Propagation: What if I don't get snow?, 1 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
Kmom246,
I think with WSing, you have to "be" the seed that falls to the earth. Thinking of what happens in those terms helps you see that it's really a very stress-free undertaking. If a seed fell to your ground and you get no snow, somehow (rain?) the seed got the moisture it needed to come up in the springtime, right.

Regarding insulation, I'm not sure on this one, 'cause I'm in the south with no snow. My jugs stayed in mottled sunshine/shade on top of our spa cover all winter. No insulation whatsoever, but avg. daytime temps were in the 50s-40s. If you think they could use some insulation, you could nestle them together in some cardboard boxes, maybe. But, your daily sunshine should capture enough heat inside to keep the soil nice and warm.

Regarding sunshine or shade, again, "be" the seed. Hmmmmmm. Where did I fall? Some in the sunshine, some in the shade. So, I'd put some jugs in both places until I see which seeds are doing the best and adjust accordingly. Keep in mind, though, that if you get sun all winter, your little milk jug "hothouse" will heat up, so make sure you have many holes drilled in the top for ventilation. If the soil looks like it's drying out, just hit all the jugs with a couple passes of the garden hose. Easiest watering job you'll ever do, with all those holes you drilled in the top of the jugs for air, and in the bottoms for drainage.

Nothing beats a wish but a try. On the sunflowers, go ahead and sow some in your container. If they transplant well, fine. If they don't, direct sow them at the proper time.

What type of seeds are you chomping at to sow, sow, sow? If it's brassicas (cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli), root crops, and greens (including spinach), then, I think you can go for it. You can protect the seedlings from freezes by making clotches with some of your milk jugs or soda bottles until the danger is past. Better still, construct a PVC pipe hoop house (in 15 minutes) over your seed bed and sow to your heart's content! If the freezing temps are dipping for too many days in a row, slip an electric heater or some christmas tree lights (the old fashioned kind that heat up) under the clear plastic cover at night. The soil will have collected heat during the day from all your sunshine, so you can provide a little extra overnight.

Here's a pic of some hoop houses (including mine under the striped sheets -- I was in a hurry and didn't have the clear plastic at the time, but I do now. 4-6 mil plastic should do it for you.

Hope this helps! And, others may come along and confirm or correct what I've posted. It's all good, and we all learn!

Linda

P.S. Lemme know if you're interested in details on the PVC hoop house. Piece 'a cake to make!