Last winter I purchased a bunch of clear (almost clear) shoebox containers from the Dollar Tree store. (Didn't need the tops, so I put them aside.) I paired the containers using one for the bottom and inverted the other one to serve as a cover. This gives me a total of about 8 inches of growing space. Next, using my wood burning tool, i poked about 8 drainage holes in both "boxes" and 2 holes on one of the long-side rims of each. I secured the top and bottom together through the 2 rim holes using plastic zip-ties to serve as a hinge, so I can open and close the container if I need to. I filled the bottom half with 3 inches of potting soil, sowed my seeds, watered them in lightly, sprinkled a thin layer of vermiculite over them (to hopefully ward off fungal growth). Then I secured the top and bottom closed with a large clip (keeps them from blowing open in heavy winds, and keeps any little varmints from getting in). Because of the large clip and the hinged backside, I can open each container periodically to check for growth and give them extra moisture if needed. This set-up worked really well for me. Hope someone finds it helpful. 💚😊💚
Just came across you on RUclips as you appeared in my feed. and I am so grateful. Have been searching for fellow north Texas growers since our climate has its own variables. I came from the northeast originally, and what I knew about gardening doesn't work here. So excited to watch all your videos. Liked and subscribed. Thanks for all you do.
Probably the best overview of the method I’ve run across…thank you! It helps that I’m in Texas too, though the Hill Country tends to be a bit warmer and drier than your area. I’ve tried this once and had pretty good success, so am getting ready to use this for perennial flowers, and then I’ll have more inside room for my spring/summer veggies. It IS fun, especially when you’re missing the garden.
Thank you so much for the kind words... So glad to have another Texan find the channel! And, yes, absolutely…such a great way to make more room under the grow lights! Hope you have an incredible 2025 garden! ☺️💚🌱
In south Texas. I usually start Tomatoes in January under grow lights. I am thinking about doing this method instead. Thank you for the great information!
This is the most thorough treatise on winter sowing I have ever seen. I am a Colorado Master Gardener and will be recommending this video to my students. Thank you.
Truly one of the most comprehensive videos on winter sowing I've come across. You've managed to put so much of the scattered information into one complete format...very helpful. You, yourself are so easy to listen to; and you weren't overly repetitive either. Loved it! Looking forward to viewing Part 2. 💚😊💚
What a great video! I have never heard of winter sowing. Thanks, you for sharing all your information. I have only been starting plants from seeds for about 2-3 years and I am excited to keep learning. I am especially excited to try winter sowing Lavendar. I have been VERY unsuccessful with growing this from seed and the plants are so expensive. Although Lavendar is a perennial, I have not had any make it through a Michigan winter.
@@kathiejones2920 thanks so much for for the kind words and for watching! Lavender has worked very well for me Winter sown, though it’s a bit slow growing. It’s a great one! You might try the Vera variety with your cold. It is supposed to survive down to -20F. And plants really are stronger winter sown as well! I hope it works out super well for you! 💚🌱🪻
Love your humble (and very thorough!!!) approach, giving credit to the creator of this method! I also love your gardening assistant, making his appearance 😅I look forward to your future videos 😊!
Although I don't winter sow every year, I do watch videos on it every year, just to see if there's any new and exciting info being put out. Honestly, with some of the other videos I've seen, I get bored and don't even watch to the end - same old, same old. Not your video, however. It was the most thorough and informative video on this topic that I've seen yet. Your delivery of this information was calming as well. You are not acting as a character, loud and bouncing around, just real and to the point. You actually got me fired up to winter sow this year. Thank you for such a great video. I am seeing you for the first time and have subscribed. 💚
You covered everything I need to know about winter sowing. I thought I would be excited about the garden in the spring, but I can do this now. Going to try!😊 Thank you for sharing Trudy’s information!
I have winter sowed for the last 4 years and all your advice is on target. This year I'm adding Joe Pye Weed and Cardinal Flowers to my winter sowing since I have never grown those before. It truly is SO much easier than starting plants indoors under grow lights - I don't know why everyone doesn't do it. :)
Wood chips sifted after they bread down for a year or so really helps the black gold soil too. It's creates a fluffy wood humus that doesn't rob nutrients like sawdust does.
I'm guessing we still plant everything to the depth recommended on the seed packets? Great, comprehensive videos. I've watched them twice, since I kept stopping to take notes. Excellent presentation. Keep up the great work!
I'm in North Texas as well, far west DFW. Really found your videos super helpful! I'll definitely watch it again and make some notes because I have so many seed packs that I think this will be perfect to give me a jump start on. My seedlings never do well when I wait till spring, so I'm hopeful 2025 will bring much improvement thanks to your video.
I've been growing from seeds for almost 50 years. Have read so much info, yet this is new to me. Thank you so much for your thorough presentation. Cant wait to try this method , San Diego, CA
So glad to learn about the originator! I’ve never heard her mentioned before. I haven’t had the best success with winter sowing but I’ll keep trying… Hi Luke 😺
Thank you for mentioning the difference between winter hardiness and growing season. I see too many people attributing their "zone" to their frost free dates.
Love your sweater! The cat was a wonderful addition to the video. I have carrots and green onions started all ready. Going to start peas, kale, lettuce and herbs next week. I have to plant everything in containers because I found out that my entire property is contaminated with heavy metals and Carcinogenic chemicals that they government ignored. Highest cancer rates in the country. NEVER buy property in a blue run city. High crime and high pollution high taxes and super high insurance rates, and the government works against the citizens at every opportunity.😮😢
@@tommielourogers4327 wow! That is amazing that you are finding a way to grow your own food despite the challenge of contaminated soil. I wish you a very productive 2025 garden! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
I've listened to this twice now. Thank you! Making my notes and getting it done this week. Refrigerator stratification and my work schedule did not do well together last year. A friend suggested winter sowing for me here in Southwest Arkansas for all the medicinal perennials. Would love to not lose so many to the depths of damp napkins and ziploc baggies. 🤦♀️😂🤘
That’s awesome! I hope it is successful for you and wish you all the green things this year! 💚💚🌱🌱 And I am with you on the ziploc bags/paper towels in the fridge…that is my least favorite method of starting seeds. 😂
I like Trudy’s hunk of seeds technique. 😊 Super cute sign off and the snuggle with your buddy. You’ve motivated me to attempt winter sowing again. I had one okay year and one rotten one.
