Asking for your experiences?

I'm anything but eloquent. And I don't even know what an Ebucket is.

Gymgirl, I, and many WS veterans, transplant right from jug to garden. I sow perennials and hardy annuals in winter, and plant out whenever soil is thawed up here and I can tolerate the temps myself. Anytime, even months before last for for HAs and HPs.

I don't even sow more tender things, including toms, until late March or April. I don't plant them out till after last frost, around mid May in my zone.

Last year I did my toms inside (COLD WEATHER YEAR!) but have WS toms successfully.

For any tiny flower seeds, I just sprinkle them and they grow like Chia Pets. I dump them out, cut into chunks, and plant out the hunks without separating, thinning, or potting up.

Karen

What you really, really really need to do is review Trudi's site.

wintersown.org/

Karen

I'm afraid I probably caused the confusion. Last year I wintersowed vegies and herbs and grew everything in containers by choice. I put nothing in ground. That is probably what was confusing... sorry!

podster, that shouldn't confuse things.

Karen

No, but Linda probably had read that and thought that was the next step.

Now I AM confused. Here are some considerations:

**I grow almost exclusively in containers (5 gallon buckets and patented Earthboxes), although I have two expanded raised beds (4x8 and 4x10) for root crops (turnips, beets, carrots, and lettuce and Brussels Sprout). I'll use the beds for beans after the winter crop harvest)

**I am in Zone 9a near Hobby Airport in Houston, which is a bit diff than Pod's Zone 8a

**Because we don't get too many freezes in my microclimate, I've been told my area can grow just about year-round (although more like two seasons: mid-winter to late spring, and late summer to mid-winter).

**My regular veggie plant out target date for my area is around the 1st week of March for my tomatoes. (Actually, planting later than the last week of February is pushing it, as I grow mainly late-season heirlooms that average 80-90+ DTM, and have to be harvested by mid-June due to our brutal heat -- yeah, I know, I push that envelope every time). I plant around the 1st week of April for the heat-lovers.

My plan was to start my veggie seeds with wintersowing to be ready for the plant out schedule above. Tomato seedlings by March 1st; then, bell peppers, okra, eggplants, squash, cowpeas, cukes, watermelons, corn?, after that.

I have some sort of mental block when it comes to the planting schedule. And other than the tomatoes, I haven't gotten it right yet! I keep missing the optimum plant out times...but, I keep trying to find what works for me in my area...

Linda

Linda -- the nice thing about WS, even in warmer climates is, the seeds germinate when they are ready.
If the 'conditions' are what they need to be for said seed... mother nature takes care of that.
Once your seedlings are ready, just plant them in your EB's , buckets or raised beds.

I remember my first year... i was all worried about timing of everything.... then, as i saw it progressing, i was so relieved at how easy it really is.

Thanks, T.

Linda, remember that WS is mimicking the natural cycle of the seed. So if you go ahead and plant now, the seeds will remain dormant until the conditions are right for them to sprout. I kinda think of it like self-sowing plants or those that re-seed except you're planting the seed in a container (jug) instead of the plant dropping seed into the ground.

>>except you're planting the seed in a container (jug) instead of the plant dropping seed into the ground.

where they are protected from the elements. IE - birds, squirrels,winds, heavy rains washing them away....

Won't the seeds rot if I plant too soon?

can you wintersow tomatoes? this lady from florida sent me some seeds of a cherry tomato that grows wild in florida she said. she also sent other kinds that she said did well in the heat. i think this year....if i remember.....i am going to get the tx. tomato grower people to tell me the exact minute to plant. i can't ever get it right either.

when do you sow tomato seeds?

stephanie that was well said. but i get that we are trying to mimic mother nature. but you know those seeds that say sow in the spring only? why can't you sow them in the fall? what happens to them if you do? like morning glories. why can't you plant them in the fall?

Seeds generally won't sprout until they hit the temp that they require to do so. Large seeds, like nasturtium, can rot if they sit too long in cold, wet soil.

Another risk of sowing tender plants- like tomato- in fall = an early warm spell can cause them to sprout too soon; return of normal cold, sub-freezing temps kills off the sprout.

Karen

I think that I might have missed a step and I want to make sure that I do this right so I can be successful with this WS project, my first time doing such. I'm reading some post where people add other things to their potting soil. Glad I read over these posts because I would have only used potting soil..please set me straight on this part. Duh! How much of each product do I add to the potting soil? This is what I am also understanding..that I should dampen the mix with water before planting the seeds? Do I pour the water and mix it in or use a sprayer to damp the soil in each jug or container individually? Just when I think I've got these procedures in my head, somebody else comes up with something that I think I must have not read about, thus confusing me.

