On Roots and Refuge, she used the lid as the base, placed a soil bag down laying it flat on the lid and cut the top out of the bag but leaving the edges intact to contain the soil. She planted her seeds and then placed the container over top the entire thing. I learn so much from you Luke! Thank you!! 😊
2021 is my 2nd year of winter sowing and it was very successful! My first year I did less than 20 milk jugs of vegetables only. However, in 2021 I winter sowed about 87 gallon sized milk jugs of vegetables, flowers, fruit and herbs. I winter sowed tomatoes, peppers just about everything! Every grew successfully. I never had to water or fertilize them. The snow and rain watered them and nature did the rest. You must use a good organic potting soil. They work like mini greenhouses. They all transplanted and produced perfectly. Virginia zone 7a.
I love how you are giving more growing options and ideas to those that may not have extra space in their homes. Thank you for continuing to educate and inspire more growing. Blessings
Third year of WINTER SOWING! I use mostly milk jugs and put them in the back yard. Am still experimenting. I love to see people using pop bottles, milk jugs, etc. They are gardening. Hooray for them!
May I say, I've been watching your channel for a while now, because I wanted to learn how to be better in the garden. Out of all the gardening channels I do watch, yours is by far one of the best educational channels, where you make it easy to understand, provide alternative options, while having fun in the garden. Thanks for all you do for the gardening world, Luke! ~ Laurie
The Rusted Gardner channel is another real good one as well. Very educational content and economically sound ideas. Also Maritime Gardening channel is another one, knowledgeable and economical gardening.
Thanks for another video. For us one of the great reasons to winter sow is to grow perennial flowers without worrying about cold treating the seeds. Our neighbors are more interested about what is in the milk jugs then they are interested in judging us, especially remembering the produce baskets they get in the summer. Love your channel and love your seeds.
Right now I have kale and eggplants under grow lights in my kitchen; pepper seeds germinating on a heat mat and a few milk jugs outside that I've prepared using the winter sowing method. The milk jugs are buried under about a foot of snow. This is my second year gardening and my first using the winter sowing method. I just learned that in addition to flower seeds, vegetables can be started using this method. So I plan on adding a few more milk jugs with tomato and perhaps lettuce seeds to see how it turns out. I don't find it to be unsightly as they are lined up against the back of my house, I may even corral them using milk crates that I have on hand. From watching videos of others it looks like a fun, easy method of growing; and opening the jugs in the spring is akin to opening a gift on Christmas day. I'm very excited about this year's garden.
I love your philosophy on garden etiquette outside and that you shared your view so that others may take note of something they didn’t think about. I love passionate gardeners but not always their choice of containers.
I'll be happy to use whatever you want if you aremy neighbor and want to buy it for me! Other wise my 5 gallon jugs work just fine! I had a neighbor once call housing and complain about our yard... and our "pots" everywhere.... yeah housing came and looked knocked on their door and asked what the issue was... they didn't like the orange pots we had in our back yard... they were on clearance...and actual legit pots... for 1.00... id love to have another color... but blue was 10 to 15 each... orange was 1.00 we got orange...she was mad over a color... it was all neat and tidy...well kept etc... they were on nice wooden stands... im under the opinion... someone will always be mad... ps I've also found sharing produce with neighbors is a surefire way to make them ok with your plants!
I literally just placed an order with you! I ordered various onion seeds and I'm going to winter sow them in water jugs and place them in the back yard. I'm excited to give it a try. I watched several good videos on doing this. Thanks Luke for another great video 👍
Whooooaaa! Pop bottles and milk jugs areGREAT. Who cares how they look! They work wonderful AND you are up cycling! There is no downside! Line them up tidy if you must but don’t let what your neighbors think stop you from trying this method! When they see you gardening without worrying about hardening off or even watering (provided it doesn’t get too dry) they’ll want to try it too! Lazy gardeners unite! Get those milk jugs and put them to work!
In my city we have a rather predatory code violation organization. Some of us have to be careful in order to avoid legal and financial battles with hostile government structures.
Miserable friends are those who will judge you based upon the appearance of your property; and when they have an occasion for the need for food, the elitist will be glad to see you growing food in anyway possible.
I tried the inverted plastic storage tote because I didn’t have the money or skills to build something over my planter box and it totally worked! They’ve also survived 2 snows so far because of the “greenhouse.”
Honestly, I’d mostly ignore Luke’s suggestions here and look up Winter Sowing techniques elsewhere. I’ve done a LOT of research on the subject and contrary to his statements, the starts are not late, it’s not an untidy method, and you never leave the caps on bottles because that’s how the seeds get moisture. Also, eggplants, tomatoes, and any seed really works fantastic! I know he means well, but because he doesn’t seem to have used this method, it’s not his strong area of expertise. Good luck- it works fabulously!
