Winter sowing 2016
greylady_gardener
7 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
blueocean m
7 years agogreylady_gardener
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Winter sow or Direct sow?
Comments (7)I did something very similar in 2003. Just around thanksgiving with our first snow, I broadcasted out the prairie seeds over a 60x15 prepared area. No mulch, no amendment and the blanket of snow was my protection from birds. Also by this time the mice/voles ect. are housed up for the winter. My seed (flowers/grasses) were individually ordered from reputable native seed suppliers...no walmart mixes just for the simple fact you usually can't find any that do not contain a few non-native noxious/invasive species...like Dames Rocket, Bachelor's Button and Baby's Breath for example; two of which are on our local monitor list and one which made it too the noxious weed list....See MoreIndoor Sowing, Winter Sowing & Propagation 2009
Comments (135)Hi! My name is Karen and I've posted some questions on the geranium forum and got some good advice, but noone is terribly chatty over there so I was wondering if this is a good forum for me to join. Are you taking new members?? I'm in IL and we started over 700 (agh!)pelargoniums, or whatever they are called. We call them geraniums. Anyway, I was told to pinch and went to town and I hope I did it right because I have some sad plants. And it's about time to start hardening off...and I haven't a clue what I'm doing! We have two portable greenhouses outside with heaters in them and we put the impatiens and pansies, I think, in there. But the geraniums are inside under grow lights and in sunny windows (as sunny as it gets during the long awaited IL 'Spring' if that's what you call it!) Can anyone help me keep them alive?...See MoreSow I'm sowing... Which others are your favorite winter crops?
Comments (15)I've been preparing the fall garden, too. I direct seeded radishes, romaine, amish deer tongue lettuce, wrinkly cress, 4 types of heirloom carrots, 2 heirloom beets, several types of onions, celery, 2 heirloom cabbages... I think that's all. Oh, I have French breakfast radishes coming up around all the slower growing stuff, so we'll have plenty of those. I'm about to plant purple hull peas, and I went ahead and started 4 varieties of winter squash, broccoli, 3 types of brussels sprouts and spinach in some of those little portable greenhouses. It may be way too early for the spinach, but we'll see. We're having a very mild summer, so I thought I'd give it a try. If the rain holds off, I'm going to plant several more cucumbers this afternoon. Aside from the cherry and currant varieties, the tomatoes didn't do much this year. Too much rain, I guess. I pulled some suckers from the healthiest plants, and we'll see if I can get anything out of them in the coming months....See MoreEncouraging blooms on young natives ... indoor sow or winter sow?
Comments (13)Not trying to get into the wintersow vs. not wintersow debate here but....... The only time it makes sense to wintersow is when you are sowing seeds needing cold stratification and I know some of the ones you listed do not need it. I sowed the Asceplsis incarnata in early August and plan to put them in the ground under mulch all winter. I am winter sowing some native shrub seeds needing a couple months of cold strat. in pots outdoors and three others that are perennials that specifically need it. There are no hard fast rules to this. To each his own. I rather enjoy sowing indoors in winter and have had very good results and it gives me an uplift in winter to do that. I have had good head starts on healthy plants this way and have sowed many SW shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, cactus, etc. I always have something indoors in winter I am sowing. I usually start them in October or November in a large sunny S. exposure window and grow them very cool in the coldest dark months sort of in a wait pattern, then let them get warm again in late Feb when the sun comes stronger. I use lights sometimes if necessary but usually they just sit there in the cold. I am not a wintersower to the degree popularized to a hobby level of lots of containers with holes, lids etc craze with every seed I get being done that way. I just use regular pots in the shade under the carport for the seeds specifically needing a cold period. For penstemons its good, they come up when its still very cold. Some seeds needing cold I direct sow. Sometimes I experiment and try all different ways to see what does best with a backup supply to resow in spring. Look up your different varieties and see what they need and go from there. I have sowed seeds as early as October and had established plugs to put into the ground come spring. Other times I put the late summer sown seedlings in the ground in late fall and cover them with leaf mulch and had good well rooted starts that way in spring. Look at nature, she does that all the time with seeds that have fallen. Mostly, make it fun for yourself and do what you want. Save extra seeds for insurance, or try multiple ways and experiment. Do a test in a damp paper towel with a few seeds to see if they sprout in a few days. Often that will tell you want you need to know....See Moreblueocean m
7 years agoblueocean m
7 years agoCandy Max
7 years agoblueocean m
7 years agogreylady_gardener
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoUser
7 years agoJeanne
7 years agoblueocean m
7 years agoblueocean m
6 years agoJeanne
6 years ago
Related Stories
SHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: Winter Curb Appeal Sale
Seasonal exterior decor and more at up to 55% off
Full StorySHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: Up to 70% Off Rustic Winter Decor
Create a woodsy, wintry retreat with charming accents
Full StoryEVENTSDesign Calendar: Where to Go and What to See in December 2016
Explore a garden-turned-winter wonderland and grab some shade under the world’s largest 3D-printed structure this month
Full StoryWINTER GARDENING4 Reasons to Celebrate Your Garden in Winter
The season of rest and replenishment is key to a successful wildlife-focused yard
Full StoryLIFEShare Your Winter Storm Jonas Photos and Survival Tips!
Let’s see your pictures and hear your ideas on how you’re keeping your house warm and staving off cabin fever
Full StoryLIFECozy Up to Winter Scenes Across the U.S. and Beyond
Houzz readers share their views of the season
Full StoryWINTER GARDENINGExtend Your Growing Season With a Cold Frame in the Garden
If the sun's shining, it might be time to sow seeds under glass to transplant or harvest
Full StoryCALIFORNIA GARDENINGSouthern California Gardener's November Checklist
Sow wildflower seeds while ye may, give berries some love and pay attention to produce for garden veggies all winter long
Full StoryDESIGNER SHOWCASESHollywood Glamour at the 2016 Wattles Mansion Showcase House
Designers take inspiration from their favorite movies and Hollywood icons to decorate rooms for this Southern California show house
Full StoryCOLORColor of the Year: Off-White Is On Trend for 2016
See why four paint brands have chosen a shade of white as their hot hue for the new year
Full Story
Candy Max