I would like to sow Summer Jewel Salvia (Central Texas 8b). The seeds are quite small, and they are to be kept warm at 70°F. A heating pad can speed up germination. My guess is the Salvia would be difficult to winter sow. I can germinate them indoors, but then I run into the issue of providing enough light for the seedlings. But don't think I can then put them outside in a covered/domed container to complete the growing.
Zone 7b/8a N MS. I've wintersown for the past 4 or 5 years and can't wait to start a new batch next week! I mostly stick to the cold hardy annuals. I have had success with strawflowers, clary sage, statice, calendula, dianthus (Sweet Williams, cottage pinks, Chaubaud), foxgloves, larkspur, nigella, bachelor's buttons, rudbeckia, scabiosa, snapdragons, craspedia, paper daisies, Erigeron, globe thistle, campanula, yarrow, Mexican Hat, sweet alyssum, strawberries. Yes, it's an addiction! Last year I planted 2 varieties of strawflowers in one container, and one variety was killed back during a week long cold spell where the temps dipped into single digits for 3 successive nights, but the other in the same container was fine. I had great luck with nasturtium two years ago, but last year's batch (a different variety) was a complete fail--zero germination. I think I love the process almost as much as the harvest. It is so much fun to walk out and see what has germinated that day! I love your sweater. My husband commented as he walked through, "Nice sweater."
@@mkitchens8163 love it! I think more people should plant the cold hardy annual flowers…it’s so much fun! On your strawflowers - do you remember which ones they were? I am curious, because I have heard that before that some are more cold tolerant than others… weird about the nasturtium! I had a lower germ rate on the Peach Melba last year, and not sure why…you’re making me want to go dig through my seeds some more! 😂 Thank you for the kind words and thank you for watching! Happy growing this upcoming year!! 💚🌱
Subscribed! I live in North East Texas ,as well! First, I want your sweater! Second, now I have ,in my area, I can follow. I know about winter sowing and have done it. Thank you for sharing!
Just learned about winter sowing late last winter, and I am excited to try it out. I have a dozen native wildflowers that should germinate well with this method, and it will free up grow lights for lisianthus and ornamental oregano, among other things. Your video is full of great tips and ideas - thanks!
Just found your channel and subscribed. Your video was so thorough and I'll be using it as a refresher for this year. I tried winter sowing vegetables for the 1st time last winter (NE Wisconsin z.5a). It was wildly successful. I did have some losses due to gardener error, lol. My biggest problem was an over-abundance of seedlings and not enough space to plant them all. Also, finding the time to plant them all. Getting ready to start sowing soon. Have been collecting containers all year long!
What a lovely video thank you! I’m in the Netherlands and reluctant to try winter sowing. But I think with the very clear directions from your video , I think I might give it a go! Happy holidays 🌲🌲🎄🎄
This is the best video I’ve come across on this topic!! I’ve literally watched it on repeat all day today. Thank you for the well explained information, especially for newbie gardeners like me! 😄
Yes i will do this again this year! Last year i was so busy that most of my plants got started too late. I had all sorts of tomato varieties i never got to try. I had tried winter sowing 3 years ago and i had a very successful gardening year so going to try it again!! Thank you fir the reminders on how it’s done 😊
Wow! You did a great job covering wintering sowing. I’m in N Texas too so I was excited to hear your advice and tips. I’m looking forward to Part 2! Happy Holidays!
Thankyou for putting me onto Swallowtail seeds. Just put an order in. Because of our postal strike here in Canada, it's going to take a bit longer to get. Too bad cause I wanted to start the perennial ones earlier to get bigger plants when planting out. Hey, but not a big deal. I am glad to watch where you guys can get started earlier....encouraging and motivating. Happy New Year!
Thank you for sharing this video. This will be my first year to try winter sowing. I'm hopeful to see how it will work out. I'm in Maine, zone 5b. I just became your newest subscriber! Can't wait to see part 2 of your winter sowing guide.
@@birgitnorton6709 I hope it works out super well for you! So glad you found the channel! Welcome!🤗 Part 2 is posted and linked in the description of Part 1. Wishing you a very green 2025! 💚🌱
So excited about this! I just moved to a homestead in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. I have seeds and transparent containers, ready to winter sow!
You have it in a greenhouse. I've found leaving the totes outside all winter deteriorates them quickly. I bought several types of clear ones a couple years and half have cracked because of the weather.
@@catfunksfabulousfinds97045 sorry, it’s misleading…I don’t keep the containers in the greenhouse. I just filmed there. They stay outside all winter. I have noticed the same issue with the plastic containers deteriorating. Storing them diligently in a dark location when they are not in use has helped a great deal. I am also trying a clear UV protective spray paint this year to see if it delays the degradation. Hope that helps. Thank you for watching! 💚🌱
@@Elijah12459 I can put one together and link it! Typically it’s just starting with perennials/biennials first in December/January(this way they get cold stratification), cool hardy flower and vegetables in January/February and tender annuals can wait until 4-6 weeks before estimated last frost. But with winter sowing, the timeline is not as pressing, save for the ones that need cold stratification. 🙂
I’m so excited that this video popped on my watch list! I am in Texas Hill Country and have wanted to try the winter sowing method but didn’t know how to go about it. Thanks to you now I do! I’m definitely going to watch part two.
So glad your video came up in my feed. I'm in San Antone, and will try this for lavender, coneflower, agastache (love the licorice/anise flavored tea), and catmint. I do have a long growing season here, but found that some of these are hard to germinate when planted inground outdoors. I will try this method. Thank you! I just subscribed...love Luke! ❤😻❤🤠❤
Love it! Winter sowing has worked well for me for all of those seeds! I love agastache for tea too! Hope your 2025 TX garden is super successful. Welcome and thanks so much for watching! 💚🌱🐈
My most succesful plants and veg have been those I started with this winter sowing. I use large water bottles, some I have used indoors also but for winter sowing I leave them outside Also containers were mushrooms or strawberries are sold( two put together and with tape around) One thing I got wrong was the label should have gone inside the bottle, I only wrotw on the outside but it rubbed off so I had to do some guessing😂
I'm new at seed starting I started last year with my first year after I lost my best friend of 35 years it was two years December 2nd her and I was going to winter so and start growing our flowers from seeds so growing flowers in my house I've done a couple Mistakes by following people my name is Joanne Sawyer Circleville Ohio Zone 6B I Will Follow You Now for winter sowing
Hi Joanna, I’m so sorry for your loss of your best friend. I hope 2025 is full of flowers and joy and I hope winter sowing works out well for you this time! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
Very good tutorial, thank you for sharing it. Question: After the seeds are planted in a container, is it necessary to keep that container outdoors or can the container be stored inside an unheated garage or barn for the winter? My thought is that until the seeds germinate and need sunlight there's really no need for them to be outdoors. As long as the soil stays damp and cold then the stratification requirements should be met. Once the seeds begin to germinate they can then be moved outdoors to get sunlight and moisture. Does this sound correct? Thank you.
