/2 inch tall and the ones on the North are just starting to come up.
If MD is like TX you are just now getting the coldest weather yet. The seeds that need the cold to stratify them should do ok.
Now...if they don't do well you have my permission to come bop me on the head.
thinman
15 years ago
It's not necessary to winter sow, although the winter sowers do seem to love it. I second Kathy's idea that you can find out when to plant each type outside and just direct sow them if you like. Most seeds are pretty simple -- just plant them after your last frost. It has worked for me for many years. The winter sowers' plants will probably be ahead of yours, but not by a lot, I think.

ThinMan
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The suggested minimum seed count per packet is 24 seeds (two dozen). Some seeds are very rare, or are difficult to collect, or are weighty and costly to mail. Because of any of these reasons you may wish to put less than 24 seeds into a packet. ALWAYS put this information in your very first post when you offer an "under-count" package of seeds. That way there's no "hard feelings" later on. If a trader knows exactly what they're trading for they will be content with their trade.
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Winter Sowing Seed Exchange FAQs ~ My trader's seeds didn't arrive .
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Occasionally trades go wrong, but that's very rare. If it happens you handle it in private emails with one or two letters (no public cussin' or "naming names" is allowed on the seed exchange). Eventually you get your seeds. If you don't then "so what".....it's just seeds...not sport cars or mortgages. It isn't worth getting aggravated over. Don't ever take a failed trade personally. More than likely the seeds got lost in the mail, a responsible trader will offer to replace them and send another set to you. Sometimes, sadly, a trade doesn't arrive because the trader on the other side may suddenly be having a brutal time with life and that awful distraction can be enough to drive a trade out of one's head....the responsibility of the trade could be insignificant to the agonizing matters at hand. So if you do ever have a trade that doesn't work out please be very-VERY kind to the other trader when you write that the seeds haven't arrived yet. Send one reminder email...wait a couple of weeks before sending another one if it's needed, then be just as kind as you were in the first one. After that DO NOT send another reminder. Just let it slide if the seeds never arrive. The vast majority of traders are extremely generous and in just a month of trading you'll have more seeds than you know what to do with.
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shellva
15 years ago
Hi Cooper,

You don't have to winter sow anything. But we winter sowers become addicted because the method works beautifully! Winter sowing is great because your seeds don't wash away, blow away, get eaten by bugs and other critters, the seeds are easily identified and kept track of for the most part.

Direct sowing still has its moments though. Personally, I think larkspur actually does better direct sown. I also direct sow bachelor buttons,and nigella (love in a mist). My seeds from these plants have already germinated and are thriving despite the snow and dips into the teens that we have had. If any of these seeds are on your list, I'd go ahead and get them out there. They will germinate in their own good time and will survive any weather. From my understanding the seeds I just mentioned like to be sown in the fall anyway. So feel free to get them out as soon as you see bare ground.

Natvtxn has a great idea of looking up the seeds on the internet. Also a great idea to throw some out and maybe holding some back for winter sowing or regular under lights sowing or maybe try all 3 methods...whatever you want. Gardening is always a learning experience.
cooperbailey
Original Author
14 years ago
I am so sorry I didnt get back to this thread. RL got in the way. Thanks for all the info. And the pun. I think I will try all three. Thanks Sue

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