Winter Sowing


Remember all these? Well, today (and Tuesday) my helper and I spent a few hours turning them into...


this... and that


and these...


and it was AWESOME! 

This is my first go at winter sowing, so I can't wait to see what the germination rate is. Even if nothing grows over the next few months it's the hope that keeps me truckin' along. The temperature today oscillated between 0*F and -12*F ... hope it isn't too cold for this.

I managed to get 5 jugs and 1 container out. Now...if you're like my mother, you're probably asking "So, you just leave them there... outside in the cold?" The answer - yep, just leave 'em out there to do their thing. Freeze, thaw, freeze again, germinate and ta-da! Plants.

The exhaustive list of what I'm planning to winter sow (Jan/Feb) is below. Common names (sorry) are in no particular order:

  • Old Fashioned Black Hollyhocks
  • Summer Carnival Rosy Red Hollyhocks
  • Country Romance Hollyhocks
  • Fantasia Delphinium
  • Russell's Hybrid Lupine
  • Great White Moonflower
  • Heavenly Blue Morning Glory
  • Columbine - William Guinness
  • Columbine - Barlow 
  • Blue Fescue
  • Lauren's Grape Poppy
  • Oriental Poppy - Brilliant Red
  • Poppy - Venus
  • Oriental Poppy - Pizzicato Mix
  • Foxglove - Excelsior Mix
  • Mixed Oriental Poppy
  • Spinach - Melody
  • Cilantro - Calypso
  • Greek Oregano
  • Sugar Daddy Peas
  • Others... maybe?
*All my poppies I scattered-sowed before our last ice/snow storm.

If you are interested in the process of winter sowing you should check out the blog of Kevin Lee Jacobs His blog, A Garden for the House, is where I got all the information about putting milk jug greenhouses together.  Wintersown.org is also a great resource. 


  Eeep! I'm so excited to see what spouts!

My little helper

Do you start any perennials (or annuals) from seed? What's your method? I'd love to hear!


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4 comments:

  1. Being quite a novice gardener I have yet to give sowing seeds much thought. I tried once and they failed but I have no doubt it's something I will give a serious go at sometime in the future!
    I hope your winter sowing is successful - you've chosen well - garden stalwarts!
    Your little helper is so cute!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angie, I'd consider you several notches up from a novice gardener! Your garden is so thoughtfully planned and planted from what I see/read! You should definitely give winter sowing another go. No one in my family seems to have faith in this plan... I hope to prove them wrong!

      Binky is pretty cute, isn't he?! :)He's definitely my baby. I wish I could say he loves helping in the garden, but he doesn't much care. He'd rather go for a ride in the car.

      Hope you had a lovely weekend!

      Delete
  2. Bravo! Very creative and very frugal. And a good plant list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jason! Sow and go - low maintenance. Just the way we like it!

      Delete

 

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Sarah Brackney is R&S Garden. A gardening fiend. She is no expert, she just gardens. Her gardens are her art. And yes, she has weeds in her garden; she just chooses not to show them to you. Thanks for visiting.