Sure! That should work out just fine. I would just check the moisture levels now and then. And depending on your last frost date, I’d make sure they are outside as it gets closer and as the days get longer right before spring. Happy growing and thanks for watching! 💚🌱
I have a couple of different approaches depending on how crowded plants are or how tangled the roots are. If they have some space between them and root systems are still easy to separate, I will use a fork or just my forefinger and thumb to gently pull a plant out, pinching as much of the root system as possible. If roots are super crowded and tangly, you will have to take all of the soil and plants out at once (I turn the container on its side and upside down and shimmy it out. You can cut into hunks of seedlings by breaking into brownie size squares (that’s Trudi’s favorite method) or if you want to separate plant roots and plant baby plants individually, I recommend putting them in a shallow tub of 3”-4” of water and shaking soil out in the water and teasing apart plants with roots underwater. I have found the water makes it so much easier to separate tangled roots. Hope that helps! 🙂💚🌱
Absolutely! There are so many options of great perennials and annuals you can start via winter sowing. Your seed selection will depend on your hardiness zone, location, and goals, but WS is an excellent way to grow hardy plants for a beautiful cottage garden. 💚🌱
I live in Massachusetts zone: 6a and today I want to try for the first time this method (since I only started gardening in 2022 and I totally fell in love with it) but after spending hundreds of $ in nurseries 😁 (obviously, worth every penny 😁) I ordered native seeds and I have already in November, sowed some on the ground. I had no idea about winter sowing like that! Thanks to yt for suggesting videos so I found out! Can I use compost that I have here (bumper crop) is the brand instead of going and buying potting mix? Please help🙏🏽 Thanks for this video.
@@K414nn4love that you have fallen in love with gardening - it is truly the best! I have never used straight compost, but have used it to “stretch” potting mix before when I was running low. I might try mixing it with coco coir or perlite to make sure it is light enough for the seedlings to get air to their roots and grow. Also, here is an answer I found from Trudi on using compost in general…hope it helps! 💚🌱 “I am leaning on towards it might be too rich, not for germination, but may foster faster growth that weather would normally control and that weak growth could die off. However, I think mixing it with ground in a draining bucket, dowsing it with a kettle boiling water to kill seeds and bacteria or virus; then you can use it. Compost is a great additive to soils, you can also put it down now and dig in to the beds you plan for your WS seedlings. You can use it mixed in with some soil but otherwise it's great for the ground where you will put your transplants.”
@@JoyfulfarmerThank you so much for the insight! I think it won’t hurt me just get a bag of potting mix, I really want to be successful with my two types of Gaura and Native Penstamons! Thank you❤️❤️❤️🤗
There is no official timeline or sowing for each zone. For perennials, cold hardy plants, and native plants, generally the earlier in winter the better! You can put off sowing more tender annuals (zinnias, tomatoes, etc) until you get closer to spring. Hope that helps! 🙂💚🌱
@@stephanniehurt7456 absolutely! I have never personally grown geranium from seed, but in general, every seed I have had trouble with starting indoors has been successful winter sown. It may take its sweet time, but it will germinate when ready!
Great question. Yes, we do have to watch the warmth on those fluctuating days. On those warmer days I find it’s easiest to move containers into the shade to keep them from cooking. We have had highs in the 80s during warm spells and keeping them in the shade prevents the greenhouse effect in the container. You can also remove the lids when it warms up and daytime temps are in the 50s and up and you fear them getting too hot in the container. Nothing wrong with letting them breathe when they get true leaves. I like lids that snap on for this reason - so I can put them on and take them off. Ventilation holes are important and will help keep them from roasting as well. Hope that helps!
Great tutorial...been trying my hand at gardening in my back yard for several years...just getting to know as you mentioned what grows in my climate; live in the front range of Colorado ten minutes or so to the base of the Rockies. The other challenge I have is getting the soil good...which is the largest hurdle for me; I've been composting in a barrel for a couple years a slow process; I've been amending the soil with store bought soils over time however, they seem to break down over time even when I fertilize!? Do you use kitchen waste in your outdoor garden? Do you dig trenches and bury the kitchen scraps; wondering what works for you for the climate here is has become very arid over the years; snows in the mountains but not much on the planes :{ anyway enjoyed your video; will put yours on my garden watch list, thank you have a wonderful 2025 and God bless.
@@mrscaldwell3147 I have had the best results amending with 2-3” of compost by top dressing (adding compost to the soil surface) at least once or twice per year. It helps to mulch my often very dry soil and feeds the microbes, building soil health. I do have a tumble composter but I bring in compost in bulk that is aged horse manure from a trusted source. Leaf litter is also like gold. Adding any organic matter is going to help. It does take time to build soil health! If you are growing in raised beds, worm castings and blood meal can be especially helpful…and I love organic fertilizers that help to feed microbes as well as opposed to those very high in salts. Hope that helps. Thanks so much for watching!
A very GOOD video. I met you on our FB / YT Creators page 🎉 on your monizitation. You deserve it. Well made educational video. 1st one I'm watching. I just SUBSCRIBED. Looking forward to my future monizitation as well. Blessing, and Merry Christmas :)
@@kermitandmisspiggyb absolutely! It can be done anywhere you experience seasons. If you want to see results from other warmer zone growers, there is a Facebook group I would recommend joint called “winter sowers - the original”. You can search for “Florida” or your growing zone, and see the process and results of others. 💚🌱
One year dollar store had big rocks in their potting soil. Won't try that again. I use organic black gold for vegetables and I add composted sifted steer manure.
