Winter Sowing

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I agree, it is amazing Mel! I am hooked on winter sowing now.
I bought 12 cabbage plants, set them out and they were growing nicely till a little fur pest came along and ate several!! But.. I had some seedlings growing in a pop bottle and transplanted them this morning in the spots that were left bare.
I'll sure take you up on the seeds in the fall, thanks for the offer Mel. Wintersown is the way to go!!:D
 
Time to bump this thread up and update!
We are finally in the right season to think about Winter Sowing again!
Tell us about the methods you use and the success or failure of the techniques you use!
I was hoping to make one or two coldframes, but it looks like I will wait next fall to build them!
 
BUMP! Great!
You can start your wintersowing now!
When do you get first sighting of germination?
I still have a few weeks thought I'd study Morphology (the study of form)and Physiology (which is the study of behavior) in hopes it will teach me how to amending the grounds after my ill intended chemical damage occurred.
I started several direct sowing (wintersowing) but my fun time wintersowing in smaller,
carefully labeled and logged pots I start in March. I should have had everything set up by now but way behind due to unfortunate uprises.
I hope to catch up! I have many new plants I want to try!
Some can be started in April like the Dahlia seed After viewing my records briefly, they germinated before the ones I sowed and tended indoors! So I am going to go with out door sowing for them being I plan a few flats, they are 12- 24 inch ones, I have tubers to start indoors or in my garage but that is a different subject *lol.

Have you or do you wintersow any veggies successfully? (besides cherry tomatoes*lol)
Well giving the weather last year we received such terribly low temps even in July!
The sun hid from me here in MI.
Actually, said to be the lowest temps in the recorded history! I was thinking somewhere along those thoughts as it occurred. Hearing it was a no kidden for me I believe that*lol


What size cold frames are you thinking Ron?
I made mini ones 5X 2 1/2 only 12 inches below ground but then the raccoons and opossum jumped on the glass frames, (as they landed from over the fence) and broke all my glass.What a pickle to clean up.
I made certain they were closed just before the sun set thought I was sealing in some of the heat, tried to make up for the 12 inches instead of the 18 -24.

Really curious as to what you want to sow/grow in there!

Kale:)

What is it that you wanted to try in them?
I bet many root crops would do fine .
 
Physiology is the study of mechanical and/or biochemical functions of an organism, not its behavior, although it can affect an organism's behavior. Ecophysiology comes a little closer to what you're talking about, but I think plain old Ecology is what you want.
 
Quite a few species need oscillating temperatures (freeze and thaw) in order for their seeds to germinate. Some need a longer period of this (4 or more months), while others need a shorter period of oscillating temperatures(such as a few weeks)!
I have a few that require 2 years of this until they germinate, while others need (for example 6 weeks of warm followed by 6 weeks of cold others it is the other way around)!
That is the fun about using a cold frame, or other containers for winter sowing!
I will get into it more as I start sorting through my inventory of seeds and work out which needs what length of cold followed by warmth)
 
Blueaussi,
I have an understanding in the fundamentals in ecology. I want to go as far deep as one needs to get to over turn the damage in the ground and within the plants.
My train of thoughts are focused though not limited to "Auxin repair"
I set up a different thread not to hijack our bump on Wintersowing.
http://www.gardenforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=47626#post47626
See you there ..:)


Ron, although I know of seeds needing different situations to germinate (and bloom) but can you tell me this, which seed/ plants are you speaking of that take 2 years of flexible temps etc...to germinate? Blooming yes I see that as long as 4 years to bloom...Mrs.Bradshaw for one....What a brat she was but ...I did get good blooms this year*LOL!

I have had a few (seed to germinate) but was wondering, are they flowering perennials that you speak of?
Some seed are so picky no wonder they are purchased as plants...

I personally do enjoy the challenges but understand completely how one would just go to the store and buy.

Kale:)
 
Ron, although I know of seeds needing different situations to germinate (and bloom) but can you tell me this, which seed/ plants are you speaking of that take 2 years of flexible temps etc...to germinate?
Click to expand...

One particular one is Eleagnus multiflora (Silveryberry Cherry), which is a fruit producing shrub! It will be a challenge!
 
Been busy sowing seeds, putting them in ziplock bags, then placing them out on the deck!
The ones I am sowing need 3 to 4 months of cold, then warmth to germinate.
I will post a list of their names later.
 
Excited to see your list Ron. I won't be WS this year. If I can't stand it, I may do a few but nothing like years past. Good luck to those of you that are starting your wintersowing adventure!!!
 
Most of the seeds in my collection germinate with warmth, so its not too bad in the number of pots in ziplocks!!! It is the rare ones that require cold treatment!
 
Mainegal said:
Ron
do you put dirt or anything in the bags with the seeds?
Click to expand...

Yup!
I use a sterile soil-less mix, pots, and or, trays.
Fill the pots and trays and sow the seeds. Some require light to germinate (when Spring finally arrives) so I do not cover these with soil.
I use vinyl blind slats ( I always have some since the blinds always need to be shortened) for labels so I write out their names, putting the date sowed, and stick them in each pot of tray, then put them into ziplock bags! Then outside (this year out on the deck)!
And now I wait for spring!!
 
Ahhhhhhh!!!!! I can't stand it....I have to do just a few...nothing like seeing that lovely green sprouting in those homemade little greenhouses!!!
 
Is it too late to start winter sowing now? I am zone 5.

I did winter sow last year and had about 50% success..can't remember when to start,:eek: geeezz?!

Reading all the older posts here has given me some GREAT help/info that I admit to needing, THANKS :)
 
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SandiB, NO!!!!!!!!!! Not too late! :D
What are you plans,veggies,herbs perennials????

Kale:)!
 
Thanks Kale! Appreciate the reply :)
Plan on looking thro my seeds this evening to decide what I will winter sow. Get back to ya on that.....

Are you winter-sowing Kale? I read where you w/s a different way than SMelly..how did that work for you?
 
You are quite welcomed SandiB!
Post your list once you get it in order!
Although I do not know from month to month what my trials will be,
Yes ! I plan to wintersow:D:D
I will wintersow, not as much fun as indoors over winter sowing; but room is cramped, I know I will do way more then planned inside and out;
I can't help it it is in my blood*LOL I have until rose season (end of March) to sow and get everything growing and organized. No house painting and garage scrapping to speak of therefore, I will have a little time:eek:

Yes my wintersowing routine worked out fine a little slow on germination at first (I am not certain it was due to the weather) and, I was behind on transplanting.

Kale:)
 
Still working on the w/s list...have to narrow it down before I post. I don't have the garden space to put ALL that I want to do....decisions decisions?!

My main goal is gardening to attract hummingbirds & butterflies :)
 
I haven't gotten any done. I have the bottles ready and the seeds...I even have the potting mix. I don't know what my problem is...maybe will do some today.
 
Question,

If seeds fall naturally from my plants and grow the next year can I just sow seeds in the fall right in the ground and see how they do? Just Curious :)
 
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