Winter Sowing

[darwinslair]

Even here in Minnesota I have some thai sun peppers that naturalized a few years ago. they reseed themselves but dont get real large without starting inside early. Each one will (even with this last cold summer) get a dozen or so smoking hot peppers. I let them grow in places I am not overly concerned with.

I grow mine in pots generally. They get larger for me that way, and I can finish ripening any I need to by bringing the pots inside.

In a pot they get about 18" across and high. much larger than the 6-8" they get reseeding themselves here. I also get a few hundred peppers per plant from the potted ones.

But do think it is cool that they have naturalized here.

Tom

[ottawagardener]

Really? You know you have me googling where I can get some of those thai sun peppers so I can see if they volunteer here (always the hopeful person I am). I get toms volunteering and producing well but don't think I've seen a pepper though that may be because I don't let any peppers fall to the ground I get the occasional seedling pop up in an overwintered pot though.

[mjc]

Tom,

If they are doing well for you up there I wonder how they'd behave here in WV...or points south.

[bunkie]

;D

By Dea O'Hopp (Dea)
December 24, 2007

The 25th of December is a day we always winter sow our poppy seeds. I made a mistake last year and decided to save hubby the work and do it the "night before". The following explanation and apologies to Clement C. Moore

davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/259/#discuss

Twas' the Night before Sowing

Twas the night before sowing, when all through the house
The puter was quiet, yes even my mouse.
The seed packs were flung by the chimney with flair,
In hopes that in spring, Papavers would be there.

Dear Hubby was nestled all snug in our bed,
While visions of Papavers danced in his head.
And "dog" in his ‘kerchief, and I in knit cap,
Wandered out in the cold, gardens don't need a map.

When out in barren roses there arose such a clatter,
I turned quickly around to see what was the matter.
Twas Hubby knit capped, he was there in a flash,
My surprise of early sowing was gone in a dash.

The glow from my flashlight on new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to gardens below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But the seed packs from Hubby, he is such a dear,

With his big gnarly hands so lively and quick,
He tore open each pack that I'd saved, with a flick.
More rapid than eagles the seeds oh they came,
And we read as we threw them, and called them by name!


"Now Somniferum! Nuidcale! Sheldonii and Flavum!

On Alpinum! Rhoeas! Burseri and Glaucum!

To the ground and surroundings! To the top of rock wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all! "

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So down to the compost the seeds they did flew,
With the energy that seeds have, of course our hopes too.

And then, in a twinkling, we heard in a poof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As we turned round our heads, and were turning around,
In our view came the deer and they came with a bound.

Ornery critters all bold, gonna nibble some root,
But they did not expect my sweet hubby's big foot.
He pressed on the peddle of our John Deere and smack!
The blaze from the headlights ran off the whole pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
When he saw the deer run, for tonight they were wary!
If they'd only known toe on pedal ain't slow,
Cuz a man and his Deere wants to see the stuff grow!

"So why did you come out to help and not lurk? ,

I was gonna surprise you and save you the work"

"Side by side we have planted, tonight's no repose,

We do this together for always, you knows!"


We sprang to our bed, to the pup gave a whistle,
The seeds were all flung, didn't step on a thistle.
Take heed Winter Sowers, tonight is the night,
Happy Spring to you all when Papavers are in sight!

[bunkie]

so far i have mostly flowers. really experimenting this year...pics at 11...

kiss me over the garden gate
agastache 'heather queen'
columbine 'miss m i huish
love in a mist 'persian jewels'
standing cypress garden
heliotrope columbine 'crimson star'
sweet william 'holborn glory
forget me not blue
benary's giant mix zinnia
hollyhock 'peaches and creaam'
wildflower mix
old fashioned mix
tall double mix sweet william
sweet william mix
shasta alaska daisy
aster 'crego mix'
baby's breath ;covent garden'
poppies...black peony
ladybird
lauren's grape
danish flag
rosa romantica
persian poppy
cal. 'bridal bouquet'
black swan
shirley 'mother of perl'
cal. 'apricot chiffon'

herbs...
parsley leaved lovage
wild celery-parsley
pestle parsnip

am doing a bunch more herbs, a few more flowers like bread edible poppies (only have one so far done), and a few veggies today. looks like more warm weather hitting us after today, so onto adding pots of seeds in the cabin loft to germinate for the greenhouse.

[bluelacedredhead]

Wowzer Bunkie, that's quite the experimental station you have on the go there.
I was afraid to do much outdoors for fear the squirrels noticed the bins.
Wishing you success with your WS in 2010

[bunkie]

thanks blue. sorry those squirrels are pestering you!

we always have critters watching our 'stuff' too. here's lizzie watching some of my winter sown pots......

[bluelacedredhead]

Those are awesome watchcritters you have there Bunkie.
My mutt chases chipmunks away from the garden, but since we didn't have black or grey squirrels on the farm, I don't think she sees them as a threat?

[wintersown]

Bunkie,

Your dog's name is Lizzie? I've got one too! Here's my Lizzy:


This photo is about six or seven years old. Do you see the large planter made from a blue kiddie pool? It was planted with an edging of Tiny Tim tomatoes, I hardly got one for myself. Lizzy stole them all. Slurp Slurp!

[bunkie]

yup! our big girl is Lizzie!

great pics ws! i love those kiddie pools. i use them in the greenhouse for watering big trays and pots.