Esther, it is so great to see you making Winter Sowing videos again! You were the person who nudged me into trying the process, and I will be doing it again for the third time around this winter, with great excitement. I made some notes for myself--based on some trial/error/success the first two rounds--that I hope will make my third WS season even more productive. Here is what I will do: 1) Do not put more than one kind of seed into a container--keep it very simple to identify what is growing in it. 2) Do not use a container smaller than one gallon for vegetables; smaller ones may work okay for flowers. 3) Make a specific plan for where each set of seedlings will be transplanted; last year I sacrificed way too many healthy seedlings because I was overwhelmed by the transplanting process. If it means that I WS fewer seeds, at least I will be a much better steward of my healthy green babies. I am in Zone 6B (central Kentucky). I hope to try some new varieties of flowers and vegetables this year. This past September, I visited my aunt in northern Virginia and collected seeds from many of her beautiful flowers. I will be developing a new flower bed area just to give those hoped-for legacy plants a proper home. I look forward to Gardening Adventures 2023 in company with, and encouraged by, you. Thanks for the all the time you invest in helping others succeed in growing lovely things!
Esther I am very impressed with your videos. I winter sowed last year for the first time and learned so much from you. I’m so excited to start again this year. Love you girl!
Master class on winter sowing! Such useful wisdom. Making a journal of what you're planting and growing each season is helpful. It's fun to plant something entirely new each season. I found the best way to water my jugs when needed (rarely) is to fill a small tub with water and let the jugs sit in there for a few minutes. They'll absorb what they need and drip out any excess. My biggest effort this year will be to do winter sowing with deliberation. When I rush, I get a number of mystery seedlings. You can also rinse and dry your hands between jugs so you don't transfer tiny seeds from jug to jug. Terrific video!
Hi Esther! I really enjoy watching your winter sowing videos. I live in Southern California which is zone 9. Growing indoors doesn't work for me, because of gnats. From this point on, I will be winter sowing all my veggie seeds. Mainly all tomatoes and peppers. I think winter sowing is the best way to start. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and journey on winter sowing. 😊
Northern Michigan, zone 5/6: I’ve had great success using kitty litter containers, which allows me to plant 20-25 seeds per container. Sides are straight and tall.
Want to thank you for doing WS as I learned from you last year!😊 What worked well was all brassicas, lavender, echinacea, poppies, snapdragon. I had failure on foxglove and delphinium and I read another blog someone else had delphinium problems. Maybe I didn’t watch them enough. The poppies 😂were so thick I just chunked them out and planted-sink or swim I told them and swim they did!! They were a gorgeous hot red orange that just shined. I believe they were annuals and by fall I see they reseeded and there were a mess of bright green plants under leaf trash and it was Cold out! So excited to see them for next year I hope. I was very happy to be able to share my extra WS brassicas and inside pepper and tomatoes last year with a neighbor who cooked her starts in greenhouse. They were happy! Definitely trying a few tomatoes, peppers and onions in WS as experiment to see if growth matters. If it works I won’t be doing any inside except winter lettuce to eat. Need to find the best grow light for lettuce 🥬 any ideas? Want more blue spectrum lighting. Oh, WOW! I grow Butterfly Weed and last week I seen some AWFUL prices that I’m still in shock. One plant was $14.99$$!! They grow like weeds in my sand and neglect AND they have a tremendous amount of Seed in the fall that will be Perfect to WS!! I believe people struggle to grow them because they need stratifying and WS is perfect! I had dug them up and thought I moved them all and covered path with 6-8” of bark and I missed some and they came through 🥳. I gave several roots to SIL that would have cost her $50 at that price. She has given me so many plants with her recent move to a sunny yard-grateful indeed! So if you want to save $$$ start your own plants as I think there is sticker shock coming. Start saving seed as well!! I seen some seed that was well over $1.00 EACH!!!!😮😮😮. I sold seeds as a kid and they were only $.10 a Pack! I heard from someone else they seen even higher. Did the seeds get the flu and gone the way of the eggs 🥚? Thanks again Esther! Glad to hear from you! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
My son is going to build me a cold frame and thats where I'm going to f my winter sowing this year. Glad to see you back, Esther. I've missed your videos!
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your videos! After finding you, I tried winter sowing for the first time, last year. It is truly a game changer for me. My indoor set up has so much more space that I have been able to start crops I would never had room for otherwise. Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement.
I start my perennials first as many of them need a cold stratification period, then cool flowers and greens, then warm season annuals, and finally tomatoes and peppers in april. I'm starting perennials next week. I'm in zone 5b-6a.
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Yeah, that's how I organize them too ( I have 2 of those photo storage suit cases). Makes it easy to pull out the specific types to plant and just work my way through each of the separate containers over the winter. Hoping to cut back a little this year as last year I think I did about 150 jugs and was a little overwhelmed when they were ready to be planted. Although it is nice to always have something to plant🤔.
HI Esther, I love your videos, you are so passionate about gardening and I love it bc I am as well! I appreciate you so much bc all of my older family is gone on & I learn a lot of good information from you! Thanks so much & happy planting ❤️
I so can relate to your comment. Most of my family is gone as well. Yes, Esther is wonderful even for the seasoned gardeners there is always something to learn.😊
Great video. I was introduced to Winter Sowing by master gardeners here in Chambersburg, PA 10 years ago, and I am so happy I did. It saves you so much money. The first time I put out the jugs I got so many weird looks from my nosy neighbors, it kept me laughing all Winter long. The best part was when I opened them in front of these neighbors and just watching their faces. The gossip mill had started that I was into some sort of drugs. They tend to be closed minded on everything, so I share this great idea with those willing to learn new things and not wallow in negative things. Anyway, great video.
Haha I'm glad you were able to surprise them with the success of Winter Sowing. I'm pretty convinced my neighbors also thought I was crazy when I started putting jugs out 3 years ago but now they ask to buy seedlings from me. Lol
Thank you for sharing your winter sowing tips with us. I love experiments-even though I have to say many of these do not work. This year I’m trying to use cut toilet paper and paper towel cardboard tubes to contain the roots, and like every year I pre-sprout a set of seeds in coffee filters and transplant them into the winter sowing jugs. (I’m trying to save the sprouts from viability testing). Unfortunately I did lose some of these to hard frosts (I think that was it) even with blankets.
Yeah if you sprout seeds indoors they won't be able to handle being outdoors in Winter Sowing containers after that. I agree that that was probably the culprit. Best of luck this year.
