Winter Sowing 2023

Winter Sowing 2023

Jan 2- Anise Hyssop and English Thyme,                      

Marigold and Milkweed 

Jan 8-  Yarrow and Delphinium

Jan 15- Sea Holly Eringuim (25 seeds), Munstead Lavender, Nasturtium (saved seeds)

Jan 25- Borage (Baker Creek)

Jan 30- Dianthus White

Feb 05- Cornflower 

Feb 23- Scarlet Bee Balm

Feb 25- More Borage (Baker Creek), More Yarrow (Baker Creek), Yarrow pearl

Wait until Spring!

You shouldn’t need to water your containers. The plastic domes will act as green houses and help retain moisture. But, if the outside temperatures are above freezing, and your potting soil looks dry you may need to water.

To safely add water to your containers, do one of the following methods:

Water from the bottom. Place your milk jug container or tray in a large plastic tray or kiddie pool, and add some water. The water will enter the drain holes, and through osmosis moisten the potting soil.

Mist the soil. Carefully remove the lid and use a sprayer to mist the soil until saturated. Then secure the lid.

Once Spring arrives, put the containers in a location that receives morning sun and afternoon shade

This step is really helpful and important! Placing your winter sowing containers in a location with morning sun and afternoon shade will get the mini-greenhouses warm, but avoid the hotter afternoon sun. This will help stay warm and germinate, but avoid drying out by the hotter afternoon temperatures.

Doing this really helps the seeds germinate quickly, but reduces the overall heat load. Reducing the heat load means less watering for you, so easier!

After germination, open the lids during the daytime

This is important! – Once outdoor temperatures approach 60 F (15 C), remove the lids.

In direct sunlight and warm temperatures, the temperature inside the dome can get too hot and kill your seedlings.

I’ve had seedlings get cooked by leaving the lids on trays in direct sunlight and temperatures that were 60F (15 C).

Remove the seedlings. You can dig out the chunk of soil from the milk jug / container. I prefer to do this when seedlings have two sets of ‘true leaves’.

If you let the soil get slightly dry (but still moist), you can easily cut up the soil inside the milk jug. Just cut it up into chunks that are about 2″ by 2″. Then, just plant your seedlings.

Results

Well, the Yarrow (and Pearl Yarrow) both did well in the winter sowing. Surprisingly the lavender did better than sowing inside. 

The more I think about it, the more it seems that the kitty litter jugs are too opaque for sufficient sunlight. Some did well like the Pearl Yarrow, others did not. Next year, try rotisserie chicken containers and lettuce containers, although because the lid is flat, stack two to make it a tall enough greenhouse for the seedlings.

I have read some things online about using the Brother P-Touch label maker. Seems that the tapes do not fade. Try that this year as the plastic labels definitely faded. Also, combine different colored electrical tape and use a key. Ex. Milkweed = red/blue.