Winter sowing is the best! I've been doing it for years. The plants outperform the hothouse plants. I love Migardener, but he doesnt really know what he's talking about this time.
This is fascinating, because I was wondering about this for a long while, and wanting to do a good portion of my garden this way (garlic growing got me going on this as well as tomatoes and bok choy volunteers). A great subject given the world we are living in.
Never done this before, but definitely will within the next few weeks. I don't have a lot of room inside for grow lights, but have some seeds for plants that I can't find as starts where I live. Thank you, Lucas! You rock.
Lol we are use to the cold, if its 70 we are wearing shorts because that's warm here. If it gets in the 90s we feel like we are going to die from heat stroke. Most of the winter I have the thermostat set between 68-70. And that's comfortable.
@@andielliott2306 yes! We had been doing good between 24 and 31 and I have been hanging outside without a coat. Enjoying the warmth of the sun. Except one day when wind chill was a bit too much. It's a really warm 45° day here in Michigan today. I'm ready to lay in the sun...lol
I am having great success with MI gardener seeds. I'm in the central Texas area. I started 6 varieties of peppers indoors last week and germination rates are impressive. I planted 6 types of heirloom tomato seeds from Luke's store yesterday. His seed packets are resealable which I find nice and the price of his seeds are the best I have found. Get your seeds now folks. Don't wait. Thanks Luke for the great seeds and great selection.
I agree the bins look more tidy! You forgot to mention how the seedlings are being watered (oops) For gardeners new to winters sowing: please remember to put holes in the top of your plastic bin or go out to water your seedlings. If you have milk and soda jugs and no HOA preventing you from reusing them, I do encourage that as well. Just leave the cap off and you’re good to go. Gardening has so much plastic already, that any way I can find to use less or reuse what I already made is really something I try to do. Happy Gardening!!
@@epiphanysnow5282 Not enough heat loss to change sprouting times really. More importantly, cap off means very little to no maintenance on watering until close to planting out time, and does the job of ventilation.
The seed prices and free shipping are unbeatable! I cannot find anywhere else that sells heirloom and organic seeds for this price! I think I bought almost $100 worth this year. Probably the same amount last year too. Thank you Luke!
I started WS for my hardy flowers on December 25. Now I am working on my herbs and hardy greens . And in March I will WS on my tenders veggies. Zone 7a .
Do you do tender plants 1 month before your last frost? I'm trying to find information about this, I'm doing this WS for the first time. South Jordan, UT zone 7a
M. Reilly I'm good with Soda, Pop, or even soda-pop! Ever been to Georgia? It's all coke. Yes...there's Pepsi cokes, Mountain Dew cokes and root beer cokes too. Fun!
I have learned so much from your channel. Am trying to grow tomatoes in milk jugs inside a breezeway and can't wait to see the results! Will still probably have to harden them off, but pulling plants inside and out daily is a lot.
So you put potatoes outside in freezing temperature ?? I've always been told potatoes will rot if they receive any freezing temps..my seed place wont even mail them to me until the temps allow...thank you for the info, I'm gonna try this out this year👍
HARVESTER OF SORROWS Potatoes will be a stretch, if you’re going to use a milk jug, you won’t have enough soils to support tuber growth. Luke’s spin will lead to rotten potatoes, soil will be too wet or too cold. Carrots and beets will have the same issues too. They have a large tap root which can’t be disturbed too much which is why you don’t hear about transplanting them.
I have been using a large clear bin to help some winter purslane seedlings slowly grow over winter. Zone 6. The seedlings under the bin are about 3x the size of the ones outside the bin. I'll give winter bin germination a shot.
I got one just outside my compost bin this past year, a late starter that actually produced a few tomatoes at the end. What's funny is I accidentally planted all cherry tomatoes but thought they were half med size tomatoes. When that little jewel popped up, I was ecstatic. 🍅
You make me smile and I always enjoy your episodes about gardening. I have managed to keep my spinach over the winter so far in the Interior BC keeping an eye on the temperature and covering.
Thanks for another great video. It’s late January and our weather has been very cold and snowy in WV. I’m eager to try this. I’d love to get a jump start on small gardening. This will be my first year. I’ve learned so much from you.
Winter sowing requires no shelves, heat mats or grow lights. The only monetary investment is soil, seeds, duct tape and something sharp to cut containers and drainage holes. After the initial watering when planting seeds, no further watering is required until plants have grown a bit and containers feel light (unless you live in a very hot, arid zone.) Seeds come up at the proper time when conditions are right for them to germinate and plants are hardier requiring no period of hardening off. Any seed can be started this way, including tomatoes. So glad you addressed this Luke! For me it's the easiest method for starting plants for my garden.