Esther, Thank you so much for the 10 tips. I wrote them down in my journal. I am excited to start my winter sowing. I am in Oregon zone 8B so I will be sowing soon. I already have herbs in my herb garden from earlier this year that are still growing. I have planted potatoes this Fall in grow bags and can't wait til they sprout and start growing. I dug up 2 of my pepper plants and my eggplants and have them over-wintering in my dining room. I will plant those back in my garden this Spring. God Bless and Happy New Year!
This is so great! Your videos were such an encouragement last year when I wanted to start but the facebook groups and other places became too legalistic and confusing. You are very real and down to earth! Thank you! I had mixed experience last year but you have encouraged me to try again! I definitely started using a garden journal last year and that has helped though a bit irregular (I had baby 7 last summer too) and so true about labeling.
Because of the succes last year with wintersowing I decided to dubbel the amount of flowers and herbs. When I sowed this within a week we had a really deep frost but there were no seedlings so I hope there is no damage. I can’t wait to see the little greens! Thanks for the tips especially for labeling, I only wrote the name on the outside. That was not working and every container was a surprise. A good thing I wrote down what I sowed but I had waited a long time to see in which container it was 😅 13:31
Thanks to your videos, last spring I tried winter sowing for the first time. My flowers where beautiful all summer! But this year I may have started my seeds to soon, ( also live in Maryland 7a). I started Purpletop vervain last week in jugs, hope it's okay since the seeds need cold stratification.. Finger cross anyway!
Thanks for all the great tips! I’ll surely be following you along this upcoming season. This will be my second attempt at WS. “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again 😊.”
Good to see you Esther, looking forward to spring and your upcoming videos, I started Watching you last year and had good luck doing the winter sowing method, wishing You A Happy New Year.
Thank you so much about the advice regarding zones. I am in zone 8 and I was planning to do my winter sowing this weekend. All new to me. I have watch all those videos and thank you for not going over the whole how to do it. All the advice is awesome!
So good to see you again. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a great New Year! Look forward to seeing what all you are planting this year. All the best. Peace and Good Fortune and Good Health to you and your family.
Hello Esther! I will be trying winter sewing again this year. I have spotty success doing this but know if I keep trying and experimenting with different areas of placement I will be more successful at it. Thanks for the tips! Seedy Hollow
Hi Esther, I just love your inspiring videos and great tips. You make gardening exciting. I too am on my second year of following you and agree about the winter sowing and failure to check on the jugs. Last winter I did end up covering the jugs a few times. So far this winter seems to be mild but we still have a few months ahead of us that could change things. I always look forward to seeing you shine about a subject that lights you up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your mistakes!
Esther: What brand/type of potting soil do you recommend for winter sowing? Everyone seems to use something different, including cheap dollar store-type soils up to very expensive 'organic' brands. A few people even use plain sand, with no soil. Just curious about your soil recommendations.
The ten tips: when to start your winter sowing depends upon your gardening zone; plant one seed per hole; give your seedlings enough space to grow; the older the seeds the more seeds you should plant; don’t plant seeds near the milk jug handle; be sure to label your plants; double label your plants, one label on the inside and one label on the outside; keep a garden journal or a garden log; use potting mix not potting soil; prepare your garden bed before you transplant; transplant your plants when your plants are 2 to 3 inches tall and after your frost free date; be sure to check your plants for moisture; check outside temperatures to protect plants; have fun gardening.
You have one of those incorrect. Use potting mix/soil NOT seed starting mix. Potting soil and potting mix are basically the same thing while seed starting mix is different
Esther, You are the Queen in Winter Sowing! I had success in last year's winter sowing. I keep my notes from last year's video "Winter Sowing 101". Thank you much for sharing your knowledge, experience & journey in winter sowing. God Bless you & Happy New Year!
Thank you! I was named after Queen Esther so I'll take the title although I have learned from some better experienced Winter Sowers who still know much more than me. So I'm a queen in training perhaps lol.
Sorry I’m commenting so much, but I’ve got cabin fever and just have to tell my winter experience about the wildlife here that I have to barricade Everything! I was closing my shades for the night and our auto light came on- There it was! The Rabbit of many! He was sitting outside the fenced flower garden. I didn’t finish Tightening a scrap of fencing and it was fairly loose. He heard me say don’t you dare as he was looking right at me And ‘PoP’ he went between the gap!! Ugh!! So here I am out in my PJs to chase a rabbit and repair fencing. We are in the country with all kinds of open and wooded land and they see us as the oasis salad bar in the desert! We have soooo many deer and rabbit trails in the snow it’s Crazy. So when I garden it’s not just the expense of seeds, etc. It’s the 7’ fencing I have to install each time I enlarge the garden areas or I won’t have ANYTHING. It’s awful that I have to view all the plants through fencing and it looks like a prison camp, but soon I feel I will have enough fence to enclose the whole acreage and they will still probably find a way in. The deer ate all my day lilies this year and never got to see them bloom and a rabbit made a den under a new one. Grrr! Last night we had a surprise visit first time ever of Owls, neighbor said they were snowy owls! So excited!! I grew up with whippoorwills and hoot owls. These were chatty and sounded different and I’m sure they were the snowy owls-So cool! They are increasing in population and come down from CN. Looking for bunnies I’m sure 😊 Thanks for the chat. Cabin fever is going to plant some lettuce now and try and find the best blue spectrum grow light. At least the wildlife won’t get that inside.😅
71 anos found your winter seeding piece. Going to try sounds like way less work than indoor. Subscribed. Looking forward to learning more from you. Thanks very much
Just ordered a bunch of seeds today and will be stocking up on soil! Thanks for the heads up about the type of soil to use, I think that was my mistake last year when I used seed starting mix.
I really appreciate your videos and am gathering jugs to do winter sowing this year.. Do you know of a list of plants that are best for this sowing method?
Great video! Label MANY times and take your time when prepping winter sowing jugs! Last year I ended up with a number of mystery seeds that were NOT what the label said. I also had a bumper crop of habanero peppers, although I did not plant a single habanero seed. I believe that one was due to a mislabeling of the pepper seed packet. Esther is right, you won't remember which is which. Big plug for including more herbs and flowers in your winter sowing. They are great for attracting pollinators and spicing up your meals. Also, they're beautiful.
Hi Esther, I hope you see this (4/2/23) and can tell me how your winter sowing went this year. I bought the Happy Frog potting soil (not the Ocean kind) and used that this year. Everything is going SUPER slowly. I'm wondering if that pricey soil has herbicide or something. I'm in Arlington, VA, but this year WS is turning out to be a dud. None of the lush beauties of the past two years. Did you have any of these problems this year? Any advice? Thanks.
