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Post by prairiegarden on Feb 21, 2016 20:17:55 GMT -5
Does anyone do this? I'm thinking of trying it this year, would save a lot of space under lights if it works. Maybe use up all of the old seed and so no big loss if it doesn't work well, and if it does work well, panic trying to find a place for it all...
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Post by philagardener on Feb 21, 2016 20:55:59 GMT -5
It's a great way to get your seedlings started and hardened off for planting out.
Watch your containers to make sure they don't get too wet or dry.
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Feb 21, 2016 22:27:38 GMT -5
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Post by oldmobie on Feb 21, 2016 23:07:00 GMT -5
I've WinterSown for a few years now. I like it and it generally works pretty well. I think my favorite part is that damp-off is pretty much a non-issue. I suggest trying it, but not with seed you can't afford to lose. Most seeds WinterSow very well, but a few don't seem to like it. None of my peas germinated that way. I guess they rotted. My Michihili cabbage germinated well, but bolted immediately. Turns out cold weather can make it bolt. I can't remember if any peppers came up, but I know I didn't get many. Tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, and radishes seemed very happy. Several of my wife's flowers, too. |
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Post by paquebot on Feb 22, 2016 22:02:21 GMT -5
Five pots of onions and one each of leeks and shallots outside so far. All of my tomatoes have been planted outside before 21 March since 2004. Two years ago, planted beets, chard, and lettuce in the ground in early November. Came up great the following spring.
Martin
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Post by raymondo on Feb 24, 2016 3:57:58 GMT -5
Is this sowing in the ground or in containers of some sort? Or both?
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Post by philagardener on Feb 24, 2016 6:26:18 GMT -5
Typically containers. A popular approach is to cut around a 1 gal translucent plastic milk containers several inches up. A few drain holes in the bottom, add 2-3 inches of seed starting mix or finished compost, and you have a mini-greenhouse. Located outside in a sheltered spot, the seeds experience the changing of the seasons in a protected spot and germination times itself to the coming of Spring.
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Post by mskrieger on Feb 24, 2016 10:42:54 GMT -5
paquebot I'm intrigued by your outdoor sowing of tomatoes! Do you use milk jugs or something similar as minigreenhouses? And approximately when do the tomatoes sprout if you sow them that way?
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Post by paquebot on Feb 24, 2016 13:18:09 GMT -5
I start the tomatoes in an old-style cold frame. That is, a storm window top sloped to catch the low sun. I use either 4-cell or 6-cell planters and may start as many as 80 to 100 varieties at once. Planting medium is dry to start so that I am able to use a tweezers to insert a seed to the proper depth and come up dry. When all done, about 4 inches of snow is packed on top of them. That slowly melts and is sufficient moisture to dampen everything. This is usually done about the middle of March. Depending upon the number of days of sunshine, I can look for the first green to appear around 10 April. They are on their own on cold nights unless down into the low 20s when I may throw a blanket over the cold frame. Have yet to lose a plant to cold but have had some get too hot even with air temperatures in the 30s.v End results are shorter but sturdier plants to set out since every bit of light they have ever received was natural.
Martin
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Post by shoshannah on Jul 25, 2016 18:14:52 GMT -5
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