I always use pots. I use 5inch, 1 litre square pots because I can optimise the space with square pots while there is also plenty of depth for root growth. I never, ever use flats or trays as they dry out and are much too shallow. There is an amount of soil which, I find, is easy to keep appropriately moist and can be easily tipped out for pricking out after germination. I don't use terracotta, just the usual black plastic but I don't think this is a major consideration.

Etiolation is never a problem as I fill the pots to between 2-3cms from the top of the pots and always place the pots in fairly bright shade until germination. I don't like milk jugs because the soil tends to go green and I want to see what is happening. I cover all my pots with a layer of fine flint chick-grit, which keeps moss away and prevents a hard pan developing. I keep the pots outside in the open so rarely need supplemental watering, and I cover several dozen pots with netting, stretched over the top, to keep birds and mice away..

I have been doing this for 30 years - far and away the best way for me.

Pots-fine! Terracotta...maybe not the best. I've always been told that they are prone to breaking when the moisture they absorb freezes. Plastic would probably be better, but if you already have a lot of clay pots you certainly could experiment. I've winter sowed most years for over 15 years & while milk jugs have been my preferred container, I've also used clamshell containers & way back I did yogurt containers. They had clear plastic lids, but plastic wrap with holes would work too. I "borrowed" a worn out soldering iron & it worked great to put holes in the bottom of the containers & lids-as long as you're working outside! (and it gave him a reason to buy a shiny new one!)

This forum is taking a long time to wake up...unless there are only 3 of us reading it. I have been 'winter sowing' for 3 months now and still nowhere near done.

I’m glad you put “Winter sowing” in inverted commas, Rosa. I’d never heard the term until I came to GW. I just called it ’sowing’.

I have been doing WS since Trudi started it on GW. The covered containers help keep out the critters that can burrow into the soil and damage your planting. As for terra cotta, it depends on your winter weather. We get so much rain here, with freeze and thawing, that plastic pots work better. Terra cotta can break easily. Glad to see current posts here. Most WS people moved to FB.

I've been Wintersowing similar to nrescue, since I learned about the technique from Trudi, seems like 20 years ago. I've used mostly repurposed plastic containers, including milk jugs, yogurt containers, takeout containers, spinach boxes, etc. I've chosen to not try terra cotta, due to the porosity of the material, so risk of drying out. I have stacks of black plastic pots, but haven't needed them. If I don't need to introduce an additional plastic bag into the equation, I won't. I have had extraordinary success, and probably saved myself literally thousands of dollars over the years, that I could otherwise have spent on plants from online sources or nurseries. Plus, the fun and options for diversity of plant choices.

I'd better just stop, before I write a book.

Martha

Docmom, I remember your name. What a fun time we all had when we first started WS. I still enjoy it, but I am down from 150+ containers to about 40, almost all natives, and some that need multiple years. I am doing well with Halesia. and even got germination with Stewartias, but Trilliums only occasionally but not so much.

I've also cut way back, and focus exclusively on pollinator plants/natives.

Martha