Esther, great video, very informative for the beginner Winter Sower. I normally start my WS at the end of January or first part of April for my spring/summer garden. I’m in Southern California Z10B. The reason I start so late is I garden year around and my fall/winter crops are still in the ground until later in the spring.
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures I will try some in a test. The problem arises for colder zones. Seeds have a set time for maturity and we have an estimated 135 day growing season. Onions start bulbing June 20th and need to get plenty of green growth before that date. I was saying how wonderful WS is to Eli & Kate in Scotland and she said it doesn’t work for her. Not sure why, except maybe they have temp swings surrounded by ocean? That would probably cause excessive freezing? Or maybe she just wants to justify using her unseated greenhouse? Not sure why it didn’t work over there. I do know that many start seeds too early inside-I’m not going to be as I don’t like up-potting at all. Plus I’ve read starting too early cuts production and strength of plants especially if they start flowering before setting in the garden. I’m really in the throws of what grow lights to get. I have Barrina LED 5s that are ok. What I’m looking for is a light that gives more blue spectrum for leaf growth. I found one article that went in depth with comparison and suggested either Mars or Spider Farmer. I don’t want to break the bank, but I want to grow lettuce as well. Does anyone know what light has more blue light for leaf growth without breaking the bank? The sellers don’t give much info, plus I want safe lights. I just seen a house fire on news and they had several racks of seedlings growing and I wonder if that was the cause as some reviews on the cords said they seem light weight. Then there is the shelving and space issue. Would love to have 4’, but I think too big. So I decide on a 2-3’ shelving and then I can’t find the light to fit. Those already made units are too pricey.
Great seeing you again. Are you going to have your rented community garden again this year? I have 10 perennial and hardy annual flowers seeds out in jugs as of last week. Lol. Felt good! Zone 6a. My winter garden is mostly mush. I do have some 3-4 inch hardy flower annuals in open containers that are covered and they are still kicking despite the Arctic freeze. Thanks!
Yea - more winter sowing wisdom from you! I also heard to put maybe a 1/2-inch of seed starting mix on top of the potting soil and put the seeds in that. Then when they develop roots, they grow down into the potting mix. What are your thoughts about this idea?
You said not to set things out too soon. I think we may be similar zones - I'm 6b and you said you're in Maryland? Anyway, what's the right time to put things out in "greenhouse" tubs and using gallon jugs? I'm doing poppies and milkweed and echinacea as far as flowers and then veggies lettuce, collards, and broccoli. Thanks!
I love your winter sowing videos, they are so informative. Do you ever winter sow perennials seeds. I have Hostas and have seeds from some that I want to try starting doing the winter sowing method. I live in zone 6b so I guess I should get started soon. I was wondering if you have tried perennial seed, how they worked out for you. Thank you for any information.
Hi, this is my second year and I love it! I’m in zone 5b. I want to know, is there such thing as too early. If I have solid freezing temperatures, can I do all my jugs in December or is that too early? Also is gardening soil ok to use instead of potting mix?
You could potentially start in December but it won't speed up when the seeds sprout (that will be determined by mother nature/temperatures) and your risk is lower if you wait a little longer. Garden soil isn't a great idea. It can be too heavy for seeds to emerge and also may not have the nutrients needed. Best of luck!
My winter sowing was a total bust last year and I know I was insufficient in my labeling and planning but also... things just didn't sprout and those that did died. I used a decent potting mix and the weather wasn't crazy (same zone as you) so I'm just a little cautious to try again. I've only really had success with container gardening so far, but the soil test said my yard soil should be okay...
I had a similar experience. The year before, I had more success but last year was a failure. I am wondering if I used seeds that were too old, also it is very hard to know how moist the soil is in a container. Any tips for that?
If the container is lighter than others or than usual, if there is little to no condensation on the inside of the container are 2 signs it doesn't have enough moisture.
I encourage you to try again. When it works it's such fun, plus you save a ton of money and the successful seedlings are very hardy. I had 85% success the first year and about 55% the second. Much was surely my error, but the weather was wonky too. I'm forging ahead this year and wish you luck!
You are in a warmer area and I think they dried out. Some areas I think the jugs should be moved to semi shaded location if it’s a hot spring. Z5a WI we had unbearable heat in the spring-90s! so much that it changed the colors of blooming trees and tulips. Our news anchor showed 2 pictures of his flowering crab-one Normal pink and this spring Totally white! Local nursery manager said it was the heat. The tulips I got from them were a muddy color and were suppose to be brilliant salmon. So, yes watch the moisture And the Heat as the jugs can get Hot and need to open and close as weather directs. It’s tuff to garden with our ever changing weather these days. Keep trying, WS is a great $ and time saver for me.
Esther, I've been using a quarter inch drill bit for drainage with my 12" tall and 5" wide jugs. Did I mess-up? Will my jugs dry out more? I'm 3/4 done preparing them. I'm also worried I won't be able to take the plants out of the same jugs when it's time to plant in garden. Mostly tomatoes and peppers. This is my first time. I don't think I helped matters by cutting the jugs 3/4 up from the bottom. Vicky
Found your question. Sounds like you are fine. You can always cut the jugs down the sides to access the seedlings if you are having trouble getting them out through the top when you go to transplant. Best of luck!
I have always done my winter sowing in early February. In Ohio. It sounds like you could plant even in April for things that don't need stratification, or warm weather plants, like zinnia or cosmos or melons, etc??
I'm watching all of your videos and am so excited to winter sow here in Oregon. QUESTION!! Can I winter sow directly into 6 packs placed in a tray if the tray is covered with a transparent dome (with holes)? Yes, I'm trying to skip a step 🤣. Thanks for your videos and for any assistance with my Q.
I've not personally tried it. I'm not sure that would give enough room for the seedlings to grow for starters...but you could try it as an experiment if you want. I definitely recommend trying and getting to know the usual way first (or at the same time) of using things like milk jugs which are a less risky option.
Thank you!! I'll do an experiment with something I have a ton of seeds of from last year's flowers. Probably delphinium. Again, thank you so so much for braving your own channel. I love hearing from a regular person learning her way through and sharing what she knows and learns. Feels like listening to a friend.