@@catfunksfabulousfinds97045 yes, that dollar store “soil” is iffy…lol… I love Black Gold! Great stuff. We have some goat manure in hand…I’ll have to remember to try adding some of the aged to the mix! Great idea. 💚🌱
@@karemgarcia222 absolutely! The method works anywhere you experience seasons. Also, if you want to connect with other growers in colder zones who winter sow, there is a great teaching group on Facebook called “Winter Sowers - the Original”. Highly recommend. They stick to the tried and true method. facebook.com/share/g/18H3iMV7Vm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
I live in a cold climate ( zone 6 - High desert , last frost date June 14) . How does this affect when I begin to winter sow seeds that need cold stratification , but might not be ready to plant out , due to our late frost date ?
@@bobbilynnmiller742 the seeds that need cold stratification will need to be sown soon (for you by the end of February would be good) so that they get enough of a cold period for good germination. With winter sowing it is ok/expected to sow all of the perennials/natives/cool hardy plants at the same time during winter, but there is not a specific schedule. They will generally not germinate until conditions are ready for them, which for your location may not be until late April/early May (unless you have a warm spell early). It tends to time out well that transplants are the right size for transplanting when it is time for them to be planted. It’s pretty amazing - the weather, day length and seeds all work together to time things well (I should say, MOST of the time). There are also some seed packet instructions that will say plant out after last frost, but sometimes the plants are more cold tolerant than the seed packet would lead us to believe…also, the winter sown plants are hardier and and are more resilient than indoor grown transplants. I hope that helps… is there a specific plant you are thinking about?
Thank you so much for replying ! This trips me up each year , in our highly fluctuating climate. Specifically, im thinking about Gomphrena , Cosmos , Nasturtiums and Foxglove ( Foxglove seed , which I try each each year and am never successful!😔)
@ foxglove I’d start early, and nasturtium as well, although it will germinate a little later. Cosmos and Gomphrena you could set out in containers in early May since they are frost tender. If you want to cheat the system a little you could bring the jugs inside on cold nights if they do germinate early. 🙂
Last winter I purchased a bunch of clear (almost clear) shoebox containers from the Dollar Tree store. (Didn't need the tops, so I put them aside.) I paired the containers using one for the bottom and inverted the other one to serve as a cover. This gives me a total of about 8 inches of growing space.
Next, using my wood burning tool, i poked about 8 drainage holes in both "boxes" and 2 holes on one of the long-side rims of each. I secured the top and bottom together through the 2 rim holes using plastic zip-ties to serve as a hinge, so I can open and close the container if I need to. I filled the bottom half with 3 inches of potting soil, sowed my seeds, watered them in lightly, sprinkled a thin layer of vermiculite over them (to hopefully ward off fungal growth). Then I secured the top and bottom closed with a large clip (keeps them from blowing open in heavy winds, and keeps any little varmints from getting in).
Because of the large clip and the hinged backside, I can open each container periodically to check for growth and give them extra moisture if needed.
This set-up worked really well for me. Hope someone finds it helpful. 💚😊💚
@@pamelavalente3731 thank you for sharing your experience!! 💚🌱🌱🌱
Thanks!!
Great tips!!
What type of clip did you use? I like the ease of getting into the containers with the ease of the clip.
That sweater has brightened my day ))
My thoughts exactly! I love your sweater!
Just came across you on RUclips as you appeared in my feed. and I am so grateful. Have been searching for fellow north Texas growers since our climate has its own variables. I came from the northeast originally, and what I knew about gardening doesn't work here. So excited to watch all your videos. Liked and subscribed. Thanks for all you do.
So glad you found us! Love getting to connect with other growers in our area. Thank you for watching! ☺️💚🌱
Probably the best overview of the method I’ve run across…thank you! It helps that I’m in Texas too, though the Hill Country tends to be a bit warmer and drier than your area. I’ve tried this once and had pretty good success, so am getting ready to use this for perennial flowers, and then I’ll have more inside room for my spring/summer veggies. It IS fun, especially when you’re missing the garden.
Thank you so much for the kind words... So glad to have another Texan find the channel! And, yes, absolutely…such a great way to make more room under the grow lights! Hope you have an incredible 2025 garden! ☺️💚🌱
In south Texas. I usually start Tomatoes in January under grow lights. I am thinking about doing this method instead. Thank you for the great information!
I agree. Great presentation. In Oregon and my first year doing winter sowing
This is the most thorough treatise on winter sowing I have ever seen. I am a Colorado Master Gardener and will be recommending this video to my students. Thank you.
Thank you for the kind words. I’m so glad that it will be helpful. 💚🌱
Love the sweater . I am going to try the winter sowing method for the first time this year .
Truly one of the most comprehensive videos on winter sowing I've come across. You've managed to put so much of the scattered information into one complete format...very helpful.
You, yourself are so easy to listen to; and you weren't overly repetitive either. Loved it!
Looking forward to viewing Part 2. 💚😊💚
@@pamelavalente3731 thank you so much for the feedback! And thanks for watching. ☺️💚🌱
Your sweater is great. It just gave me ideas to brighten up an old brown one I have.♡
What a great video! I have never heard of winter sowing. Thanks, you for sharing all your information. I have only been starting plants from seeds for about 2-3 years and I am excited to keep learning. I am especially excited to try winter sowing Lavendar. I have been VERY unsuccessful with growing this from seed and the plants are so expensive. Although Lavendar is a perennial, I have not had any make it through a Michigan winter.
@@kathiejones2920 thanks so much for for the kind words and for watching! Lavender has worked very well for me Winter sown, though it’s a bit slow growing. It’s a great one! You might try the Vera variety with your cold. It is supposed to survive down to -20F. And plants really are stronger winter sown as well! I hope it works out super well for you! 💚🌱🪻
You're a great teacher! Thank you for all the info.
@@jewelskitchen you’re so welcome! Thank you for watching, as always! I treasure your encouragement!💚🌱
Love your humble (and very thorough!!!) approach, giving credit to the creator of this method! I also love your gardening assistant, making his appearance 😅I look forward to your future videos 😊!
Thank you so much for the kind words, and thanks for watching! Luke shows up often…I think he likes the camera…or me.😊🐈💚🌱
#1 you’re blowing my mind I’ve never HEARF of this technique and it makes so much sense. And #2 your sweater is the most adorable. The most.
