You probably won't see anything for a little while yet. Just starting to warm up here in SE PA. No need to worry. This method isn't like sowing inside -- you won't get sprouts till it's warm enough for the seeds to germinate.

not yet.

Haha and here I'm all worried that too many of mine have sprouted (zone 8). :) I just keep telling myself that mother nature knows what she's doing...

I've just started sowing. I don't want mine to sprout and then it gets cold and they get zapped. Plus it's really cold here - I'm still wearing winter coat hat and gloves. Very unusual for the end of March. And sup'd to be in the '30's this weekend. That's some 20 degrees below the average. So I don't expect to see anything for a while.

(i'm in NJ, z. 6b/7a)

believe it or not, I got a surprise yesterday---my first sprouts!!!! these were from alyssum. now if I can only keep them alive. funny thing is, these were in a burpee container I got on clearance last year. I poked holes on top and bottom but its pretty shallow so I didn't expect it to work. who knew it would be the first to sprout?!

I have lettuce, mustard and cosmos up so far. I hope I get all my others soon.

I have lettuce, kale, stock, carnations and shasta daisy. It's still really early yet for most things if you're in the northeast. It's been pretty cold.

gardendreamer, is that a muffin tray? I planted allysum too, yesterday. so far I've got 5 containers, 3 to go - at least for the first round.

I'm glad I didn't plant earlier as I would be worried about the sprouts bec. it was below freezing here last nite. Sup'd to be even colder tonite.

but I know allysum is hardy.

ellen, what do you plant that you wait this late to sow? We've had very few warm days so the only things sprouting are pretty hardy. Right now I've got snow flurries. I'm guessing it will be awhile before my petunias or marigolds or tomatoes sprout -- they need much more consistent warmth than we've been getting. We're not even getting into the 60s more than a day or two in the next 10 days.

I'm starting to get antsy because I still don't have anything sprouting. It still very cold here.

Today I have kale, and turnips. I am liking this a whole lot. If it goes like everyone says it does, then next year, I will take it easy on the inside germination and babying my plants.

ladyrose, it's early days yet and as you said still cold, way below normal for this time of year. Are you growing anything that likes the cold, like lettuce or kale or broccoli?

Here in Zone 6 in Central PA, I only have a few sprouts (like one or two) in a Lupine jug and one seed started to germinate in a container of white Magnolia (which I'm really excited for!). I have seeds I need to get planted (some like cooler weather like Bells of Ireland). I already have my Sweet Peas planted, but no signs yet of sprouts. I do want to plant and check my containers again today since it's been a few days that I've done both.

Brad AKA Moonwolf

ellenr22, sorry for my late response. it's not a muffin tray. burpee sells a mini-greenhouse for indoor sowing. I got it on clearance last year and modified it for winter sowing-poked holes in the bottom tray and the plastic top. it came with the seed starting pellets which I'm a bit worried about as they are sooo light and powdery. The seeds sprouted very quickly though. I'm trying to keep them moist but as you can see in the pic the soil is almost like sawdust. muffin tray would probably be a bit better as the wells would be a bit bigger & deeper. you've got me thinking......

No I have not started my vegetable or annuals yet. Thank You all because I thought something went wrong. I did find a squirrel a week ago. I have put pepper in all the jugs.

caryltoo, I sowed: cal. poppy, salvia, zinnia, ageratum , oriental poppy.and allysum. waiting to sow scarlet runner bean. I found in previous years - I would sow in Jan or Feb, then we'd have a warm spell, and the sprouts would emerge, only to be felled by the next cold spell. Or, I had to cover them. So now, I sow these annuals about 2 weeks before I expect to put them in ground. Allysum is hardy, I could have sowed that earlier. Maybe poppy too. But I lost a bunch of salvia one year. and Zinnia, if it had sprouted would likely not survive the night time temps of last nite of 34 degrees. Unless covered.

No sprouts yet! :(. We are only 50 today. Next week, forecast is 4 days of rain, then temps in the 60's. So I guess I gotta be patient.

I finally have some sprouts. Not a lot yarrow, helenium, standing cypress, royal catchfly and johnny jump-ups. This is a very slow germinating season for me. My lilies are up that's a good sign of warmer temperatures to come.

ladyrose, when did you sow the squirrel? :)

Yesterday I found sprouts too - zinnia and alyssum. Today is sup'd to go up to 67, altho now it is 37. brr.

yes-- a slow germinating season.

check on them yesterday-my lupine and Shasta daisies are just sprouting. nothing at all from foxglove, joe pye, bellflowers or larkspur. trying to be patient......

Gardendaydreamer, my shasta daisies came up awhile ago but have not developed true leaves yet. Everything is waiting for the true warmup, I guess.

