Last year about this time, a reader of TMG sent me a link showing pictures of someone using gallon plastic jugs like mini greenhouses.
- They cut the jugs almost in half leaving the top part slightly attached.
- Punched holes in the bottom for drainage.
- Filled the bottom with about 3 inches of Pro-Mix and watered well.
Jug has been cut, holes punched in bottom, filled with potting mix, watered, and labeled.
- Planted the seed and labeled the jug for identification.
- Tapped the top half of the jug in place, left cap off for ventilation, and placed them all outside to weather the cold, rain and snow. And forgot them until almost spring.
Jugs have been planted, tapped closed, and tops removed for ventilation. I also label each jug on the outside with a marker and put tape over the writing so it won't wear away.
Lo and behold when the time is right the seeds germinate.
This method suited me to a tee and I couldn’t have been more pleased. I don’t have space inside to start seed, nor do I have proper light. Also, I don’t want to be bothered with watering all the time, and it’s enough to tend peppers and tomatoes when the time comes without having to “take care of” lots of other things.
Plants are Already Hardened Off
My seed germinated before the end of cold weather but it didn’t hurt those seedlings one bit. After severe cold was past I removed the tops. The seedlings are already hardened off since they came up on their own outside. They held nicely until I had time to plant them. The only thing I had to do at that point was make sure they didn’t dry out.
WinterSown – adapt to fit your needs
Some months later I found that Trudi Davidoff, a Long Island housewife had made “wintersown” very popular. This method can be adapted to fit your needs and you can use all kinds of recycled containers. Her website, wintersown.org, covers almost every senario.
Planted Already
I prepared and planted gallon jugs on the Winter Soltice, Dec. 21st. Planted are parsley, onions, bunching onions, lettuces, rosemary, ecinacea purpurea and nasturtiums. Snapdragons, thyme, lavender, anchusa, basil, verbascum, and a few others are waiting to be planted.
Final Thoughts
This is such an easy way to start plants that I hope you’ll give it a try. It gives you a jump on the season and makes it easy to start a lot more plants for your garden and borders.
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Organic Gardening is easy, effective, efficient and a lot healthier.
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I’m loving this idea and plan to give it a try! Getting just a few weeks’s jump on spring can make such a big difference in the harvest!
I’ve done this for the past four years since finding the wintersown website. It’s great! When I tried to start seeds indoors under lights, they inevitably damped off, despite my using sterile planting mix and running a fan in the room. I’ve had total success with the wintersown method (unless I don’t get the seedlings in the ground in time, but that’s my fault)! I encourage everyone to try it! You also can use containers from baked goods and rotisserie chickens. Follow the directions on the wintersown site for creating drainage and vent holes.
You’re absolutely right Gayle. Just a few weeks’ jump on spring CAN make a BIG difference. And to top that off, it looks as if we are going to have a mild winter and early spring. Hope it will be a great growing season!
Hi Sue T –
Your input will be encouraging to many!
If I’m reading “between the lines” correctly, sounds as if you’re winter sowing in the garden as well. I’m doing that too. I was inspired by a comment Gayle made early in the year — so I was ready to go after the Winter Soltice.
Won’t be long before things will be germinating and that’s exciting!
Thanks for commenting, Sue.
Theresa
So, you started these on Dec. 21′st? When do you expect seedlings and when will you expect to transplant? This seems like an excellent idea to start early veggies since I don’t have a greenhouse, cold frame, hoop house, or outside shelf. I do have several 32oz Stonyfield yogurt pots with the lids. I wonder if this would work the same if I can find a way to tie them down. What a great idea!!!
Yes, Farming Bear, I planted the first jugs on Dec. 21st and am still in the process of planting. Have about 17 jugs so far.
Seedlings will come whenever they’re ready to come. Will depend on lots of variables — especially temperatures. As I said in the post — I transplant when its time to plant (that particular plant) or when I get to it.
Will work great for cool weather (early) veggies. I think the yogurt pots would work well as long as they are not so opaque as to block light. Getting as much light as possible is important. Clear tops are best or either the jug tops as shown in the post.
Remember to punch holes in the container for drainage AND punch holes in the tops for venting. With the jugs I just remove the tops for venting.
Ok Theresa, did my wintersowing today. Never tried this before but I am so ready to garden that I figured this was at least some kind of gardening. I did some onions, zinnias,forget me nots and some herbs. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Way to go Danita! I think your onions, forget-me-nots and the herbs are going to do GREAT! It might be a little early for the zinnias depending on what the weather does. For example, you would not winter sow tomatoes right now because they are a warm weather crop and you would not be able to set them out until the weather and soil warm in the garden. Zinnias are like tomatoes — warm weather crops.
Nonetheless, it will be a great experiment! Keep me posted! I’ll be thinking of you as I watch my jugs planted with onions and herbs.
Theresa
Thanks Theresa. My tomatoes get started in the house under the lights around mid March. I found the half packet of zinnia seeds with the other seeds and thought what the heck. Whats the worst that can happen.
I will keep you posted. Thanks for the encouragement!
Happy New Year to you and your family.
I’ll be looking forward to hearing about the zinnias.
And Happy New Year to you too Danita!