Pp 😊
Although I don't winter sow every year, I do watch videos on it every year, just to see if there's any new and exciting info being put out. Honestly, with some of the other videos I've seen, I get bored and don't even watch to the end - same old, same old. Not your video, however. It was the most thorough and informative video on this topic that I've seen yet. Your delivery of this information was calming as well. You are not acting as a character, loud and bouncing around, just real and to the point. You actually got me fired up to winter sow this year. Thank you for such a great video. I am seeing you for the first time and have subscribed. 💚
@@dalehennessey195 thanks so much for the kind words and support. It means a great deal. I hope I can continue to be helpful! 💚🌱
Happy New Year to all!
Happy Gardening!
You covered everything I need to know about winter sowing. I thought I would be excited about the garden in the spring, but I can do this now. Going to try!😊 Thank you for sharing Trudy’s information!
@@Gotchapic that is amazing! Wishing you the best 2025 garden! ☺️💚🌱
I have winter sowed for the last 4 years and all your advice is on target. This year I'm adding Joe Pye Weed and Cardinal Flowers to my winter sowing since I have never grown those before. It truly is SO much easier than starting plants indoors under grow lights - I don't know why everyone doesn't do it. :)
love your sweater! and all the good info!
Wood chips sifted after they bread down for a year or so really helps the black gold soil too. It's creates a fluffy wood humus that doesn't rob nutrients like sawdust does.
I'm guessing we still plant everything to the depth recommended on the seed packets? Great, comprehensive videos. I've watched them twice, since I kept stopping to take notes. Excellent presentation. Keep up the great work!
Yes! Be sure to follow the directions for seed depth on the packet when sowing.
Thank you for the encouragement! I’m so glad they are helpful.💚🌱
Great information!!
I love 💝 your pretty sweater
@@1sense21 thank you so much, and thanks for watching! 💚🌱
I'm in North Texas as well, far west DFW.
Really found your videos super helpful! I'll definitely watch it again and make some notes because I have so many seed packs that I think this will be perfect to give me a jump start on. My seedlings never do well when I wait till spring, so I'm hopeful 2025 will bring much improvement thanks to your video.
So glad you found it helpful! Thank you for watching. I hope you have an amazing 2025 garden! 💚🌱
I subscribed…
I knew alot if the information presented here, but was great to hear it again :) Subscribed.
I'm in the Texas panhandle and I'm going to try this. Ty❤
That’s awesome. I hope it goes well ! I wish you a very green 2025! Thank you for watching.💚🌱
I've been growing from seeds for almost 50 years. Have read so much info, yet this is new to me. Thank you so much for your thorough presentation. Cant wait to try this method , San Diego, CA
I hope it works out well for you and wish you a great growing year in 2025. Thank you for watching! 💚🌱
This sounds great I'm gonna try it!
@@Thoughtsofmyheart I hope it works out super well for you! Happy growing!! 💚🌱
Winter sowing is my favorite. I am north of Denton and it works fantastically for all my veg herb and flowers
Hey neighbor! I love it too! Thank you for watching. 😊💚🌱
So glad to learn about the originator! I’ve never heard her mentioned before. I haven’t had the best success with winter sowing but I’ll keep trying…
Hi Luke 😺
💚💚💚🌱🌱🌱😸🫶
Love it!
I greatly needed this information. Thank you
You're welcome! 💚🌱
Thank you for mentioning the difference between winter hardiness and growing season. I see too many people attributing their "zone" to their frost free dates.
This was so helpful! It will be my first time to winter sow. Super excited to try this new to me method of starting seeds!
I’m so glad that it is helpful! I hope it works out super well for you! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
Love your sweater! The cat was a wonderful addition to the video.
I have carrots and green onions started all ready. Going to start peas, kale, lettuce and herbs next week. I have to plant everything in containers because I found out that my entire property is contaminated with heavy metals and Carcinogenic chemicals that they government ignored. Highest cancer rates in the country. NEVER buy property in a blue run city. High crime and high pollution high taxes and super high insurance rates, and the government works against the citizens at every opportunity.😮😢
@@tommielourogers4327 wow! That is amazing that you are finding a way to grow your own food despite the challenge of contaminated soil. I wish you a very productive 2025 garden! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
That is so awful! My heart goes out to you ❤. Best wishes to you for a successful year!
This is so helpful, thank you!
I've listened to this twice now. Thank you! Making my notes and getting it done this week. Refrigerator stratification and my work schedule did not do well together last year. A friend suggested winter sowing for me here in Southwest Arkansas for all the medicinal perennials. Would love to not lose so many to the depths of damp napkins and ziploc baggies. 🤦♀️😂🤘
That’s awesome! I hope it is successful for you and wish you all the green things this year! 💚💚🌱🌱
And I am with you on the ziploc bags/paper towels in the fridge…that is my least favorite method of starting seeds. 😂
I like Trudy’s hunk of seeds technique. 😊 Super cute sign off and the snuggle with your buddy. You’ve motivated me to attempt winter sowing again. I had one okay year and one rotten one.
@@Annoflacrosse I hope it’s the best winter sowing year for you yet! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
Thanks for the reminder about winter sowing. Perfect timing!
I would like to sow Summer Jewel Salvia (Central Texas 8b). The seeds are quite small, and they are to be kept warm at 70°F. A heating pad can speed up germination. My guess is the Salvia would be difficult to winter sow. I can germinate them indoors, but then I run into the issue of providing enough light for the seedlings. But don't think I can then put them outside in a covered/domed container to complete the growing.
Zone 7b/8a N MS. I've wintersown for the past 4 or 5 years and can't wait to start a new batch next week! I mostly stick to the cold hardy annuals. I have had success with strawflowers, clary sage, statice, calendula, dianthus (Sweet Williams, cottage pinks, Chaubaud), foxgloves, larkspur, nigella, bachelor's buttons, rudbeckia, scabiosa, snapdragons, craspedia, paper daisies, Erigeron, globe thistle, campanula, yarrow, Mexican Hat, sweet alyssum, strawberries. Yes, it's an addiction! Last year I planted 2 varieties of strawflowers in one container, and one variety was killed back during a week long cold spell where the temps dipped into single digits for 3 successive nights, but the other in the same container was fine. I had great luck with nasturtium two years ago, but last year's batch (a different variety) was a complete fail--zero germination. I think I love the process almost as much as the harvest. It is so much fun to walk out and see what has germinated that day! I love your sweater. My husband commented as he walked through, "Nice sweater."
