I know there's a whole forum on winter sowing and I've been reading it, but how does it work in Texas? And what, exactly, is winter sowing and does anyone here do it? Does it work? Do you start your seeds indoors or in an enclosed container outside?
Winter Sowing in Texas
Oh Stephanie, try it, you'll love it. It's so easy. I've never been very good with seed starting. They would get too wet, too dry, die from damping off, blah, blah, you name it, they would die from it.lol
But last year I did around 100 jugs and about 90 germinated! The seeds go through their natural cold cycle while protected from critters or being over run from Spring weeds like they would be in the garden bed.
I start most of my seeds the day after Christmas, I cut milk jugs in half, cut drainage slits and fill with at least 4-5 inches of soil, seeds to proper depth then tape the jug shut (leave the cap off). Label and wait till Spring :0) easy peasy
I put my jugs on the side of the house that receives morning sun and where rain water can get in them.
You can plant all seeds this way? How did you label them and what kind of tape did you use to seal them back up?
Almost all seeds, those that are tropical and wouldn't normally go though a cold spell are likely to rot.I also didn't bother with annuals like zinnias and cosmos, or seeds that are easy to start directly in beds.
I tried two different way of labeling them. The first I used ball point pen on pop sickle sticks...big disaster, couldn't read once Spring came around. The others I used a paint pen on the jug itself, that worked great, didn't fade at all. I'm not sure what kind of tape most people use. I used what I had on hand, which was a rigging tape, It worked and was over kill. I had to recut the jugs open in the Spring:0)
Great! I think I'm going to try this this year. I'm also going to toss some wildflower seeds out this year to see if I can get some of those going. Wish me luck!
Stephanietx, you didn't mention what you wanted to plant. Here's a link to a vegetable planting site. Other links on that page give you an idea of when to plant outdoors for spring or fall. This site divides that state into regions together with a Texas map.
http://organiclifestyles.tamu.edu/vegetables/planting.html
This is from TAMU
http://plantanswers.tamu.edu/fallgarden/fallindex.html
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/homeguide/homeguide.html
http://www.plantanswers.com/resources.htm#veggies
Sites for starting seeds indoors:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/newsletters/hortupdate/may02/art2may.html
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/ornamentals/seedlings/seedlings.html
Betty thanks for the links to all of that good information! Lynea, do you water in the seeds at all before you set them out and leave them alone?
Yes! I've already been saving milk jugs and I researched on WinterSow.org. They will send you packets of free seeds for a SASE. But your instructions just cut to the chase and make it easier! Thank you!
What kind of soil did you use?
I'm planning on starting some Anise, Monarda, coneflowers, balloon flower, and who knows what else!
What in the world did you winter sow in 100 jugs?!? And how many seeds did you put in each jug?
I used Miracle Grow with Moisture Control soil, it's the easiest for me to find. Others say you can use any potting soil of your choice, just not to use the soil direct from the garden bed.
Milk jugs were the hardest thing for me to get 100 of. I had my seeds ordered before I had the containers to put them in. Other people also use 2 liter soda bottles, but we rarely drink soda. I start saving in July and I have my mother saving milk and tea jugs for me too. Last year I scored big time! While driving down the road I found tons of milk jugs beside the road! I have no idea where they came from, it looked like they blew out of the back of a truck. To me it was a sign from heaven.lol
I lost my list of sown seeds in a computer meltdown. I planted mostly easy cottage style plants,but did different cultivars of each to see which would grow or look best.
monardas
anise hyssop
coneflower
basil
feverfew
malvas
camomile
flaxes
salvias
half hardy hibiscus
milk weeds
rudbeckias
chinese foxgloves
verbenas
formosa lilies
creeping veronica
acanthus
baptisia
cleome
rose campion
obedience plants
penstemons
That's all I can think of right now. The penstemons germinated but I lost them all. I think the soil was too rich and this year I'm going to add some cactus soil mix to insure drainage. I lost a few other seedlings too. I was eager to get the seedlings out into the beds really early. The beds were new and Spring weeds overtook the slower growing plants. The rest of the jugs took forever to get all them planted and were quite big in the jugs by the time I got around to them. So next year I'll take my time and not transplant them so young. So no need to rush them out, they are very happy in their little jug homes. Just open them up when the weather get really warm and when night temp are in the 70s I felt safe enough to cut the jug tops off.