Hi Esther! I just love your videos and love you!!! You go into so much detail with everything! I started winter sowing last year and had great success with it! I even got to grow lavender from seed for the very first time after trying everything! It’s all because I watched all your winter sowing videos! I have a couple of questions. If the weather is still warm out, does it matter when you start to winter sow? I’m in zone 7A on Long Island, New York and it’s been in the 40s & 50s. Also, can I winter sow something and then grow it inside a greenhouse in my house or do I have to leave it outside? TIA 🌱😃
That's awesome that you were able to get lavendar to sprout using Winter Sowing. So when it comes to warmer temps, I think the nighttime temps are what you need to be watching mostly. As long as night temps are dropping low enough (not sure exactly how low but I'd assume 30s) then you shouldn't have seedlings sprouting prematurely although you may get some frost hardy ones sprouting, which should be fine as they can take temp fluctuations much better. As for using a greenhouse/house after sprouting, I'm not sure how well that would work. What I do know is that moving the plants to a warmer area will mean you'll have to harden them off to the outdoors again, which diminishes part of the value of winter sowing. Also, you'll need to water them more because they won't get rained on etc. So I think moving the seedlings to an indoor/warmer location would just create more work for you. Best of luck though!
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Thanks for the quick reply! That makes sense for the nighttime temperatures. The temps have been in the 30s at night. I’m hopefully going to start next week. Last year I started Feb 12 and thought I should’ve starting things a week or so earlier. As far as the greenhouse goes, I’ll probably have to experiment with that. It’s a learning process! Like you said, I probably have to get the seedlings use to the indoor temps before I permanently move them inside. I tried Tom Thumb peas inside and they grew a few inches, started to grow a pea and just died so I’m not sure what happened. That’s why I figured I’d try winter sowing them and bring them in. I want to be able to grow things inside for the fall and winter. So far I started a dwarf tomato, mini bell peppers and Swiss chard in the greenhouse. All are doing good but no tomatoes or peppers yet. Thanks for your advice and keep doing what you’re doing! You go into so much detail with everything and you put a smile on my face when I watch your videos! Gotta have fun in life! That’s my motto and you’re doing it! 😃🌱
Hi Esther, I live in Northern Ireland. I watched your winter sowing last year & had some success. Can you winter sowi zucchini & cucumber as they were 2 I had problems with sowing in pots?
Hey Esther! A question... Before I stumbled across your amazing videos and learned about winter sowing, I put my seed in a Mason jar and poped them in the freezer. There they have been sitting for about six weeks or so. Now that I want to do winter sowing, I wonder if I have ruined the seeds for that use. Help! What to do?
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Esther, can you recommend a source where I can learn more about this? I'd hate to lose a year's growing if it doesn't go my way...
Whatever source told you to freeze the seeds would be the best starting point I'd think. I've never heard of freezing seeds in a mason jar but I'm sure there's some kind of process or explanation for it that prompted you to do it. So long as the process of freezing results in viable seeds than you should be able to winter sow it. Good luck.
I basically and 0 success winter sowing last year. I don’t know if they didn’t receive enough moisture or maybe not enough sun. I’m not giving up though.⛄️❄️💚🙃
When the label fades or can not be read, i break out the plant identification app, snap a photo and it tells me in less than 3 seconds the genus of the plant.
Esther, it is so great to see you making Winter Sowing videos again! You were the person who nudged me into trying the process, and I will be doing it again for the third time around this winter, with great excitement. I made some notes for myself--based on some trial/error/success the first two rounds--that I hope will make my third WS season even more productive. Here is what I will do: 1) Do not put more than one kind of seed into a container--keep it very simple to identify what is growing in it. 2) Do not use a container smaller than one gallon for vegetables; smaller ones may work okay for flowers. 3) Make a specific plan for where each set of seedlings will be transplanted; last year I sacrificed way too many healthy seedlings because I was overwhelmed by the transplanting process. If it means that I WS fewer seeds, at least I will be a much better steward of my healthy green babies. I am in Zone 6B (central Kentucky). I hope to try some new varieties of flowers and vegetables this year. This past September, I visited my aunt in northern Virginia and collected seeds from many of her beautiful flowers. I will be developing a new flower bed area just to give those hoped-for legacy plants a proper home. I look forward to Gardening Adventures 2023 in company with, and encouraged by, you. Thanks for the all the time you invest in helping others succeed in growing lovely things!
These are great tips! I also love that you are getting more heirloom flowers! Best of luck to you this season!
Yes! Esther got me hooked on WS as well, Love it!
You are my Go-to Winter Sowing gal! great video as always. Thanks Esther!
Thank you!
I also write the seed company in the log.
Great idea!
Esther I am very impressed with your videos. I winter sowed last year for the first time and learned so much from you. I’m so excited to start again this year. Love you girl!
Awe thank you! Glad to hear you are trying it again this year!
Master class on winter sowing! Such useful wisdom. Making a journal of what you're planting and growing each season is helpful. It's fun to plant something entirely new each season. I found the best way to water my jugs when needed (rarely) is to fill a small tub with water and let the jugs sit in there for a few minutes. They'll absorb what they need and drip out any excess. My biggest effort this year will be to do winter sowing with deliberation. When I rush, I get a number of mystery seedlings. You can also rinse and dry your hands between jugs so you don't transfer tiny seeds from jug to jug. Terrific video!
Yeah rushing for me often leads to forgetting steps too like labeling. Best of luck this year!
Hi, Esther! I’m so glad you’re back. Thank you for the great tips. I always love watching your videos. 😊
Thank you Ann!
It is wonderful to see you again! I have missed watching your videos, and as usual, you have provided good and useful information! Thank you!
Thank you! I'm glad to get back into the swing of things again.
Great video, thank you.
Thank you!
I think I'm going to use clear packing tape over the garden marker pen. Great information! 👍 😊
Hi Esther, so glad you're back! I love watching your videos 😍. Thanks for all the tips.
Thank you!
Hey Esther it's so great to see you again I'm looking forward to seeing all the new videos that you're showing welcome back 😊😊😊
Thank you!
Hi Esther! I really enjoy watching your winter sowing videos. I live in Southern California which is zone 9. Growing indoors doesn't work for me, because of gnats. From this point on, I will be winter sowing all my veggie seeds. Mainly all tomatoes and peppers. I think winter sowing is the best way to start. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences and journey on winter sowing. 😊
You are most welcome! I hope you have great success!
Northern Michigan, zone 5/6: I’ve had great success using kitty litter containers, which allows me to plant 20-25 seeds per container. Sides are straight and tall.
That's fantastic! I'm glad to hear they have worked well for you!
Interesting. Are the kitty litter containers clear or opaque?