Pippi .... I found wetting the 'medium' before adding the seeds makes it easier.

what i would do... and i have to do it in the kitchen, as i'm not fortunate enough to have a potting area in my basement or anywhere else....

but i cut all my jugs, then i fill a bunch with soil... I use Miracle Grow, the big huge bag... I put as many containers in the sink as will fit.... 4 gallon or a variety of sizes til the one sink is full... then i take my sprayer at the sink, and damped the soil until water is dripping out the bottom. I leave them there a while until the dripping stops... once you do it a few times you will 'get' how much water you will need to dampen it thoroughly.

then i add the seeds and mark in my journal 'what is what'.

the first year, i added seeds first, before wetting... and some of the seeds wash to the sides... not good.

I think last year i took a series of photos for this process... but i'd have to look for them.

and no... i don't add anything extra to my 'potting medium' ... just whatever comes in the bag. I know we have a thread on potting mix and what others use... it's up in the sticky.

hope this helps clear things up.

OH and remember what Karen has said... keep it simple. It really is and i know being the first year, you get all excited about doing it "right" ... but
-prepare your containers
-fill with soil ... make sure you are close to 4" when it's damp
- add seeds
-close up containers
- stick outside.
period. it's that easy.

Terese

No extra soil additives for me either. And if I can add, label the containers in what ever manner will work for you.

I don't add anything either and had 100% success last spring. I just use plain potting soil.

WOW... you had absolutely everything germinate for you?

I'd ahve to recount... but i'm thinking i had about 40 out of 125 that did not. Though, I find i'm still having drainage issues.... I'm gonna have to cut huge slits next year.

I am reading and absorbing every word. LOL Thank you all so much for all of the input.



This message was edited Dec 12, 2009 10:18 AM

Sometime I add things to potting mix, depends on the brand. I really like ProMix but usually add perlite to it to make it lighter, fluffier. That one is hard to moisten, too, so I usually add dish soap. Sunshine mix already has a lot of perlite, I don't add anything. Sometimes I add pine fines. Just depends on the brand and maybe my mood that day.

To moisten I dump enough for about 6 jugs in a big basin about the size of a dishpan> spray and stir>spray and stir. Goes faster, mixes all thoroughly.

Karen

I found here that I had to add water to the jugs. Would not want to make my soil better draining. I can't get ProMix but use Sun Pro which is a peat based mix.

Okay, back to WS tomatoes - I had a friend ask if we can do it in our zone. If I read right, you can WS tomato plants? Same procedure as flowers?

I have about 100 containers ready - drilled many more holes in them than I'd had as I was afraid they might not drain well.

Tcs1366, did you figure out why 40 didn't germinate? That seems like a lot to not germinate... this is my first year so I'm at the "freaked" stage with the rest of us newbies. And, I'm having a BYOS (bring your own soil) party with other newbies that have never heard of WSing, so I have to do it right, LOL!!! (Only have, like, 30,000 BE Susan Seeds, plus ??? thousands of other seeds to share.)

Cynthia

i love the look on the peekinese...pekingnese........how the heck do you spell that.........any way the look on that face is so funny. lol.

That's his, "I feel reallys stupid in my naughty hat but I earned it well" look. He's the cutest thing in the world - have him in a puppy cut now - darling lil guy.

Cynthia... no, i dont know why those didnt germinate. a for instance... i had 3 containers of Agastache Golden Jubilee. 2 germinate, 1 did not.

certain things that i always have a tough time germinating... grasses for one, and any sort of Joe Pye Weed for another... zip [for some reason] on germination. Some containers where i did not get any seedlings, i'd just 'stir' more seeds in, and something else would grow... that happened with Agastache Pink Pop.

I honestly don't worry about it... though I do think sometimes it has to do with drainage.

The Holly hocks do have me confused though. I do not understand why i'm having a tough time with them... they should grow like weeds..... I sow'ed a bunch of then, got 1 seedling and gave it to my neighbor... it did bloom and she gave me seeds, which i just tossed in a large pot.. hoping they'd germinate in the Spring... but i'll be darned... they germinated. So i planted the little seedlings in a south bed.

