10 Mistakes to Avoid When Winter Sowing (Edit note: removed #4 on list) 

Hello all -- I've edited this video as of Feb 2023 to remove my #4 recommendation on not planting too many seeds. I had previously said to limit seed count to a number that I've realized is not the best advice. I recommend in general planting as many seeds as makes sense for the size of the jug and size the seedlings will get -- as a general rule i usually plant 7-9 seeds in my jugs, and sprinkle them if they're tiny. Thanks for your understanding.

I went to 2 Starbuck to ask for gallon milk jugs, gave them a kitchen garbage bag and my name. I went back the next day any received about a dozen. They were great about saving them.

“You don’t want to plant seeds when temps are still fluctuating”. Uh, hello Dorothy, we’re in Kansas. It’s what we do all year.

THANK YOU for addressing the temp fluctuation issue!!! I'm in Missouri and our temps are all over the place. I would have to babysit those sprouts for weeks 😢😢 That's why I bought grow lights so I can control the temperature.

Maybe add "Forgetting to label the containers" and "Using a labeling method that will disappear over time" as easy mistakes to avoid? Last year was my 1st year with Winter Sowing.. and I am SO glad I labeled outside the container (I numbered each jug and entered them into a spreadsheet) and I did a label IN each container with the plant name(so I did not need to run to the computer each time I wanted to plant a jug into the garden). Worked well for me.

Oh my. I already put out 7 jugs . It was really cold but then the weather warmed up to 75 last week. Ugh. But I wanted you to know that I dared to winter sow last year when I saw your videos, that was in late January and I had so much success! Thank you!

Thanks! Trying this method for the first time this year. Fingers crossed!

The ten mistakes: don’t use seed starting mix rather use potting mix; planting seed too early; pre-filling milk jugs with potting mix too far in advance of the season. It will lose moisture; putting too many seeds in a container. Only put three to six plant seeds per container; planting more than one seed in the same spot. Only plant one seed per hole; inadequacy soil depth. Give your plants About four inches of soil; don’t plant seeds too deep; be sure to check your jugs regularly for sprouting and moisture; make sure your jugs has proper drainage; compare your seedlings with other seed starts. Outside seeds in jugs will be slow to sprout. Look to see how healthy and green they look.

I've only seen a few of your videos before this one and never had a whole lot of success gardening until working from home this past year. Just commenting to say I really love your style. You're very encouraging and your enthusiasm is contagious! I've found certain things are really easy for me to grow, given my other obligations, and certain things just love my location! Both of my parents are from farm families & I always thought if I couldn't grow plants it had to be because I wasn't working hard enough. Watching you is helping me understand that I can garden as a hobby and, let's face it, I'm keeping my day job. It's supposed to be fun and if I fall on hard times and ever have to grow food for real, I'll be that much ahead of the game. Doubling back now to watch your winter sowing series. I've got my containers cut & punctured. Need to give them a wash & a clorox rinse in the next week or so. Then I get to clean and prep big containers & a few no-till beds before the mosquitos revive in my part of the world. Best wishes to you in the New Year!!

This was hands down the most helpful video on this topic I’ve seen. Thanks so so so much for breaking it down.

This is the first time I’ve seen your videos. Love your excitement about winter sowing and your well organized, concise tips!

I’ve used this method without fail for some years. Until last year. The temps were all over the place in Ohio. What did germinate didn’t grow beyond seedling size. I probably didn’t pay enough attention to them during the germination time, though some of those temp dips were not forecasted. I had to settle for picked over plants at the nursery. Hopefully this year will be better. I agree with what you said about the plant s being smaller at first. But they are much hardier. Great video.

I love what you said about not comparing success to others. So many times I have had wild success with something one year but not the next. Those huge success should be celebrated for everyone because they are so precious

Straight to the point no pretensions. I love it.

Oh my goodness. I just found this post. I really appreciate your take on winter sewing.

First time meeting you and I'm very happy! I subbed and will be watching all that you post! Good job!!!

Love your enthusiasm

Excellent points! Thank you for sharing this information. Plus your energy level is so inspiring!

Thank you Esther for taking the time to read our comments and then answering them. That's awesome!

Thank you!!! You answered all of my questions and gave me some much needed motivation 🙏🙏🙏😘😘😘

Great info, this will be my first year winter sowing ;) Thank you.

Thank you for all the good info on winter sowing. This will be my first year trying it.

Great video. You explain things so well .I didn't catch what zone you are in. Looking forward to the rest of your videos

Excellent video, Esther! Your experience and videos has guided my journey through winter sowing. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Thank you so much! I’m checking all your winter sowing videos because I need a low cost way to start my seeds this year. Excited to try this!

