Winter Sowing - 2010 .... a sowing we will go....

I never pay any attention to that stuff for wintersowing. I just sprinkle seeds on the surface and move on. Big seeds I will stick individually into the soil. And who cares about the "light" and "dark" stuff? They're outside!

Karen

Karen -- you use Perilite on the surface for some seeds??
I was going to try that for some smaller seeds, like Salvias.

Not perlite, but sometimes fine grade vermiculite. All kinds of benefits seem to be attributed to that, though I don't know how true they are.

Usually I forget to do it.

Karen

The only thing I really push in are big seeds, otherwise they've pushed themselves out with their roots. It seems that more and more seeds have directions like "barely cover" or "surface sow" or very shallow depths like 1/16". The only place I still see that "bury the seed x number of times the size of the seed" are on some mass produced seed packets where they obviously don't change the directions to match the individual species.

My tomatoe seeds came with directions to sow 1/4" deep. : ( I WSed them before I read this info. Hope they come up. Ten milk jugs of tomato seeds.

the year i did Siberian Iris' ... i was constantly pushing those seeds back in the ground... i guess they were popping up with the 'heave' of the soil. but i also noticed, ones that i missed and were still on the surface... they still germinated while they were on the surface.

Valley Girl,
You should be go to go on that 1/4" tomato sowing. I've got 18-20 jugs of tomato seeds sown! We'd better be right!

Linda

Gymgirl, you have encouraged me. : ) I will keep you posted on when (not if) they germinate. I still have a couple more varieties to sow. Need to find more jugs. I emailed everyone I know that lives close by asking them to save milk jugs and the large pop bottles. I have a couple of jugs planted with hostas, one of johnny jump ups, and one of columbine. I need more jugs. : ( I only have about 130 more pkts of seeds to plant.

Lynn

Wow! You people have been busy -- must be time for me to get going again. I have a few milk jugs and grape boxes (sams) started, but obviously not enough! I'm almost afraid to start too many. . .where oh where, will they all go? I'm also trying to be smart about all of this -- If I plant it AND they grow, then I have to water it. . . all summer. And Texas manages to have some real scorchers. So, I'm trying to plant only those that claim they can make it in heat, humidity and drought. . . which really limits my choices. But nothing worse than planting and then having the extreme heat destroy it.

Planning is so much fun. Tomorrow I get to sow a few more -- looking forward to it!

ValleyLynn,
You can also just buy water in big jugs, a great idea I learned from diamond. I dont drink enough milk to collect those containers and when I do, I always buy it in the wax container because it keeps longer and tastes better, to me.

Water jugs are less expensive too.Good luck on your 'maters.

If you have friends with kids you can ask them too:) I don't drink enough milk or soda to save enough bottles for myself either so I recruited outside help. I like the rectangular bottles from Ocean Spray Cranberry and Grapefruit juice too.

OK, do you cut the gallon jugs open and then put then back together?

Curious in KY
Teresa

Teresa, the jugs are cut open on 3 sides, leaving one attached as a hinged lid.

Teresa -- I posted 2 image --- look back upward to Jan 17th. that will give you some ideas.

dmac -- I too love those juice containers. the only time i buy juice for my kids is during the 'winter' so i can get the containers. I like the "Naked juice" ones too... but they are only QT sized.

Terese

ps -- I'll get a new thread started... this one is getting long.

New thread ... come on over === >
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1070447/

Bumped up for the newbies....

thanks Linda... the next thread in succession is over here... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1070447/

can't get over to the new thread..... someone help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Janet

the links aren't working for me.

Janet.... i forgot to number the threads.... the next one in succession is things rolling right along

sorry 'bout that.

no problem, I've found them....

Janet