Want to thank you for doing WS as I learned from you last year!😊
What worked well was all brassicas, lavender, echinacea, poppies, snapdragon. I had failure on foxglove and delphinium and I read another blog someone else had delphinium problems. Maybe I didn’t watch them enough. The poppies 😂were so thick I just chunked them out and planted-sink or swim I told them and swim they did!! They were a gorgeous hot red orange that just shined. I believe they were annuals and by fall I see they reseeded and there were a mess of bright green plants under leaf trash and it was Cold out! So excited to see them for next year I hope.
I was very happy to be able to share my extra WS brassicas and inside pepper and tomatoes last year with a neighbor who cooked her starts in greenhouse. They were happy!
Definitely trying a few tomatoes, peppers and onions in WS as experiment to see if growth matters. If it works I won’t be doing any inside except winter lettuce to eat. Need to find the best grow light for lettuce 🥬 any ideas? Want more blue spectrum lighting.
Oh, WOW! I grow Butterfly Weed and last week I seen some AWFUL prices that I’m still in shock. One plant was $14.99$$!! They grow like weeds in my sand and neglect AND they have a tremendous amount of Seed in the fall that will be Perfect to WS!! I believe people struggle to grow them because they need stratifying and WS is perfect! I had dug them up and thought I moved them all and covered path with 6-8” of bark and I missed some and they came through 🥳. I gave several roots to SIL that would have cost her $50 at that price. She has given me so many plants with her recent move to a sunny yard-grateful indeed!
So if you want to save $$$ start your own plants as I think there is sticker shock coming. Start saving seed as well!! I seen some seed that was well over $1.00 EACH!!!!😮😮😮. I sold seeds as a kid and they were only $.10 a Pack! I heard from someone else they seen even higher. Did the seeds get the flu and gone the way of the eggs 🥚?
Thanks again Esther! Glad to hear from you!
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Thank you. I love your enthusiasm for winter sowing and gardening.
“You will not remember” - truer words were never spoken. 😂😂 Great tips! Thanks!!
Haha indeed. Thank you!
My son is going to build me a cold frame and thats where I'm going to f my winter sowing this year. Glad to see you back, Esther. I've missed your videos!
Nice. Thank you. I'm glad to be getting back into the swing of things!
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy your videos! After finding you, I tried winter sowing for the first time, last year. It is truly a game changer for me. My indoor set up has so much more space that I have been able to start crops I would never had room for otherwise. Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement.
Thank you so much! I'm so happy to hear how it has helped you! You are most welcome!
I use a piece of clear packing tape over the name I've written on the jug. It really helps keep it from fading away. I also put a marker inside.
That's a great tip. Thanks.
I start my perennials first as many of them need a cold stratification period, then cool flowers and greens, then warm season annuals, and finally tomatoes and peppers in april. I'm starting perennials next week. I'm in zone 5b-6a.
Sounds like you have a great process for making sure you don't leave any categories out. Best of luck!
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Yeah, that's how I organize them too ( I have 2 of those photo storage suit cases). Makes it easy to pull out the specific types to plant and just work my way through each of the separate containers over the winter. Hoping to cut back a little this year as last year I think I did about 150 jugs and was a little overwhelmed when they were ready to be planted. Although it is nice to always have something to plant🤔.
HI Esther, I love your videos, you are so passionate about gardening and I love it bc I am as well! I appreciate you so much bc all of my older family is gone on & I learn a lot of good information from you! Thanks so much & happy planting ❤️
Awe thank you! I'm glad we can share our garden passions together!
I so can relate to your comment. Most of my family is gone as well. Yes, Esther is wonderful even for the seasoned gardeners there is always something to learn.😊
Great video. I was introduced to Winter Sowing by master gardeners here in Chambersburg, PA 10 years ago, and I am so happy I did. It saves you so much money. The first time I put out the jugs I got so many weird looks from my nosy neighbors, it kept me laughing all Winter long. The best part was when I opened them in front of these neighbors and just watching their faces. The gossip mill had started that I was into some sort of drugs. They tend to be closed minded on everything, so I share this great idea with those willing to learn new things and not wallow in negative things. Anyway, great video.
Haha I'm glad you were able to surprise them with the success of Winter Sowing. I'm pretty convinced my neighbors also thought I was crazy when I started putting jugs out 3 years ago but now they ask to buy seedlings from me. Lol
Things I never would have thought of....big thx!
You are most welcome!
Thank you so much! This is my first time and I've loved your detailed practical advise.
You are so welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for sharing your winter sowing tips with us. I love experiments-even though I have to say many of these do not work. This year I’m trying to use cut toilet paper and paper towel cardboard tubes to contain the roots, and like every year I pre-sprout a set of seeds in coffee filters and transplant them into the winter sowing jugs. (I’m trying to save the sprouts from viability testing). Unfortunately I did lose some of these to hard frosts (I think that was it) even with blankets.
Yeah if you sprout seeds indoors they won't be able to handle being outdoors in Winter Sowing containers after that. I agree that that was probably the culprit. Best of luck this year.
Great to see you. Isn't it wonderful to be planning and planting for 2023?
Indeed it is!
Esther, Thank you so much for the 10 tips. I wrote them down in my journal. I am excited to start my winter sowing. I am in Oregon zone 8B so I will be sowing soon. I already have herbs in my herb garden from earlier this year that are still growing. I have planted potatoes this Fall in grow bags and can't wait til they sprout and start growing. I dug up 2 of my pepper plants and my eggplants and have them over-wintering in my dining room. I will plant those back in my garden this Spring. God Bless and Happy New Year!
You are most welcome. That's awesome you are overwintering peppers and eggplants too. Best of luck!
Hello fellow Oregonian gardener! I'm so glad to have found Esther, too!
This is so great! Your videos were such an encouragement last year when I wanted to start but the facebook groups and other places became too legalistic and confusing. You are very real and down to earth! Thank you! I had mixed experience last year but you have encouraged me to try again! I definitely started using a garden journal last year and that has helped though a bit irregular (I had baby 7 last summer too) and so true about labeling.
Thank you Heather, I'm glad you found my videos helpful. Best of luck this coming season!
Because of the succes last year with wintersowing I decided to dubbel the amount of flowers and herbs. When I sowed this within a week we had a really deep frost but there were no seedlings so I hope there is no damage. I can’t wait to see the little greens! Thanks for the tips especially for labeling, I only wrote the name on the outside. That was not working and every container was a surprise. A good thing I wrote down what I sowed but I had waited a long time to see in which container it was 😅 13:31
Yes the jugs should be fine during a freeze if the seeds hadn't sprouted.