So glad that I found your channel. Had never heard of Winter Sowing. You explain things so well. Glad to be a new subscriber!

Thanks so much Esther. I’ve learned so much with this playlist.

Good talker, easy to listen to and makes total good sense!

Thanks for the recap and tips! My jugs are itching to come out of storage! I look forward to the stratification topic. A couple of my flower seed packages call for it.

Great information...I love winter sowing.. its been a game changer for me.

Excellent job explaining winter sowing.

Inspirational Esther ! My first time winter sowing this year. 10 jugs sown and going to add more drainage holes. So happy to have found you. ❤

This has been such a mild winter so far. Definitely going to wait until February. Thanks for the list!

Perfect video. Keep up the good work. Gonna try it this week.

Just an excellent video I will take all that on board and try this year to grow my own veg as much as possible ... thank you for all that information ....

Very good advice and tips. Thank you.

Just found your video. Very good info as this will be my first year trying this.

Just stumbled upon your channel. First time winter sowing for me. Thanks for info. Will watch the winter sowing 101 video as well. Just subscribed! Blessings!

This weekend was the first time I tried winter sowing. I wish I had seen this video before. Great information!

Great video, clear, informative, well organized, with a hint of motivational encouragement. Thank You from Ohio

Thanks for the info esther. Tried winter sowing for the first time with your help and had some success. Getting ready for this year!!

I love #10 because I just saw your videos on sprouts and was sad I didn't have anything sprouting yet. Thank you for always being such an amazing teacher. I appreciate you so much! 🧡

Excellent information! This is my first year to try winter sowing.

Thank you so much! I just started my winter sowing for the first time yesterday, Your tips are very helpful and your so sweet!

Thank you precious Esther! This year I will try growing radishes to full harvest maturity in gallon jugs without transplanting. This Texas Zone 8b heat is very unforgiving and often relentless, but I am relentless as well! 😎👍🌱

My new trick last year was using alfalfa pellets meant for horses as a side dressing fertilizer. Everything flourished!

Great information, i have already started a few jugs and its to late for them, I have more i can work with using your tips thank You

Still a great video!! I don’t even try to start seeds under lights inside anymore. It’s just too much work! I just made a #shorts video on winter sowing and your video popped up again. Let me make sure I liked and subscribed!! Have a great year.

Thanks Esther, great refresher coarse for me. I forgot one year and used seed starting mix. Got. Super tiny plants only. Thanks again

Thank you! You saved me a lot of time and grief 😊

Just incredible. Well thought out, super helpful (wish I’d watched it much sooner)…thank you!

Wow just found your channel and very impressed. You have a gift for teaching. Am 71 and just heard about winter seeding yesterday. Your presentation is twice the other one. Going to plan on beginning around February 1. Going to look around your channel more and pretty sure will subscribe. Many thanks

Fantastic video today! I followed your guidance last year as a newbie and we ate fresh veggies all summer. I can't wait to start up again:) Thanks, Esther, you're a great teacher. Happy Holidays:):):)

Great information ! Thank you

Great tips. Thanks for sharing

Okay, so I probably made 8 of the mistakes listed in this video last year. Thanks for this info-a lot of good tips that I will incorporate in this year’s winter sowing!

Thanks for the tips. I've never winter sowed seeds before but was gifted wildflower seeds and am going to winter sow them as they need cold stratification. That way I can work on my landscape plan in spring as I wasn't prepared to do so this fall. Hopefully I get some nice plugs to put in.

The information was so helpful.

Really nice video. I’m trying winter sowing for the first time in northern Wyoming. Your vid was very helpful, even though I avoided most of the pitfalls by watching a ton of others ( of course including Laura of Garden Answer). Really liked your presentation, very professional. I subscribed right away. Keep posting!!!

Thank you. Great suggestions!

Such great info!

Hello brilliant video thanks, also thanks to the tips in the comment section. Brilliant advice all round. Natalie from mid England zone 7..🙂🙂🙂🙂

First time watching you, OMG- ADORE YOU. I made several of those mistakes when I did WS couple years ago. My favorite was when I used a plastic bin to move a bunch of jugs. Then it rained. A lot. Panic ensues. Me outside scrabbling on hands & knees to pull the sad little seeds from their watery graves… But oh it is a lot of fun! Thank you so very much.

This video is very informative, thanks for sharing.

Thanks Friend! I use a wet tooth pick for small seeds. Great info❤

Great video, This is my first time to your channel, love your style going to try this for 2023

So glad I found your video! Recently discovered this method and going to give it a whirl for the first time! Lots of great intro videos, but you went the extra step that made me feel comfortable enough that I'll do it the right way as someone newer to the gardening game! Thank you! Take care

This was very helpful!!!