I had one jug that didn't germinate until the late summer rains came. I'd given up all hope of anything germinating in the jug and had quit watering it. It sat on my back patio for months with no water or attention and survived the 100º+streaks and drought. The rains came and up popped a couple of plants. Go figure! LOL

wow stephanie what was it that germinated thru all that? just goes to show not to give up too quick.

It was the white rock rose seeds.

Hi All! I'm a newbie to the winter sowing. I would like to pick your brain (experience), if you don't mind. I was reading your post...NanniePB said that you can sprinkle seeds during the fall months that end in "R"? Is December to late in the season to sprinkle seeds in the yard or to set out seeds in jugs?

Diamond... I found her comment

You all make it sound so easy! LoL I'm trying some containers and keeping my fingers crossed! I also noticed that some of you placed them in the ground...does it make a difference if they are in a table? My seeds are on my patio which is facing North. My only options are North or South. West facing is completely shaded by my neighbors house and east is on the far side of my garage. I'm sure I will forget they are there and my neighbors may not like milk jugs sitting out all winter. LoL Will the patio provide enough light and will sitting off the ground be okay, from your experience?

mine go on the west side... but that is really the only place i have for them. THough, i have done the south... too much warmth and sun, and my front porch - covered, so they do not get 'water' ... but my back yard is fenced in... if i put them on the north, my neighbors dog would probably think they were toys.... so I have to do the west side. But i have areas where i can shelter them from the sun when things are really warming up and I dont want them to fry. Otherwise, the sun is not an issue.

Mine sit on a patio, some on the ground if i run out of patio. Just do what is easiest for you.

I'm considering building a box to sit on top of a huge, covered (UNUSED) spa sitting in a portion of the yard. They'd get good bright sunlight, but nothing to fry them...

Thanks TCS

I put mine on the ground on the east side of the house just past the drip line for the roof. That way they get lots of bright sunshine, but not enough to fry them and water when it rains or ices or snows or I water them. The ground helps keep the soil at a more normal temperature. Honestly, as long as the things don't fry, you remember to water them occasionally if you don't get any moisture or they're in a covered area, and you protect them once they've sprouted from freezing you'll probably do well.

Up off the ground here but only to prevent the chance of a fire ant family moving in. I don't intend to provide housing for them if at all possible.

Diamond ~ have you already sowed yours?

Yes, I put something different out every time I find a container to sow the seeds in. I am supposed to get 5 milk jugs tomorrow. I think that will take care of all the seeds I want to sow. I am so excited!

Diamond,
What seeds did you sow? Do you have pics of the plants you're gonna grow?

Ok gang,
I've only grown veggies so far. Marigolds & geraniums are the only other plants I have any experience with as far as real "gardening." I guess I better come up with a plant scheme in a hurry, huh, since I've got all these milk jugs ready (20 so far, and another 20 waiting to be prepped!). My husband has been doing the front flowerbeds. There are vincas, ponytail ferns, sago palms, geraniums, and I think some petunias. The vincas and geraniums come back every year. And the ponytails and sagos just keep doing their thing too.

The BACK yard is my territory. While I devote almost 100% of my time tending to the veggies, I'd like to at least have a few containers of color this spring/summer. We have a LOT, LOT, LOT of greenery in the yard, but no colorful plants. I tried a scheme of zinnias for the last two seasons, but they only got leggy and died before they ended up in the planters. Our greenery consists mostly of large ferns, a giant philodendron, rubber trees, variegated ginger plants, a coupla sage plants. These are all fairly large and in place in containers, so I just wanna intersperse some container color into this landscape.

All of the plants above are in one corner of the patio. The other side of the patio is filled with these giant vines my DH thinks ranks with the sacred cows. That side of the patio is also has ferns and purple wandering jew that grow together in a sort of carpet on that half of the patio floor (I NEED to cut em back...)

Since I've been reading the WS threads, I keep running into the proper names for the plants and I don't have a clue what they are. I just want some nice bold color like yellow marigolds and my scheme of lime green and purple zinias. Maybe some orange color.

Don't laugh...you've never seen a purple and orange sky? It's gorgeous!

I don't know flowers....I need help.......help.....

Linda

Diamond, our local Starbucks can't recycle (Missouri, go figure) so I picked up 80 milk jugs in the past two days. They even have boxes I can set them out in - and best news - they are fresh so washing them out is no issue!

Having a Bring-Your-Own-Soil party with 15 friends so I have lots of jugs to prepare! First year winter sowing, I surely do hope it works since 16 of us are trying it!!!

Hansey,
How're you getting fresh jugs from Starbucks?