Japanese M.G "Fujino momo"

Nice pink color with a wavy look.

Wintersown from seed.


This message was edited Sep 14, 2006 1:18 PM

Nice m glory.

Jackie

Shirley1md - Nice flower...

Would you be willing to share your personal technique of wintersowing...in particular,are your seeds always started indoors(?) and always kept indoors(?)...
Do you move/alternate from a totally outdoor environment to a totally indoor environment and at what type of intervals/cycles(?)...
What type of day and nightime temperatures/fluctuations are the seeds and young plants exposed to(?)...

I'm asking these particular questions because there are people who have reported wintersowing outside in the Early Springtime to initiate sprouting,but have never answered questions as to whether the young plants were able to remain totally outdoors (and in what type/size coverings) and survive the often extremely cold temperatures of the more northerly zones...

It seems that the seeds that do respond to wintersowing >will require the seedlings to be protected by a large enough 'greenhouse' type of covering >otherwise the plants would fail due to the very cold temperatures,potentially cramped coverings and/or insufficient lighting...

How does your particular technique address the necessary temperature,space and lighting requirements(?)...both the short and long term environment(s) that the plants need to survive(?)

Thanks in advance for sharing(!)...

TTY,...

Ron


P.S. All answers are of course at your option to respond to...

Thanks for the kudos, Jackie and Ron.

To answer you questions, it is best to refer you to the guru, Trudy Davidoff, who was responsible for imparting her knowledge and wisdom about wintersowing. So instead of re-inventing the wheel, I will direct you to read, read, read about the virtues and ease of wintersowing at her website. http://www.wintersown.org

I'll do my best to to answer your questions:

Would you be willing to share your personal technique of wintersowing...in particular,are your seeds always started indoors(?) and always kept indoors(?)...
Yes, I would be happy to share my experience with everyone on wintersowing. My containers of seeds are always kept outdoors. If you bring your containers indoors, that could weaken the germinated plants, which is therefore not advisable.

Do you move/alternate from a totally outdoor environment to a totally indoor environment and at what type of intervals/cycles(?)...
I never move or alternate from a totally outdoor environment. The container of seeds/plants are outside from beginning to end.

What type of day and nightime temperatures/fluctuations are the seeds and young plants exposed to(?)...
I begin sowing my hardy perennial seeds on December 21st - the Winter Soltice. The beauty of wintersowing is that we are duplicating what Mother Nature does in a container. Many seeds will not germinate properly without a fluctuation in temperature. To germinate, many seeds most go through several freeze - thaw - freeze cycles. Wintersowing enables the seeds to do just that!

I'm asking these particular questions because there are people who have reported wintersowing outside in the Early Springtime to initiate sprouting,but have never answered questions as to whether the young plants were able to remain totally outdoors...
Depending on your growing zone, I'm in zone 7a, I will begin sowing my Annuals at the beginning of March. If you live in a colder zone, you may have to wait until the beginning of April. YES, all containers with seeds, sprouts, and plants remain outdoors during the entire time. It doesn't take up any space in your house! No grow lights or heating mats are necessary!

What type/size coverings...
The other beauty of Wintersowing is that makes the best use of recycled plastic and/or foil containers! Any container that will hold a minimum of 4" of good potting soil would work great! Personally, I found 1/2 to 1 gallon milk, juice or soda bottles perfect for wintersowing. Others have used foil containers that you can cook lasagna in. These are just a few examples. Trudi's website will give you lots of suggestions and great pictures too!

Do they survive the often extremely cold temperatures of the more northerly zones...
Absolutely, positively! Northern gardeners are extremely successful with wintersowing! They have a longer period of cold and snow which is needed for certain types of seeds.

It seems that the seeds that do respond to wintersowing >will require the seedlings to be protected by a large enough 'greenhouse' type of covering...
My containers are ALL exposed to the elements so that Mother Nature can provide the necessary moisture that they need. If you grew your seeds outdoors in a greenhouse type covering, YOU would be the one to provide the moisture.

Otherwise the plants would fail due to the very cold temperatures...
Are you referring to Annuals or Tropicals? They are sown in early to late Spring. Plants fail if the soil dries out. Dried out soil = dead seeds or plants.

Potentially cramped coverings....
You promise not to shudder & gasp when I tell you that I have LOTS of wintersown plants & veggies that are still in their original plastic containers! I never had the time before the weather got to hot in my area for planting. I could watch over my wintersown plants much better when they are still sitting on my deck. Now that the weather has begun to cool down, I can plant out the hardy perennials in my garden. The biggest bonus that I discovered by keeping my plants root bound is that a lot of perennials bloomed during their 1st year of life! I was absolutely thrilled!!

Insufficient lighting...
You want to choose a location that receives morning sun. That will help with more even germination of seeds. If you choose a location that receives the late hot afternoon sun, you will need to be much more vigilant in keeping the soil in your containers moist, plus the hot sun may prove to harsh for tender seedlings. Then you would need to move your precious seedlings to another location outdoors.

Both the short and long term environment(s).....
All my containers where wintersown on my deck which faces the East and receives morning and mid-day sun. Short term sowing gives instant gratification! When those plants bloom....YOU'RE DOING A HAPPY DANCE! Long term sowing - I still have some containers that haven't germinated for whatever reason...seed was to old and no longer viable, containers got knocked over by squirrels & the seeds where tossed out of the containers, or perhaps some seeds need more than 1 freeze-thaw cycle to germinate. I read that some seeds may take several years to germinate.

Space...
Everyone's space requirements will be different. Some have acres and acres of gardens to fill, while others garden on a roof top balcony. Another beauty of wintersowing is that you adapt the number of wintersown containers/plants to the space that you have. What happens if you sow to many containers and have too many plants??? Give them away to family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, trade the plants with other gardeners or bring them to round-ups. You have never seen should grateful receipents until they are given a plant that you grew from seed with your own two hands!

I hope I've answered your questions. If I missed any, please let me know. However, I would be remiss if I didn't link you to the Wintersowing Forum at DG. It's a wonderful place to learn, share your success and (yes) failures and make a lot of new friends! http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/coldsow/all/

ooooh and aaaaahhhhh!

Joseph

That is great information! Thanks for taking the time to share! Something new to try......... - Arlan

It's the beginning of a whole new addiction....wintersowing.

Shirley1md - Thanks a bazillion for answering the questions on what has worked out well for you...certainly thought provoking at the very least...

The few Morning Glories that I've sprouted outdoors before the weather warms up completely >have turned into completely frozen icicles, >especially when the temperatures plummeted at night...
Here in the NorthWest corner of New Jersey,we get snow and freezing temperatures into May...so >how to prevent the young plants from freezing when the temperatures get extremely cold >without providing some form of supplemetal heating may remain a 'mystery' for me...

I will check out the info on the sites and forums that you recommended...maybe there is some 'magic' formula there that I haven't yet tried...

Thanks Again(!)...

Ron

Thanks everybody!

Since I don't have any information on how you grew your M.G.'s outdoors, I'm kind of at a loss.

Seeds know when to germinate. I would try sowing M.G. seeds when all danger of frost is over in your growing area. No cold period is necessary to germinate M.G.'s. The containers that are used for the sowing process act like mini-greenhouses with an opening at the top to let in precipitation. The containers help to protect your tender seedlings. All you do is plant your seedlings in your garden when the time is right. Here is a link on Spring/Summer sowing. Hope this helps. http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/wtrsow/2002064114029680.html

This message was edited Sep 15, 2006 1:48 PM

This message was edited Sep 15, 2006 1:49 PM