I used half a pack of seed when I sowed mine, mostly because if it didn't work (it was my first year and I had doubts lol) I wanted to make sure I didn't loose all of my seed. Really big seeds, like the acanthus only got 5 to the jug. Just use your best judgement, they'll be fine.
The other big thing I had doubts about was the 'clump transplanting'. I had wanted to salvage and plant every little seed that germinated. But it was too time consuming. The WS forum said the transplant them in clumps. I scooped small clumps of the seedlings out of the container and planted them just like that. The plants didn't flinch, the strongest in the clump survive and thrive despite the abuse.
I sound like an infomercial.lol But this method really works and made such a huge difference in my garden in a single year. It would have cost me thousands to purchase this many plants in a nursery. Not to mention gives me something to do during the winter:0)
What? No Black and Blue Salvia! lol...
LOL, no smarty pants! Like a dummy I did search the plants for months looking for those seeds that never came! To add insult to injury, it's the one salvia I can't seem to root either. Kidding aside I sowed about 8 different salvias and the ones that didn't thrive were the Salvia horminium . Have you grown these? Mine died soon after flowering and I've noticed I now have seedling popping up in their place. I'm not sure if I want them there if they can't take the heat.
I have never grown that salvia...what is it supposed to be like?
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/96619/ I planted "marble arch rose' and 'blue denim' I just read on plant files that they are annuals. So I guess these new seedlings won't make it anyway. But, I don't think they took the summer heat very well. Not like most salvias.
I must confess I love to buy seeds, but I seldom have success with them. After talking with you, Lynea at the RU, I became determined to try this and succeed! I don't think I'll plant 100 containers, though! LOL Guess if I have any leftovers, I can always trade them away at the spring swap....
Thanks for the info and your method!! I'll probably have more questions later.
Maybe more people will join in!
It was fun having the extras to give away and I think I even traded some during the Spring RU. I don't plan on doing 100 either, unless I find another mother lode of jugs on the side of the road.lol I know a few others here in Texas have tried it, Kim, Mitch and Yardqueen. I'd like to hear if they are going to do it again too. I started reading the WS forum in '06 but doubted it would work here because of our mild climate. But last Winter was really mild and it did work. The plants seem to know best when it's time to grow.
I'm so tickled your trying it, i was so excited last year. Heck, I'm excited to get started this year:0)
Here the new list for tested Winter Sow seeds on DG. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/ws/ It's fun to browse through and get ideas. Not that they will all grow in Texas once germinated.lol
If it would help, I think you can also use soda bottles?
Bwahahaha! Cocoa_lulu the Recycling Raider. But wait... didn't you already tell us you have another great name?
My dh drinks OJ from clear jugs, which are thicker and work even better for me. If we can ever get together, I'll bring you some.
Was it something about thunder? Can't remember.
Hey Lynea (or is it Lynnea?? I grew up with a girl named Linet next door, so I'm really messed up! LOL)
I could save our jugs for you and bring them to you at the next RUs. Of course, I would keep some as well. We go through distilled water like crazy at my house as well as milk, so I'll have plenty to share.
You could always put a sign in your yard, or ask on Freecycle, for clean milk jugs. You could stalk your neighbors' trash, too!!
Stephanie
Probably it's so quiet because people are looking at the photo contest and voting.