New subscriber here, thank you Esther I'm trying winter sowing this year and your information is very helpful!
Yay! I'm glad to hear you are going to try it and thanks for subscribing! Welcome to the channel!
Thanks to your videos, last spring I tried winter sowing for the first time. My flowers where beautiful all summer! But this year I may have started my seeds to soon, ( also live in Maryland 7a). I started Purpletop vervain last week in jugs, hope it's okay since the seeds need cold stratification.. Finger cross anyway!
Yes you should be fine. Starting native perrenials that need cold stratification earlier is just fine.
Thanks for the informative and time efficient video!🌸
You are most welcome!
Thanks for all the great tips! I’ll surely be following you along this upcoming season. This will be my second attempt at WS. “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again 😊.”
Wonderful, I'm glad you are giving the process a second try. I hope you have great success this time!
What would you do different the second time around? What failed?
Good to see you Esther, looking forward to spring and your upcoming videos, I started
Watching you last year and had good luck doing the winter sowing method, wishing
You A Happy New Year.
Thank you Karen!
We have been watching you site. Thank you so much!!!
Thank you!
Thanks for another great lesson, or set of lessons. You look good! New glasses? Like them!
You are most welcome.
Thank you so much about the advice regarding zones. I am in zone 8 and I was planning to do my winter sowing this weekend. All new to me. I have watch all those videos and thank you for not going over the whole how to do it. All the advice is awesome!
Awesome. Best of luck to you!
I love your videos, thank you!
Awe thank you!
So good to see you again. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a great New Year! Look forward to seeing what all you are planting this year. All the best. Peace and Good Fortune and Good Health to you and your family.
Thank you!
Hello Esther! I will be trying winter sewing again this year. I have spotty success doing this but know if I keep trying and experimenting with different areas of placement I will be more successful at it. Thanks for the tips! Seedy Hollow
Thank you Karen! I wish you the best of luck and thanks again for the package you just sent!
Hi Esther, I just love your inspiring videos and great tips. You make gardening exciting. I too am on my second year of following you and agree about the winter sowing and failure to check on the jugs. Last winter I did end up covering the jugs a few times. So far this winter seems to be mild but we still have a few months ahead of us that could change things. I always look forward to seeing you shine about a subject that lights you up. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your mistakes!
Thank you Susan!
Great to see you enthusiastic!
Thank you! I'm glad to be back at making videos.
Esther: What brand/type of potting soil do you recommend for winter sowing? Everyone seems to use something different, including cheap dollar store-type soils up to very expensive 'organic' brands. A few people even use plain sand, with no soil. Just curious about your soil recommendations.
The ten tips: when to start your winter sowing depends upon your gardening zone; plant one seed per hole; give your seedlings enough space to grow; the older the seeds the more seeds you should plant; don’t plant seeds near the milk jug handle; be sure to label your plants; double label your plants, one label on the inside and one label on the outside; keep a garden journal or a garden log; use potting mix not potting soil; prepare your garden bed before you transplant; transplant your plants when your plants are 2 to 3 inches tall and after your frost free date; be sure to check your plants for moisture; check outside temperatures to protect plants; have fun gardening.
You have one of those incorrect. Use potting mix/soil NOT seed starting mix. Potting soil and potting mix are basically the same thing while seed starting mix is different
Thank you for sharing this information with us 🙂
You are most welcome!
Esther, You are the Queen in Winter Sowing! I had success in last year's winter sowing. I keep my notes from last year's video "Winter Sowing 101". Thank you much for sharing your knowledge, experience & journey in winter sowing. God Bless you & Happy New Year!
Thank you! I was named after Queen Esther so I'll take the title although I have learned from some better experienced Winter Sowers who still know much more than me. So I'm a queen in training perhaps lol.
Sorry I’m commenting so much, but I’ve got cabin fever and just have to tell my winter experience about the wildlife here that I have to barricade Everything! I was closing my shades for the night and our auto light came on- There it was! The Rabbit of many! He was sitting outside the fenced flower garden. I didn’t finish Tightening a scrap of fencing and it was fairly loose. He heard me say don’t you dare as he was looking right at me And ‘PoP’ he went between the gap!! Ugh!! So here I am out in my PJs to chase a rabbit and repair fencing. We are in the country with all kinds of open and wooded land and they see us as the oasis salad bar in the desert! We have soooo many deer and rabbit trails in the snow it’s Crazy.
So when I garden it’s not just the expense of seeds, etc. It’s the 7’ fencing I have to install each time I enlarge the garden areas or I won’t have ANYTHING. It’s awful that I have to view all the plants through fencing and it looks like a prison camp, but soon I feel I will have enough fence to enclose the whole acreage and they will still probably find a way in. The deer ate all my day lilies this year and never got to see them bloom and a rabbit made a den under a new one. Grrr!
Last night we had a surprise visit first time ever of Owls, neighbor said they were snowy owls! So excited!! I grew up with whippoorwills and hoot owls. These were chatty and sounded different and I’m sure they were the snowy owls-So cool! They are increasing in population and come down from CN. Looking for bunnies I’m sure 😊
Thanks for the chat. Cabin fever is going to plant some lettuce now and try and find the best blue spectrum grow light. At least the wildlife won’t get that inside.😅
Wow. Sounds like you have some determined wildlife in your area! I hear you on the cabin fever. Spring can't come soon enough.
Great tips Esther! I followed all your ideas and had such great success last year! I’m looking forward to hearing about your experiments 😁
Wonderful thank you! I'm glad you had such great success last year!
71 anos found your winter seeding piece. Going to try sounds like way less work than indoor. Subscribed. Looking forward to learning more from you. Thanks very much
Thank you. Welcome to my channel!
Just ordered a bunch of seeds today and will be stocking up on soil! Thanks for the heads up about the type of soil to use, I think that was my mistake last year when I used seed starting mix.
Glad I could help. Best of luck!
Yes, I too used seed starter and a coconut coir Fail. Potting soil from now on!
I really appreciate your videos and am gathering jugs to do winter sowing this year.. Do you know of a list of plants that are best for this sowing method?
Anything that can be grown from seed can be grown via winter sowing potentially with exception to tropical plants.
👍 Great video ✌️
Thanks 👍
Great video! Label MANY times and take your time when prepping winter sowing jugs! Last year I ended up with a number of mystery seeds that were NOT what the label said. I also had a bumper crop of habanero peppers, although I did not plant a single habanero seed. I believe that one was due to a mislabeling of the pepper seed packet. Esther is right, you won't remember which is which. Big plug for including more herbs and flowers in your winter sowing. They are great for attracting pollinators and spicing up your meals. Also, they're beautiful.