As of yesterday I have tomato sprouts -- one tiny Anna Russian and an Amish Paste that just broke the surface between the morning and evening checking of the jugs :) We hit the 70s yesterday, and are supposed to be in the high 60s today, although with rain. Tomorrow and Thursday are back to the high 40s (yuck). Nighttime temps though are above freezing so I'm hoping we've turned the corner to real spring weather.

Gardenday, I had the same problem with peat pots - they are difficult to keep moist. And the ones that I had - they say they decompose once planted in the earth- but I found that at the end of the season they were often still intact, and restricting root growth.

Careyl, we are forecast 41 degrees tonite, and 37 tomorrow nite. that is enough for me to put the covers back on. Yesterday I took them half off. but in the community garden where I garden, it is very open to the elements, and is about 10 degrees cooler than in the city.

ellenr22, yes, i fear i may lose what i sowed in the peat pots. They are def. quick to dry even with coddling. luckily i experimented with a few different methods so I have back up: 2 liter bottles, and cups lined in an underbed storage container. so far, i prefer the cups in the underbed storage as it is easy to move. I was afraid to sow my zinnia seeds just yet. glad to see yours sprouted. I guess that's my project this week.....

Alyssum, Snapdragon, Celoisia are sprouting. Marigold, Beefstake tomato, Marconi Pepper, Long Purple Eggplant - no signs yet.

Ellen, I never uncover till we're forecast for a week of 70s+ and nights in the high 40s low 50s. Most of the things I grow seem to like the warmth. One year I uncovered too soon and the seedlings didn't develop leaves as quickly. I don't think they much like the ups and downs, which we're getting here, too. 70s yesterday, 67 today then into the 40s thursday and friday.

I just went out and covered by containers. Feels very wintery out there.

I covered my jugs last night.

caryltoo, out of curiosity, are your containers in sun or shade? this is my first year. I have sprouts but am so confused as to how much sun is too much or too little with the containers. I hear such mixed reviews on this forum on this subject. right now mine get sun from about midday to 4pm and are still covered. feels too cold in our area to me to uncover.......

gardenday, there are different ways you can deal with sun/shade. In my previous place of living, I had my containers in the driveway, full sun, and up against the brick building. So I had to be very careful to uncover the containers once sprouts emerged, otherwise they would quickly bake.

I think dappled shade is best, they will get some sun, but will not get very hot very quickly. Or others do well with containers that get morning sun only.

you will have to experiment somewhat.

Just be careful of baking, when they are covered and in the sun. Sometimes I pull the cover half-way off.

Once the temps reach consistently 60 + (if ever!) I will take off the tops and leave them in sun or shade.

Also, consider where they will be planted.

In my case, my garden is full-sun, so I will slowly expose those containers that are in partial shade to full sun.

I also put my containers in the garden for a couple of days, before I plant them, so they can get used to different conditions in the garden (more windy, a lot of sun).

hope this helps.

We are finally going to get some decent (aka 60 degree) weather here in Boston starting tomorrow into next week. I hope to finally see sprouts soon.

Mizzteek, hope you see some sprouts soon. Been a tough winter in MA from all accounts.

Gardendaydreamer, my containers on on the patio, some under the wrought iron table. They get sun from about 11 a.m. till sunset, although some of it is probably dappled by the table.

I've never worried too much about full sun or part shade. My biggest concern is making sure they don't dry out -- they're much more likely to die from that. They sprouted in the sun/shade they're getting and always seem to do fine as long as they're getting enough water. I'll pay more attention to them in that regard once it's consistently warm (which is starting to seem like never).

I just saw my first sprouts today!!! They are hardy annual native flowers, some coreopsis. They are the tiniest little green specks. So, no one worry. Sprouts are on the way.

Martha

Mizzteek, I imagine you all in MA are even happier than we in NJ to get some warm weather! Still.. our trees look like winter, but my friend in North Carolina says their flowering trees are blooming, so it is coming.

so glad to see everyone is finally seeing sprouts around here. foxgloves and rudbeckia spouted this weekend for me. I am just awaiting my joe pye, bellflowers, and campanula now......

I am doing the happy dance, because I have True Lavender and Chinese Aster's sprouting. I had been trying for several seasons of winter sowing to no avail. My camera's battery needs charging I am going to post the sprouts on Facebook. No sprouts on Lobelia Cardinalis Yet.

Congrats all. I'm seeing a few more everyday.

Sweet Basil today!

The East Coast (Metropolitan area) is supposed to reach 81 or 82 degrees next week with low 59 to 61 in the evening. Finally I hope to see some more sprouts and true leaves on what I have sprouted.

I am getting more sprouts but some containers are still very bare except for the nice green coating on the soil. I wish I had sown some plants more heavily though such as hollyhock and phlox, the germination wasn't as great for those. I am however happy because I collected a lot of the seeds myself from various locations and walks last year. Lupine and Shasta daisy are the superstars so far.