Winter Sowing

Until February of this year, this lifelong farmgirl had never heard of "winter sowing". After reading about it in Cappers Farmer magazine, I decided, what the heck?

Winter sowing is based on the idea that in nature, plants will germinate and begin growing at the proper time, not before, not after. So, if you plant your seeds in a protected environment and set them out into nature, they'll go through the normal thaw/freeze cycle that they normally would if the plant just dropped the seed and begin growing when the environmental factors are right.

Essentially, lazy gardening.

Be like the lazy cat....

Oh boy am I in!















Figuring I had nothing to loose but a few seeds, I gathered all my old milk jugs and some seed starter soil.

Step 1: Clean out your old milk jug, juice jug, whatever. 

Step 2: Puncture some drainage holes in the bottom and top of your chosen container. Slice from handle to handle a cut about 3/4 ways from bottom. 

Step 3: Fill with soil starter and sprinkle your seeds on top. Cover with a thin layer of soil and water.

Step 4: Tape your milk jug back into a solid piece with some straping tape. (You will remove it after the plants start to grow
a bit). Take the top off and put them outside into the elements. I put mine in my herb garden, don't treat them in any way special. It's time for mother nature to take over.

Cucumbers

Cilantro

Broccoli!

Now, for a couple of months I saw nothing and thought, "Gee, lost money on that one." But lo and behold, all of a sudden I saw growth! And on things I never can get grow, like broccoli and lavendar!

Lavendar, I think...forgot to label it..

So I'll give it another month and we'll transplant these into the garden. I'm excited this worked! For anywhere from $.99 to $3:49 I'll have hopefully more plants than I would if I bought them at the garden center! Next year, give this a try...



































Of course though, I did hedge by bets. I grew quite a few tomatoes as well.