@@mkitchens8163 love it! I think more people should plant the cold hardy annual flowers…it’s so much fun! On your strawflowers - do you remember which ones they were? I am curious, because I have heard that before that some are more cold tolerant than others… weird about the nasturtium! I had a lower germ rate on the Peach Melba last year, and not sure why…you’re making me want to go dig through my seeds some more! 😂
Thank you for the kind words and thank you for watching! Happy growing this upcoming year!! 💚🌱
Wonderful list of flowers to plant. Thanks!
Subscribed! I live in North East Texas ,as well! First, I want your sweater! Second, now I have ,in my area, I can follow. I know about winter sowing and have done it. Thank you for sharing!
So glad you are here, and thank you for watching! Love finding other growers nearby! ☺️💚🌱
Just learned about winter sowing late last winter, and I am excited to try it out. I have a dozen native wildflowers that should germinate well with this method, and it will free up grow lights for lisianthus and ornamental oregano, among other things. Your video is full of great tips and ideas - thanks!
That’s great! I wish you a wonderful 2025 garden! Thanks so much for watching. ☺️💚🌱
Just found your channel and subscribed. Your video was so thorough and I'll be using it as a refresher for this year. I tried winter sowing vegetables for the 1st time last winter (NE Wisconsin z.5a). It was wildly successful. I did have some losses due to gardener error, lol. My biggest problem was an over-abundance of seedlings and not enough space to plant them all. Also, finding the time to plant them all. Getting ready to start sowing soon. Have been collecting containers all year long!
@@user-tq8jo7oh2n love that. Wishing you the best growing year yet!💚💚💚🌱🌱🌱
@@Joyfulfarmer Thank you and to you too!
What great info! I’ll be listening again and taking notes! This is super exciting!!
So glad to hear it! It’s so much fun, I hope it works out well for you! 💚🌱
Thanks for sharing I love Winter sowing
Me too! Thanks for watching. ☺️💚🌱
I’m already excited to do this and I only have watched the first 5 minutes !! lol Ty❤
🙌🙌💚🌱
I’ve grown in milk jugs . Holes in the bottom and the top
Yes I'm going to try 😊
@@valeriescott2754 I hope you enjoy and hope it works well for you! 💚🌱
What a lovely video thank you! I’m in the Netherlands and reluctant to try winter sowing. But I think with the very clear directions from your video , I think I might give it a go!
Happy holidays 🌲🌲🎄🎄
I hope it works out well for you! Thank you for the kind comment and thank you for watching. Happy growing! 💚🌱
Thank you so much!!! This is my 3rd yr & I love doing it!!
@@sandyasposito8262 💚💚🌱🌱🌱
This is the best video I’ve come across on this topic!! I’ve literally watched it on repeat all day today. Thank you for the well explained information, especially for newbie gardeners like me! 😄
You are so welcome!! Thank you for watching. You can totally do this! I wish you a very green garden this year!! 💚💚🌱🌱
Fantastic info and fun to hang out - talk winter sowing! CaliKim
@CaliKim29 thank you so much for watching! Love your content! Your comment made my year! ☺️💚🌱
Kendell thank you for all this valuable information….👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
You're welcome! So glad it was helpful.💚🌱
@ Absolutely 👍🏼
Much appreciation ❤
I will try winter planting here in dry Central California. Thankyou for all the geat info and tips.
I hope it works out well for you! Thank you for watching! 😊💚🌱
Omg. I love you! This was so super helpful and informative. You answered so many of my questions. Thank you very much from zone 9. Outstanding.
I love your sweater
Thank you! ☺️💕🌸
Yes i will do this again this year! Last year i was so busy that most of my plants got started too late. I had all sorts of tomato varieties i never got to try. I had tried winter sowing 3 years ago and i had a very successful gardening year so going to try it again!! Thank you fir the reminders on how it’s done 😊
@@ILoveTheMoodyBlues that is great! I hope your growing year is amazing! 💚🌱
Wow! You did a great job covering wintering sowing. I’m in N Texas too so I was excited to hear your advice and tips. I’m looking forward to Part 2! Happy Holidays!
Thank you so much! It’s so great connecting with other growers in the area! Thanks for watching and Happy Holidays to you too! 💚🌱
Super helpful, thank you!
So glad! Thank you for watching! 💚🌱
It's better to put holes on the upper sides here in the Pacific North West or it will fill with rain.
What a great video! I'm definitely trying this method. So glad I found your channel 😊 Thanks for sharing!
@@twoturtleshomestead I hope it works super well for you and wish you all the green things in 2025! Thank you for watching. ☺️💚🌱
Thankyou for putting me onto Swallowtail seeds. Just put an order in. Because of our postal strike here in Canada, it's going to take a bit longer to get. Too bad cause I wanted to start the perennial ones earlier to get bigger plants when planting out. Hey, but not a big deal. I am glad to watch where you guys can get started earlier....encouraging and motivating. Happy New Year!
I hope they surprise you and are able to get your seeds to you early. Thank you for watching and I wish you a very green 2025 in Canada! ☺️💚🌱
Great review of this topic! Thank you for taking the time to do this!
Thank you for sharing this video. This will be my first year to try winter sowing. I'm hopeful to see how it will work out. I'm in Maine, zone 5b. I just became your newest subscriber! Can't wait to see part 2 of your winter sowing guide.
@@birgitnorton6709 I hope it works out super well for you! So glad you found the channel! Welcome!🤗 Part 2 is posted and linked in the description of Part 1. Wishing you a very green 2025! 💚🌱
So excited about this! I just moved to a homestead in the Sierra Madre mountains of Mexico. I have seeds and transparent containers, ready to winter sow!
So helpful. thanks 😊
Hi, Super informative and educational. I have learned a lot from you. Cheers, Albert, SF, CA
I love winter sowing. I'm planning for it now. I mostly use it for native plants, but I am going to try some brassicas and greens this year.
Love it! I hope you have the best winter sowing year yet! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
You have it in a greenhouse.
I've found leaving the totes outside all winter deteriorates them quickly.
I bought several types of clear ones a couple years and half have cracked because of the weather.
@@catfunksfabulousfinds97045 sorry, it’s misleading…I don’t keep the containers in the greenhouse. I just filmed there. They stay outside all winter. I have noticed the same issue with the plastic containers deteriorating. Storing them diligently in a dark location when they are not in use has helped a great deal. I am also trying a clear UV protective spray paint this year to see if it delays the degradation. Hope that helps. Thank you for watching! 💚🌱
Happy Swing
Do you happen to have a winter sow calendar you could share? Thanks for all of this wonderful information.