Thank you!
Great to see you again...wonderful tips. Thanks
Thank you!
Hi Esther, I hope you see this (4/2/23) and can tell me how your winter sowing went this year. I bought the Happy Frog potting soil (not the Ocean kind) and used that this year. Everything is going SUPER slowly. I'm wondering if that pricey soil has herbicide or something. I'm in Arlington, VA, but this year WS is turning out to be a dud. None of the lush beauties of the past two years. Did you have any of these problems this year? Any advice? Thanks.
Hmm I'm sorry to hear that. I used ocean forest this year and haven't had any problems. Fingers crossed for you.
Esther, great video, very informative for the beginner Winter Sower. I normally start my WS at the end of January or first part of April for my spring/summer garden. I’m in Southern California Z10B. The reason I start so late is I garden year around and my fall/winter crops are still in the ground until later in the spring.
That makes sense. Thank you!
Thank you for the reminders 🌱
You are most welcome!
Yeah! I can’t wait! Just wish I could do onions, peppers and tomatoes.
You can! I'm sure you'll have great success.
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures I will try some in a test. The problem arises for colder zones. Seeds have a set time for maturity and we have an estimated 135 day growing season. Onions start bulbing June 20th and need to get plenty of green growth before that date. I was saying how wonderful WS is to Eli & Kate in Scotland and she said it doesn’t work for her. Not sure why, except maybe they have temp swings surrounded by ocean? That would probably cause excessive freezing? Or maybe she just wants to justify using her unseated greenhouse? Not sure why it didn’t work over there.
I do know that many start seeds too early inside-I’m not going to be as I don’t like up-potting at all. Plus I’ve read starting too early cuts production and strength of plants especially if they start flowering before setting in the garden.
I’m really in the throws of what grow lights to get. I have Barrina LED 5s that are ok. What I’m looking for is a light that gives more blue spectrum for leaf growth. I found one article that went in depth with comparison and suggested either Mars or Spider Farmer. I don’t want to break the bank, but I want to grow lettuce as well.
Does anyone know what light has more blue light for leaf growth without breaking the bank?
The sellers don’t give much info, plus I want safe lights. I just seen a house fire on news and they had several racks of seedlings growing and I wonder if that was the cause as some reviews on the cords said they seem light weight. Then there is the shelving and space issue. Would love to have 4’, but I think too big. So I decide on a 2-3’ shelving and then I can’t find the light to fit. Those already made units are too pricey.
Yay!!! Winter sowing time 😉 Happy New Year Esther 😁
Haha indeed. Happy (belated) new year Lorraine!
Great seeing you again. Are you going to have your rented community garden again this year? I have 10 perennial and hardy annual flowers seeds out in jugs as of last week. Lol. Felt good! Zone 6a. My winter garden is mostly mush. I do have some 3-4 inch hardy flower annuals in open containers that are covered and they are still kicking despite the Arctic freeze. Thanks!
Thank you. Yes I'm planning on renting the same plot again. I've put a few out too. The temptation is strong
I use wires of many colors, make a number of knots on them, and tie them to the handle. And write down what is what.
That sounds like a good system. Best of luck!
Yea - more winter sowing wisdom from you! I also heard to put maybe a 1/2-inch of seed starting mix on top of the potting soil and put the seeds in that. Then when they develop roots, they grow down into the potting mix. What are your thoughts about this idea?
I imagine that could work although it seems like an extra step that isn't needed. The potting mix should be fine for growing the seeds in by itself.
Great information - thanks Esther!
You are most welcome!
You said not to set things out too soon. I think we may be similar zones - I'm 6b and you said you're in Maryland? Anyway, what's the right time to put things out in "greenhouse" tubs and using gallon jugs? I'm doing poppies and milkweed and echinacea as far as flowers and then veggies lettuce, collards, and broccoli. Thanks!
Glad to help. You are fine to start in February for all of those. Just make sure to cover any sprouted jugs on freezing nights.
I love your winter sowing videos, they are so informative. Do you ever winter sow perennials seeds. I have Hostas and have seeds from some that I want to try starting doing the winter sowing method. I live in zone 6b so I guess I should get started soon. I was wondering if you have tried perennial seed, how they worked out for you. Thank you for any information.
Yes I grow perrenials using Winter sowing just fine. I haven't tried hostas though. Best of luck!
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Thank you!
Hi, this is my second year and I love it! I’m in zone 5b. I want to know, is there such thing as too early. If I have solid freezing temperatures, can I do all my jugs in December or is that too early? Also is gardening soil ok to use instead of potting mix?
You could potentially start in December but it won't speed up when the seeds sprout (that will be determined by mother nature/temperatures) and your risk is lower if you wait a little longer.
Garden soil isn't a great idea. It can be too heavy for seeds to emerge and also may not have the nutrients needed.
Best of luck!
My winter sowing was a total bust last year and I know I was insufficient in my labeling and planning but also... things just didn't sprout and those that did died. I used a decent potting mix and the weather wasn't crazy (same zone as you) so I'm just a little cautious to try again. I've only really had success with container gardening so far, but the soil test said my yard soil should be okay...
I'm sorry to hear that. Make sure you have good drainage and the soil stays moist.
I had a similar experience. The year before, I had more success but last year was a failure. I am wondering if I used seeds that were too old, also it is very hard to know how moist the soil is in a container. Any tips for that?
If the container is lighter than others or than usual, if there is little to no condensation on the inside of the container are 2 signs it doesn't have enough moisture.
I encourage you to try again. When it works it's such fun, plus you save a ton of money and the successful seedlings are very hardy. I had 85% success the first year and about 55% the second. Much was surely my error, but the weather was wonky too. I'm forging ahead this year and wish you luck!
You are in a warmer area and I think they dried out. Some areas I think the jugs should be moved to semi shaded location if it’s a hot spring. Z5a WI we had unbearable heat in the spring-90s! so much that it changed the colors of blooming trees and tulips. Our news anchor showed 2 pictures of his flowering crab-one Normal pink and this spring Totally white! Local nursery manager said it was the heat. The tulips I got from them were a muddy color and were suppose to be brilliant salmon.
So, yes watch the moisture And the Heat as the jugs can get Hot and need to open and close as weather directs.
It’s tuff to garden with our ever changing weather these days. Keep trying, WS is a great $ and time saver for me.