Fox Farm ocean forest is excellent potting soil…also here’s some more tips - don’t go nuts with the duct tape, you just don’t need to. Keep the jug closed with a strip of tape, or holes and twist ties, or even twine and holes in plastic jugs to tie together. In my experience too much duct tape is wasteful and annoying and remember in early (fool’s spring) spring you will want to open and close the containers depending on the weather (open for hot days, close for cold nights.) All that opening and closing is not conducive to lots of annoying duct tape.

Great video and I agree with all that! I grow hundreds of plants like this and they are always so hardy

Thanks for the tips! :) ONE SEED PER HOLE!

Great suggestions! 👍 🌱

Just watched this twice and subbed!

Thanks for the videos. I learnt to winter sow from you last winter. I tried it for the first time and things went mostly well. There were a couple of casualties which may fall into the category of planting when winter weather was inconsistent. I lost the cosmos and marigolds almost didn't make it. One thing that was a complete write off which I won't try again was carrots. They decided that because they had experienced winter that they must be in their second year. They didn't need to make big roots, they thought it was time to flower. I had some lovely carrot flowers in the veggie garden.

Great tips thankyou!

Ì believe you hit all the points! Great video! Thanks for covering the covering of jugs if they sprouted and temps are freezing at night.😊 I DID throw the sprouted ones in the cool greenhouse because it was freezing at night, but I probably shouldn't have as it may have reduced the lighting and warmed too much as the broccoli started to stretch a bit--still no where near what happens to them inside. I will have blanket ready for next week starting Monday night. This is my first year and I'm Hooked! I dread every year of filling up shelves of flats and babysitting and taking up precious room and window space. This will save me time, $$$ and no more mold or fans or lights and gnats; Although, I think the gnats started when I brought a plant in to overwinter which I normally never do. There is just no guessing in WS--set it and almost forget it. My plants are SO Much healthier. One point I go by for seed depth is plant them approximately 2x's the depth of seed Except for those tiny seeds like foxgloves, just sprinkle and gently press them down. I'm even trying some late sowing as of yesterday as it will be at least 5-6 weeks to plant the garden. We will have ANOTHER cold Blast this week after a record breaking day today of 80°F or more--zone 5a WI. Hopefully this will be the last week of freezing, but I know there will be a few more days here and there. Patience everyone--ENJOY!

Just had you in my feed, 10 mistakes got my attention =^) I see you're in Md., me too, I'm on the shore, grew up in Perry Hall. Now I have 3 Marylander's to watch, hope you made out ok with this last storm.

Great information 👍 Thank you for sharing with us. Happy Holidays 🎊 🎄 🎉 😊 😃. Hope you have great holidays. 👍 Peace and good fortune and good health to you and your husband. 😃

Your videos are great.

Great tips 😁

Thanks so much for all this great info :)

Thanks for the information.

Im 39 and you just taught me the 1" per knuckle trick! Immediately went to get a measuring tape to check and it was bang on which surprised me because I have oddly small hands for my height!

Esther you are awesome for this Thx

Enjoyed that,good information,ty

Making sure to water jugs if you have a dry spell. Good video!

Wow...quite impressive video. Thanks a lot. This will be my first year winter sowing with the plastic containers. I will start in Feburary just like you suggested. I am in Zone 4 in Western Wyoming so I am looking forward to the challenge.

Just found you! Good video - very helpful x

Thank u beautiful for this wonderful information

Great info!

👋🏾 Just found your channel. New subscriber. I'll be checking out your winter sowing series. Happy to find a fellow Md youtub'er

Very good I will use this for the class I wil be teaching

very helpful!!! Thank you!!!

Great video. Very easy to. follow you! Thank you Subscribed!

I wish I had seen this video. Too many seed in container - guilty! But good news over 50 milk jugs, 100 percent germination. Thank you so much for this series

Good video, thanks for all the good tips. BTW a hot screw driver will work really well for putting those holes in the milk jug. ;)

Good info. Tfs.

Thanks.. good tips. I've been winter sowing for a few years with good success. I made a winter sowing music video too!...just for winter sowers. I just tried to search for it...it came up for me when I searched "winter sowing song"

My wife grew a bunch of flowers last year and suggested I try squash and tomatoes in milk jugs this season. I have always started toms and squash indoors under lights 8 or 10 weels before settng out. She says the veg plant sprouts will do fine with a frost if they are covered by an old blanket. I'm willing to try new gardening procedures, but I have to admit, I've sprouted my plant seeds indoors for many years under lights in a 65 degree growing room and always had a good crop of fruits. We are in the dead of winter here in MT with zero or below temps. Hard to believe in 2 months or so I should be starting out my seeds outdoors in jugs. Thanks for the tips. Bob in Montana.

thanks. very helpful