Can't say I'm having a great time. I have to have minor hand surgery next week, and won't be able to do any grubbing in soil until it heals. So I'm trying to get everything finished up outside, in case there's a freeze before then. I have everything about done now. But I'm not happy about it at all. With things getting cut back and all the non-hardy things moved, my garden is already looking so bare. I'm just not ready for that yet. :(
Sooooo Cool! I'm going to try that! I have lots of seeds, and I have water jugs left over from hurricane season that I can use! I'll have to get more soil!
Thanks for the info!!!!!! I've tried other seeds and had them dampen off, so this will be neat!!!!! My grandchildren will love it! WOW! Thanks so much!
I have several jugs now and will begin saving more. I spent a couple hours over the seed pile last night and I am no where near through.
I guess I could use the old hanging basket bases and the clear domes I used for cuttings in the summer too; just move them from shade to sun for the seeds.
Pattie...I bet you are right on looking at the photos. There are some great ones. Hope you have an easy proceedure on your hand and it mends quickly. Let us know how things go with it.
Stephanie, it's Lynea, no worries tho. If you get too confused just call me Nordic Thunder.lol
Saving them for the RUs is a great idea! I would trade plants for them for sure. I'll stick a notice on freecycle too. I'm so far away from recycling centers there just may be people with jug and soda bottles piled up.
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PBtx, that stinks about about your hand. This is a good time to do it tho since digging is slowed. Let us know how it goes. Remember if you need help or get bored I'm not that far and would be happy to help :0)
The photo contest was outstanding this year! I had a really hard time deciding, they were all soooo good! I liked the new thumbnail system too.
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Texasgal, So happy your on board with Winter sowing! Let us know what and when you sow. I think your notes would be extremely valuable for other Southern gardeners in zone 9.
You bet I do! We just cut down a tree in front that had been shading a flower bed. I will have so much more area to put the sun loving plants next year!
As for the clear domes....Josephine recycles cake packaging tops and puts them over large pots of cuttings...placing them in the shade and waters from the bottom. I didn't have any time to accumulate those, so I took some of the hanging basket drip catchers and cut off the hooks. They worked very good on the pots to root cuttings. I brought some of them to the RU in Oct. Blk & Blue Salvia, Cuphea, Cowpen Daisy, Indigo Spires & more. Can't wait until next year to try more. But for now I need to see about this winter sowing you have me interested in. LOL!
Yes, Sheila, you do, because of course you need more plants. LOL! Never fear--she's gotten me hooked on this winter-sowing thing too. I don't even DO seeds, but I ordered a lot in the current coop. Because, of course, I need more plants too. No idea where they will go, but I NEED them.
Thanks, ladies, for your concern about my surgery. It's just a surface thing and not serious. Other than dirt exposure, I'll be fine. Oh, yeah, and dishwashing. Oh, what a shame, I can't wash dishes. Hmmm... toilet-cleaning. Surely I can't do that. Now that I think about it, I probably shouldn't do laundry either. Or dusting, or vacuuming, or mopping. Hey, this is starting to sound pretty good. :)
Missing gardening is another story. But at least it's November, right?
I've been gathering seeds and collecting containers for my winter sowing project. I wonder if I can use the really big sour cream containers and cottage cheese containers from Sam's???
I have 3 cats and buy my cat food in big buckets with lids. I was planning on starting some brug seeds that way, but could use them for other seeds as well.
Anne
The closed environment is good but the container must be translucent enough to let in light. I guess that is why a milk jug works so well; is that what I am understanding Lynea??
Yes, I think a lot of seeds need bright light (not direct sun light) for germination. I still paid attention to the seed packet. If a seed is deeply buried it may not need the clear container and rely more on heat for germination. But shallowly sowed seeds will usually say on their packs that 'light is need for germination' and I wouldn't risk using a opaque container.
Last year I did Gazania seeds too and the pack said they needed total darkness for germination. I still sowed them in a milk jug, but wrapped it in a towel and stuck it in the back of a closet for a few weeks. If I do them again, I may try a coffee can, we use folgers and you can't see through the plastic can or the lid. It would be easier to keep track of them that way..I almost forgot about them when they were in the closet!