Esther, I've been using a quarter inch drill bit for drainage with my 12" tall and 5" wide jugs. Did I mess-up? Will my jugs dry out more? I'm 3/4 done preparing them. I'm also worried I won't be able to take the plants out of the same jugs when it's time to plant in garden. Mostly tomatoes and peppers. This is my first time. I don't think I helped matters by cutting the jugs 3/4 up from the bottom. Vicky
Found your question. Sounds like you are fine. You can always cut the jugs down the sides to access the seedlings if you are having trouble getting them out through the top when you go to transplant. Best of luck!
Esther, thanks. Vicky
I have always done my winter sowing in early February. In Ohio. It sounds like you could plant even in April for things that don't need stratification, or warm weather plants, like zinnia or cosmos or melons, etc??
Yes I think that's right.
I winter sowed a few things with seed starting mix…oops! Do you think I can just put some fertilizer in there and they will survive?
Yes that might work. Make sure you use extra Dilluted liquid organic fertilizer or it could burn the seedlings
Would you say a 1/8 drill bit is large enough for winter sowing drainage holes?
i'm not sure of what exact size bit works best but as long as it can drain with the holes you create, it should be fine.
I'm watching all of your videos and am so excited to winter sow here in Oregon.
QUESTION!! Can I winter sow directly into 6 packs placed in a tray if the tray is covered with a transparent dome (with holes)? Yes, I'm trying to skip a step 🤣.
Thanks for your videos and for any assistance with my Q.
I've not personally tried it. I'm not sure that would give enough room for the seedlings to grow for starters...but you could try it as an experiment if you want. I definitely recommend trying and getting to know the usual way first (or at the same time) of using things like milk jugs which are a less risky option.
Thank you!! I'll do an experiment with something I have a ton of seeds of from last year's flowers. Probably delphinium. Again, thank you so so much for braving your own channel. I love hearing from a regular person learning her way through and sharing what she knows and learns. Feels like listening to a friend.
Thank you. That's nice to hear. And good luck!
Hi Esther! I just love your videos and love you!!! You go into so much detail with everything! I started winter sowing last year and had great success with it! I even got to grow lavender from seed for the very first time after trying everything! It’s all because I watched all your winter sowing videos! I have a couple of questions. If the weather is still warm out, does it matter when you start to winter sow? I’m in zone 7A on Long Island, New York and it’s been in the 40s & 50s. Also, can I winter sow something and then grow it inside a greenhouse in my house or do I have to leave it outside? TIA 🌱😃
That's awesome that you were able to get lavendar to sprout using Winter Sowing. So when it comes to warmer temps, I think the nighttime temps are what you need to be watching mostly. As long as night temps are dropping low enough (not sure exactly how low but I'd assume 30s) then you shouldn't have seedlings sprouting prematurely although you may get some frost hardy ones sprouting, which should be fine as they can take temp fluctuations much better.
As for using a greenhouse/house after sprouting, I'm not sure how well that would work. What I do know is that moving the plants to a warmer area will mean you'll have to harden them off to the outdoors again, which diminishes part of the value of winter sowing. Also, you'll need to water them more because they won't get rained on etc. So I think moving the seedlings to an indoor/warmer location would just create more work for you. Best of luck though!
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Thanks for the quick reply! That makes sense for the nighttime temperatures. The temps have been in the 30s at night. I’m hopefully going to start next week. Last year I started Feb 12 and thought I should’ve starting things a week or so earlier. As far as the greenhouse goes, I’ll probably have to experiment with that. It’s a learning process! Like you said, I probably have to get the seedlings use to the indoor temps before I permanently move them inside. I tried Tom Thumb peas inside and they grew a few inches, started to grow a pea and just died so I’m not sure what happened. That’s why I figured I’d try winter sowing them and bring them in. I want to be able to grow things inside for the fall and winter. So far I started a dwarf tomato, mini bell peppers and Swiss chard in the greenhouse. All are doing good but no tomatoes or peppers yet. Thanks for your advice and keep doing what you’re doing! You go into so much detail with everything and you put a smile on my face when I watch your videos! Gotta have fun in life! That’s my motto and you’re doing it! 😃🌱
I’m in zone 7 b and start winter sowing in January, unless it’s a seed that requires 60 days cold stratification and then I start it in December.
You are so close to zone 8, I can see how that makes sense. Best of luck!
Thanks for the tips. trust me,,,, lol
Glad you found them helpful!
Hi Esther, I live in Northern Ireland. I watched your winter sowing last year & had some success. Can you winter sowi zucchini & cucumber as they were 2 I had problems with sowing in pots?
Yes you absolutely can winter sow zucchini and cucumber. Best of luck!
Hey Esther! A question... Before I stumbled across your amazing videos and learned about winter sowing, I put my seed in a Mason jar and poped them in the freezer. There they have been sitting for about six weeks or so. Now that I want to do winter sowing, I wonder if I have ruined the seeds for that use. Help! What to do?
Umm I'm not sure but I think they should be ok....as long as the seeds are still viable it should be fine
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures Esther, can you recommend a source where I can learn more about this? I'd hate to lose a year's growing if it doesn't go my way...
Whatever source told you to freeze the seeds would be the best starting point I'd think. I've never heard of freezing seeds in a mason jar but I'm sure there's some kind of process or explanation for it that prompted you to do it. So long as the process of freezing results in viable seeds than you should be able to winter sow it. Good luck.
I basically and 0 success winter sowing last year. I don’t know if they didn’t receive enough moisture or maybe not enough sun. I’m not giving up though.⛄️❄️💚🙃
I'm sorry to hear that. Best of luck this year!
I am in Zone 4. Is it reasonable to winter sow tomatoes?
Yes absolutely!
Is that a Costco journal? I think we're garden journal pals 😂
Haha. I think it is.
Ester, when is your last frost date?
Google says mid April. I tend to wait until May though as we usually get a freak frost before mothers day
When the label fades or can not be read, i break out the plant identification app, snap a photo and it tells me in less than 3 seconds the genus of the plant.
Yes that can be quite helpful!
How do I find my winter sowing window? I’ve watched winter sowing 101 but still not sure.
Find out what zone you are in based on your zip code. Zones 1-7 are Feb-Mid April. Zones 8-10 are Dec-early March.
@@EsthersGardeningAdventures okay so just anytime after January? Or is it more to what your seeds require. I’m a zone 6a.
@@adaliblthe9653 you don't have to do them in any particular order. Mother nature will tell the seeds when to sprout
New subscriber here, thank you Esther I'm trying winter sowing this year and your information is very helpful!
Thank you!