@@Elijah12459 I can put one together and link it! Typically it’s just starting with perennials/biennials first in December/January(this way they get cold stratification), cool hardy flower and vegetables in January/February and tender annuals can wait until 4-6 weeks before estimated last frost. But with winter sowing, the timeline is not as pressing, save for the ones that need cold stratification. 🙂
@@Joyfulfarmer it will all sink in eventually lol
I’m so excited that this video popped on my watch list! I am in Texas Hill Country and have wanted to try the winter sowing method but didn’t know how to go about it. Thanks to you now I do! I’m definitely going to watch part two.
I am so glad it popped up for you! And so glad it is helpful! Thank you for watching.😊💚🌱
Thank you for the great information!! I took notes and can’t wait to get started! Have a Happy New Year!
Thank you for watching! Wishing you a very green 2025! 💚🌱
Great info..thank you! 😊
Thank you for watching! 💚🌱
So glad your video came up in my feed. I'm in San Antone, and will try this for lavender, coneflower, agastache (love the licorice/anise flavored tea), and catmint. I do have a long growing season here, but found that some of these are hard to germinate when planted inground outdoors. I will try this method. Thank you! I just subscribed...love Luke!
❤😻❤🤠❤
Love it! Winter sowing has worked well for me for all of those seeds! I love agastache for tea too! Hope your 2025 TX garden is super successful. Welcome and thanks so much for watching! 💚🌱🐈
Gosh i Love your sweater ❤
Thank you was a great video.
My most succesful plants and veg have been those I started with this winter sowing. I use large water bottles, some I have used indoors also but for winter sowing I leave them outside
Also containers were mushrooms or strawberries are sold( two put together and with tape around)
One thing I got wrong was the label should have gone inside the bottle, I only wrotw on the outside but it rubbed off so I had to do some guessing😂
Love it!! Thank you for sharing!! 💚🌱 and I definitely have had my labels disappear too! 😂🫣
I just planted some today in zone 6b. Put up a short about it if you're interested 😊
I'm new at seed starting I started last year with my first year after I lost my best friend of 35 years it was two years December 2nd her and I was going to winter so and start growing our flowers from seeds so growing flowers in my house I've done a couple Mistakes by following people my name is Joanne Sawyer Circleville Ohio Zone 6B I Will Follow You Now for winter sowing
Hi Joanna, I’m so sorry for your loss of your best friend. I hope 2025 is full of flowers and joy and I hope winter sowing works out well for you this time! Thank you for watching. 💚🌱
Thank you for sharing
Subscribed
I live in South Korea.5b
Can I try winter sowing?
Yes! The beauty of it is that it works for any zone. It works especially well for plants that are native to your area. Thank you for watching! 💚🌱
very well explained
So glad it is helpful! Thank you for watching!💚🌱
Very good tutorial, thank you for sharing it. Question: After the seeds are planted in a container, is it necessary to keep that container outdoors or can the container be stored inside an unheated garage or barn for the winter? My thought is that until the seeds germinate and need sunlight there's really no need for them to be outdoors. As long as the soil stays damp and cold then the stratification requirements should be met. Once the seeds begin to germinate they can then be moved outdoors to get sunlight and moisture. Does this sound correct? Thank you.
Sure! That should work out just fine. I would just check the moisture levels now and then. And depending on your last frost date, I’d make sure they are outside as it gets closer and as the days get longer right before spring. Happy growing and thanks for watching! 💚🌱
@@Joyfulfarmer Thank you very much for the feedback. Looking forward to Part 2 of your winter sowing series.
How do you remove the new plants from the containers?? 🤔
I have a couple of different approaches depending on how crowded plants are or how tangled the roots are. If they have some space between them and root systems are still easy to separate, I will use a fork or just my forefinger and thumb to gently pull a plant out, pinching as much of the root system as possible. If roots are super crowded and tangly, you will have to take all of the soil and plants out at once (I turn the container on its side and upside down and shimmy it out. You can cut into hunks of seedlings by breaking into brownie size squares (that’s Trudi’s favorite method) or if you want to separate plant roots and plant baby plants individually, I recommend putting them in a shallow tub of 3”-4” of water and shaking soil out in the water and teasing apart plants with roots underwater. I have found the water makes it so much easier to separate tangled roots. Hope that helps! 🙂💚🌱
@Joyfulfarmer thank you for taking the time to answer my question in detail! You're very kind, indeed🥰🌳🌹🌸
New subscriber
Welcome!
Same here. Happy to have found your channel. I subscribed.
So i don't need to start indoors under lights or a GH? This great information, want to grow a cottage garden in my front yard no more lawn, thx!
Absolutely! There are so many options of great perennials and annuals you can start via winter sowing. Your seed selection will depend on your hardiness zone, location, and goals, but WS is an excellent way to grow hardy plants for a beautiful cottage garden. 💚🌱
I live in Massachusetts zone: 6a and today I want to try for the first time this method (since I only started gardening in 2022 and I totally fell in love with it) but after spending hundreds of $ in nurseries 😁 (obviously, worth every penny 😁) I ordered native seeds and I have already in November, sowed some on the ground. I had no idea about winter sowing like that! Thanks to yt for suggesting videos so I found out! Can I use compost that I have here (bumper crop) is the brand instead of going and buying potting mix? Please help🙏🏽 Thanks for this video.
@@K414nn4love that you have fallen in love with gardening - it is truly the best! I have never used straight compost, but have used it to “stretch” potting mix before when I was running low. I might try mixing it with coco coir or perlite to make sure it is light enough for the seedlings to get air to their roots and grow.
Also, here is an answer I found from Trudi on using compost in general…hope it helps! 💚🌱
“I am leaning on towards it might be too rich, not for germination, but may foster faster growth that weather would normally control and that weak growth could die off. However, I think mixing it with ground in a draining bucket, dowsing it with a kettle boiling water to kill seeds and bacteria or virus; then you can use it.
Compost is a great additive to soils, you can also put it down now and dig in to the beds you plan for your WS seedlings. You can use it mixed in with some soil but otherwise it's great for the ground where you will put your transplants.”
