Winter sowing

15 years ago

Anyone starting seed now?

I just received my seed distribution from the NA Rock Garden Society and hope to have them planted within a few days, since most need cold stratification for spring germination.

esh_ You would be proud of me, as most of the seed I received are of NATIVE plants! Trillium, Hepatica, Hydrastis (Goldenseal), Dodecatheon (Shooting Star), Erythronium (Trout lily), Stewartia (Silky Camellia), Hydrangea arborescens (supposedly a cut-leaf form),Helonias bullata (Swamp pink).

Received only 3 "foreign" plants, Rhodophiala sp. (Amaryllidaceae) from S America, a tender Helleborus sp.(Majorca-Spain) and Daphne caucasica (Eurasia) (I'm hopeful that this is the true Daphne species, instead of a hybrid, often sold under this name, as the seed are from a plant pathologist in Germany).

Rb

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Comments (10)

girlgroupgirl
15 years ago
Hey RB:
We winter sowed with the gang at the church greenhouse. But I didn't start my own. I am not going to WS much this year but mostly spring sow. I need to order up my little alpine strawberries for winter sowing!

GGG
Iris GW
15 years ago
Rb - that is interesting to know. Will be interested to hear of your success. I am not good with seeds.
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This is turning into a very weird weather year for many of us. Because of that, it's hard to give you an absolute answer. Be aware that no matter what any of us tell you, it's nature that has the final answer in when those seeds will sprout. My best guess is that it's probably fine for perennials hardy to your area, and hardy annuals too. I'd definitely wait for anything tender. And if perennials and hardy annuals would sprout early, they have a much better chance of survival in their containers. And keeping them in a shady spot is definitely a good idea until spring is in the air. This is probably our coldest part of winter most years, and it's when I sow my hardy annuals and perennials. I sowed my first jugs a few days ago. I'd go for it if I were you. The chance that they'll sprout in shade is minimal I think, and winter might just stay mild this year. Karen
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I'm right on the edge of 7B and 8 and I wait a bit to sow the annuals that can't take frost at all (zinnias and such). That's because we have so much warm weather in the winter that things typically sprout within two weeks but we also have sudden hard freezes right up until early April. If I sow the tender annuals too early I have sprouts that can't take the cold. I presume that those in colder parts of the country don't have the problem of things sprouting so early and so it's not a problem to go ahead and get the seeds planted. One big reason I love wintersowing is that it is so much easier than alternate methods. I avoid the hassle of having to cover or move (or worry about) those eager little sprouts by just waiting a while. I'll probably take the chance and sow the fussbudgets in late March.
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Not trying to get into the wintersow vs. not wintersow debate here but....... The only time it makes sense to wintersow is when you are sowing seeds needing cold stratification and I know some of the ones you listed do not need it. I sowed the Asceplsis incarnata in early August and plan to put them in the ground under mulch all winter. I am winter sowing some native shrub seeds needing a couple months of cold strat. in pots outdoors and three others that are perennials that specifically need it. There are no hard fast rules to this. To each his own. I rather enjoy sowing indoors in winter and have had very good results and it gives me an uplift in winter to do that. I have had good head starts on healthy plants this way and have sowed many SW shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, cactus, etc. I always have something indoors in winter I am sowing. I usually start them in October or November in a large sunny S. exposure window and grow them very cool in the coldest dark months sort of in a wait pattern, then let them get warm again in late Feb when the sun comes stronger. I use lights sometimes if necessary but usually they just sit there in the cold. I am not a wintersower to the degree popularized to a hobby level of lots of containers with holes, lids etc craze with every seed I get being done that way. I just use regular pots in the shade under the carport for the seeds specifically needing a cold period. For penstemons its good, they come up when its still very cold. Some seeds needing cold I direct sow. Sometimes I experiment and try all different ways to see what does best with a backup supply to resow in spring. Look up your different varieties and see what they need and go from there. I have sowed seeds as early as October and had established plugs to put into the ground come spring. Other times I put the late summer sown seedlings in the ground in late fall and cover them with leaf mulch and had good well rooted starts that way in spring. Look at nature, she does that all the time with seeds that have fallen. Mostly, make it fun for yourself and do what you want. Save extra seeds for insurance, or try multiple ways and experiment. Do a test in a damp paper towel with a few seeds to see if they sprout in a few days. Often that will tell you want you need to know.
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pandorasgardens
15 years ago
I started about 20 containers on Wednesday. We're testing the extremes of Georgia weather in trying to get seeds started this week, but it's the only free time I've had so far. I'll wait until next week to get going on the rest of the perennials for this year.
mayland
15 years ago
I tried Winter Sowing last winter. I had a really good germination rate, but i lost almost everything at the planting out stage. I think i tried to plant them out when they were too small. I had also sowed a load of seed in each container, so the seedlings were all on top of each other and were hard to separate without killing some (lots!). I did get some Echinacea that made it, and that even flowered.

I'm going to try again though. I've got several different kinds of Echincea and Rudbeckia seeds on order. I'm going to use those individual jiffy peat pots so that I can just plant the whole pot out directly when its time to plant. I think i started around Feb last year, and i really got suprisingly good germination.

Loads of info over on the Winter Sowing forum.
nikkineel
15 years ago
I was so happy to see this thread. I am trying wintersowing this year. I have sown about 120 containers so far (perennials). I'm sorting through annuals and will begin wintersowing the hardy annuals in February. I'm going to be sharing with my mother, sister, neighbors, and friends. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.
Any other Georgia wintersowers? I'd love to hear it! Nikki
mayland
15 years ago
Wow, 120 containers, that's amazing! I have seeds on order that should come soon, but only about 10 containers i think.
Are you still sowing perennials or have you finished? I'm thinking I'm a bit late to start, but I didn't think to order seeds any earlier, so i'll just try.
nikkineel
15 years ago
Mayland, You are not too late to start your wintersowing. In fact, February may be better as I have had some "early" sprouters. Experienced wintersowers tell me that's ok too and that the sprouts will be fine in the container. I am not quite finished, I have a couple of trades to sort. I'll have the perennials finished by next week.
I've had such a good time being able to get my hands into the dirt during the winter. I'm looking forward to spring and planting out more than ever! I've posted pics of my "pot ghetto" over on the wintersowing forum in the "gallery" section. Others have followed suit - go check them out for inspiration.
Keep us posted as you sow. I love hearing about others wintersowing - especially in Georgia. Nikki
ollierose
15 years ago
I'm up to 150 containers so far and have LOTS left to do!
satellitehead
15 years ago
i ordered a bunch from SSE last week. hoping to have it in over the next week or so - we will see (first time giving them a shot).

can't wait!!
razorback33
Original Author
15 years ago
Getting there!
135 pots filled, about 35 to go, if I don't find another bundle of seed packs squirreled away somewhere!

About 200 spring Crocus still unplanted, will probably plant those in some large pots and set those around the garden. (after covering with wire mesh, of course)!

Making progress on planting shrubs, also. All of the Redtips are down, except 3. Will need my chainsaw for those.
Replacing those with Native Azaleas, American witchhazel and some Camellias.

45 days, 9 hours & 40 minutes, until spring.
Keep warm!
Rb

Winter sowing

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Winter sowing

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