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Is it too late to throw seeds outside?

prairiemoon2 z6b MA

8 years ago

We've got snow on the ground, I meant to scatter some seed in the Fall, and forgot. I have a really dry yard and mulch a lot, so I'm not so sure there are good conditions for reseeding, so wondering if it is a waste of time and seed. I can start them in winter sowing containers instead and maybe that would be best. But very tempting to just scatter them and have less to winter sow. [g] Here is the list of seed I have that might work for scattering….

Cosmos

Lupine

Snapdragon

Larkspur

Alyssum

Aquilegia

Portulaca

What would you do? Also any advice on technique for scattering seed. I thought I could just scatter on top of the snow, where I want to see them next year.

Featured Answer

franeli85

8 years ago

I went out a few days ago and tossed native lupine seeds that had been in my freezer since last summer. I figured spring snow melt might help them sink a little into the ground. Wild turkeys spoiled two areas where lupine seedlings had sprouted last fall...should have protected those seedlings...never thought about turkeys and their'dust baths'.

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Comments (7)

dowlinggram
8 years ago
I would winter sow. If you have a thick layer of mulch on your beds there is no soil for the seeds to sprout in. I'm afraid it would be a lesson in futility to scatter seeds.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
ah ... if you have a plethora of seed ... .. use some for an experiment ... go for it ...

in my MI experience... all but the lupine are near impossible to not succeed with ...

if you have only a limited number of each.. then do them all the winter sowing way ... better control.. higher odds ...

ken
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prairiemoon2 z6b MA
Original Author
8 years ago
I guess before we had snow I could have just pulled back the chopped leaves and gave them some place to contact soil, but there's about 4 inches out there now. Bad timing, I kept telling myself to do it in the fall. [g]

Thanks, I'm sure you are both right. :-)
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
they will be no further behind.. nor ahead ... if you just do it.. right at snow melt ...

either way ... its going to take a few weeks for the soil to warm to germination temps ...

so really... whats the point to throwing them on top of the snow ...

other than for the shear sake of an experiment ... if you have plenty of seed...

i never learned anything new.. without pushing the envelope .. and i tend to remember my own tests ....

ken
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prairiemoon2 z6b MA
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks Ken - I like to experiment sometimes too. You can learn a lot and then the information you have based on that, is solid.

In this case, I don't have that many seeds so I agree, the best thing to do is use winter sowing.

Nice to see some activity here this time of year. :-)
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prairiemoon2 z6b MA
Original Author
8 years ago
I hope that works out for you. You must be in a nice area to get turkeys, but I guess they can be a nuisance too. We never see them in our neighborhood. Good luck!
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