@@JoyfulfarmerThank you so much for the insight! I think it won’t hurt me just get a bag of potting mix, I really want to be successful with my two types of Gaura and Native Penstamons! Thank you❤️❤️❤️🤗
She has a Part II for this video published as of 12/27.
Hi, very informative video!
I didn't know it was a thing🤦♀️
Do you have any suggestions on when you can start them in zone 6?
Thanks
There is no official timeline or sowing for each zone. For perennials, cold hardy plants, and native plants, generally the earlier in winter the better! You can put off sowing more tender annuals (zinnias, tomatoes, etc) until you get closer to spring. Hope that helps! 🙂💚🌱
Love your sweater where did you get it?
It was a gift from a student. 😊
They do one identical on Temu and Shein
Very informative video! Can you winter sow Geraniums? I live in the Mississippi Delta in zone 8 and I have tried to sow seeds indoors with no luck.
@@stephanniehurt7456 absolutely! I have never personally grown geranium from seed, but in general, every seed I have had trouble with starting indoors has been successful winter sown. It may take its sweet time, but it will germinate when ready!
What is max daytime temp they can handle without cooking? We can get 70-80* days in Jan sometimes. Take off off then?
Great question. Yes, we do have to watch the warmth on those fluctuating days. On those warmer days I find it’s easiest to move containers into the shade to keep them from cooking. We have had highs in the 80s during warm spells and keeping them in the shade prevents the greenhouse effect in the container. You can also remove the lids when it warms up and daytime temps are in the 50s and up and you fear them getting too hot in the container. Nothing wrong with letting them breathe when they get true leaves. I like lids that snap on for this reason - so I can put them on and take them off. Ventilation holes are important and will help keep them from roasting as well. Hope that helps!
Great tutorial...been trying my hand at gardening in my back yard for several years...just getting to know as you mentioned what grows in my climate; live in the front range of Colorado ten minutes or so to the base of the Rockies. The other challenge I have is getting the soil good...which is the largest hurdle for me; I've been composting in a barrel for a couple years a slow process; I've been amending the soil with store bought soils over time however, they seem to break down over time even when I fertilize!? Do you use kitchen waste in your outdoor garden? Do you dig trenches and bury the kitchen scraps; wondering what works for you for the climate here is has become very arid over the years; snows in the mountains but not much on the planes :{ anyway enjoyed your video; will put yours on my garden watch list, thank you have a wonderful 2025 and God bless.
@@mrscaldwell3147 I have had the best results amending with 2-3” of compost by top dressing (adding compost to the soil surface) at least once or twice per year. It helps to mulch my often very dry soil and feeds the microbes, building soil health. I do have a tumble composter but I bring in compost in bulk that is aged horse manure from a trusted source. Leaf litter is also like gold. Adding any organic matter is going to help. It does take time to build soil health! If you are growing in raised beds, worm castings and blood meal can be especially helpful…and I love organic fertilizers that help to feed microbes as well as opposed to those very high in salts.
Hope that helps. Thanks so much for watching!
A very GOOD video. I met you on our FB / YT Creators page 🎉 on your monizitation. You deserve it. Well made educational video. 1st one I'm watching.
I just SUBSCRIBED.
Looking forward to my future monizitation as well.
Blessing, and Merry Christmas :)
@ thanks so much for the encouragement! ❤️ Merry Christmas to you too!!
@Joyfulfarmer ❤️
Can this be done in Central Florida or any other parts of Florida?
@@kermitandmisspiggyb absolutely! It can be done anywhere you experience seasons. If you want to see results from other warmer zone growers, there is a Facebook group I would recommend joint called “winter sowers - the original”. You can search for “Florida” or your growing zone, and see the process and results of others. 💚🌱
One year dollar store had big rocks in their potting soil.
Won't try that again.
I use organic black gold for vegetables and I add composted sifted steer manure.
@@catfunksfabulousfinds97045 yes, that dollar store “soil” is iffy…lol… I love Black Gold! Great stuff. We have some goat manure in hand…I’ll have to remember to try adding some of the aged to the mix! Great idea. 💚🌱
Does this method works for zone 3-4? Thank you
@@karemgarcia222 absolutely! The method works anywhere you experience seasons. Also, if you want to connect with other growers in colder zones who winter sow, there is a great teaching group on Facebook called “Winter Sowers - the Original”. Highly recommend. They stick to the tried and true method. facebook.com/share/g/18H3iMV7Vm/?mibextid=wwXIfr
The Silvery Rose Strawflowers were the ones that died.
@@mkitchens8163 thank you! That is great to know!
Can this be used in N. Florida?
Note: we have a few episodes of frost and freezing nights
@@stephaniestuff1651 absolutely! Winter sowing works most anywhere, as long as you experience seasons in your climate. 💚🌱
I live in a cold climate ( zone 6 - High desert , last frost date June 14) . How does this affect when I begin to winter sow seeds that need cold stratification , but might not be ready to plant out , due to our late frost date ?
@@bobbilynnmiller742 the seeds that need cold stratification will need to be sown soon (for you by the end of February would be good) so that they get enough of a cold period for good germination. With winter sowing it is ok/expected to sow all of the perennials/natives/cool hardy plants at the same time during winter, but there is not a specific schedule. They will generally not germinate until conditions are ready for them, which for your location may not be until late April/early May (unless you have a warm spell early). It tends to time out well that transplants are the right size for transplanting when it is time for them to be planted. It’s pretty amazing - the weather, day length and seeds all work together to time things well (I should say, MOST of the time).
There are also some seed packet instructions that will say plant out after last frost, but sometimes the plants are more cold tolerant than the seed packet would lead us to believe…also, the winter sown plants are hardier and and are more resilient than indoor grown transplants. I hope that helps… is there a specific plant you are thinking about?
Thank you so much for replying ! This trips me up each year , in our highly fluctuating climate. Specifically, im thinking about Gomphrena , Cosmos , Nasturtiums and Foxglove ( Foxglove seed , which I try each each year and am never successful!😔)
@ foxglove I’d start early, and nasturtium as well, although it will germinate a little later. Cosmos and Gomphrena you could set out in containers in early May since they are frost tender. If you want to cheat the system a little you could bring the jugs inside on cold nights if they do germinate early. 🙂
Love, love, love your sweater! Where did you get it?
@@bellarosa009 thank you! A sweet student of mine gifted it to me…someone commented on here that they found something similar on Shein. 😊