Awesome. I am building a cold frame with a window over a pallet I used last year to plant brassicas in that this will work perfectly in... I usually wait for transplanting because we get a late hail storm weeks after our last frost date. Between the cold frame covers and using some Dollar Store clear tubs, I should be able to get a nice early start. For a plastic bin I would HAVE to weigh it down with a brick because of high winds, but that brick can also be a prop to ventillate when needed. Thank you!
Hi Luke, before I ask a question I want you to know that last summer I started watching your videos and they ( alongside a few others ) have changed my gardening completely! Revitalized a passion and now I am finally starting a small business. A dream ive had for 10 years and thought would never happen...... we have 7 kids and are busy, but you brought gardening “home” again for me. We’ve even watched some videos in our home school lesson! ( ok maybe those were actually for me but hey.... they learned stuff too!!) So thank you, thank you, I can’t say it enough! My question is ..... do you winter sow into the garden As an added option to starting indoors. Example: I saw Charles dowding start beets and transplant ( what?!?!?!! I have to try this) so that would give A couple weeks head start as well, but if I’d rather take up my starting cells with hot weather crops, I could do this with the frost tolerant seeds? Sorry if someone else already asked this and I missed it. Thanks again! Ps I’m 5B and in 14 inches of snow right now....ha!
Midwesterners say "pop" instead of soda. I am from Chicago and have said it all my life. I have friends in New York and Pennsylvania that strictly say "soda" and make fun of me saying "pop"! ;-)
I’m starting tomatoes 🍅 and peppers 🌶 this way for the first time. Another YT channel said start a month before your last frost date. I’m in zone 6B. What zone are you?
@@rdarrett3635 I'm in zone 6a. You can put them out whenever. You don't have to wait until a specific time. The seeds will know when they are ready to sprout. If you do get a late frost, you can just throw a blanket or towel over your jugs with the seedlings and they will be just fine. Hope that helps!
I've been trying to come up with an easy greenhouse to start seeds outdoors This presented an excellent idea for a seed trays in large tote as a greenhouse. Thank you
Thank you Luke! Needed this video today as I was just looking at my seeds to figure out when to start them. You just cut out a bunch of work for me! Thank you! 🤗
I actually use the clear container method myself, not for “winter sowing” but to give my early veg crop seedlings a few weeks head start. One crucial step though is to drill several holes in the top for ventilation and to let moisture in as rain. I would recommend a brick if you live in an area with wind, but I live in a pretty un-windy area so I don’t weigh them down at all. Of course, anything you put on them will diminish the amount of light inside your mini “greenhouse” so the less you can put on top, the better,
Yes definitely wall the containers together tight with bricks around the bottom. Had an awesome winter sown season going on a couple years ago.. the plants were doing fantastic and then one super windy day ruined everything.. 60-some gallon prepped jugs blew all over the yard and destroyed 80% of very healthy plants. I was so angry I didn’t anchor the crop down. Now I wall the group in with bricks around the bottom and even put a blanket over them when I knew it was going to be windy to keep everything in place,
@@The-Merchandise I ran out earlier tonight and moved my winter sowing tote because of all the wind that was blowing. Lol I'd be so angry if that happened to me. My tote isn't filled enough for me to feel comfortable just leaving it easily exposed to the wind and at risk if being blown around.
I've always lived where the containers need corralling. Things that let light in around the soil work best, like a raised bed with soil level post fall harvest drop, if you have enough containers to fill the bed so they are 6 or so inches down and wedged in together. (Bonus, less neighbor visibility.) Tall containers may need to be sort of tied together at the tops so wind can't catch one and yank it free of the mass. Other things have been useful: old deep freezer wire baskets, boxy plant supports (anchor really well), garden chairs with tied twine around the legs, etc. In a pinch I've stuck sticks as far down as possible in a raised bed, where the soil really hadn't dropped enough, and wrapped twine around all the containers to make a big heavy mass.
I appreciate that you explain things in a way that anyone can understand what you're saying! I have watched others who speak in such a way that you almost need a degree to get it. Thank you. I love that you have videos on how to grow each type of pant! That is such a help. Last year was my first year of serious gardening. It has been a journey already. Many mistakes many victories but I have become very passionate about it. You have truly helped it feel like I can accomplish a prosperous garden. Thank you for making gardening fun and understandable.
Ooooo…..I have wintersowed for years…..I will do this tomorrow! I will do this in my black eyed Susan patch to build it up ….also build up my butterfly weed patch….I have individual plants scattered and I now want to encourage more groups of plants…. This is THE WAY to do it!!! I’m so excited!!!! I have to think where else I’m going to use this method…again, the ground is frozen so I’ll just sprinkle soil on top and just do what you did…I know it’s going to work because this is winter sowing on a grander level!!!! THANKS!
I am Sooo excited about WS!! It works, it will save me room, money, time and NO LEGGY plants! I no longer will be babysitting seedlings and they will be hardened off. I was so happy to see brassicas and they were not leggy. I did throw those jugs that sprouted in the greenhouse and if I didn't I would cover them at night because we are getting freak snow and 19° at night. This is a game changer for me!! Love it!!
I’m trying your method NOW!! In years prior I’ve always for winter sowing in ♻️ recycled clear bottles. I’m pumped to try your method! U just saved me a ton of time! Thc
Omg! Thanks Luke! I absolutely love this new idea and going to try this MUCH neater method. I have almost 200 containers and honestly its too much junk, my hubby is sick of it even though I neatly arrange them on the beds outside.
So, this had always boggled my mind, thanks for sharing !!! My ground is completely frozen, it is -20 here today. I am always amazed when I get surprise tomatoes or pumpkins ... very cool.
Do you need to have holes cut into top of container for airflow? And for watering, do you just periodically lift top and water? Thanks ! Really enjoy your videos!
I have not seen that method (putting new fresh soil on snow). I might as well try just to see how it works. Thanks as always, Luke! I very much like this video.
Lettuce ( and all cold crops) do excellent with this!! I use the gallon water or milk jugs and grow literally hundreds of seedlings in one jug!! Warm crops do great too, I just plant fewer seeds per container than the cold ones lol.
In Canada, this is a perfect method. Since we do not drink milk, I use gallon-sized vinegar jugs. Same concept for use. Vinegar is an excellent substitute for alcohol, especially these days when alcohol is scarce.
Been winter sowing following the website wintersown.org process for my raised beds for several years I do spring sowing as well from Zone 3. Very happy with the outcome but I leave the bottle caps off. Never had a issue removing tender plants from containers !!! Your seeds work great in winter sowing - many beautiful flowers 🌺 perennial annuals
This will be my first year winter sowing, and I do have milk jugs (free). I think if someone drives by and thinks someone's yard is a junkyard (because of milk jugs/pop bottles) then it's not because of the winter sowing. You can have a pleasant yard and keep your milk jugs not interfering with that.
I been doing jugs for years. My jugs are currently completely covered in snow as I type. We use the square water jugs. Good strong tough plants is the result.....
I have winter sown for 10 years. A few misconceptions. We don’t water the soil when we plant either. When the plants come up we water if the soil gets dry, but from the bottom up. The lid to the jug isn’t left on either. And I do everything. Including tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc. I rarely lose a plant with transplanting. The soil/plant comes out easily for transplant. No different than purchasing a plant at Walmart. I’ve done the grow lights and greenhouse thing. This method is much easier and costs almost nothing.
@@litaanderson1589 I’m in zone 5b. I do my tomatoes and peppers no problem. I don’t do as many spring crops as you think. They get warm and tend to bolt quickly if I’m not paying attention. So once I get 2 leaves in the jug for those I plant them, unlike my melons, tomatoes etc., that I plant when they are starting to outgrow the jug
Hi Luke. Thanks for providing more options. The more Options you have the more chances of being successful. BTW, that's a really great looking overshirt. see you next time.
I use the coke bottles and seltzer bottles for years in my from window and work great. Last year I moved them under my grow light when the seedlings were a bout two weeks old and had the best year ever.
Great tips for those of us with small houses! I am going to do this next season. This year I had a portable greenhouse and it attracted thousands of slugs, even used copper and other methods but the slugs destroyed almost every plant!
I like the method of dumping the soil on top of the snow, sowing the seeds, then placing the plastic dome on top. Question: should I drill holes on top of the dome for ventilation?
Watched two other videos before this one and boy am I glad I watched yours! I wanted to try winter sowing but between the milk jugs and tape I thought it was cobbled and cluttered. Looking forward to trying your method very soon.
I like your method. It does look tidier, and you don't have to transplant. Recycling is good too though for those who prefer pop bottles or milk jugs. Some people might find it interesting to know that you can do similar things with plants that are already growing in the fall to lengthen the season. Check out the key word "cloche" (bell) which comes from French agriculture in the 1800's, when gardeners used glass "bell-shaped" vases as mini greenhouses for their cool weather veggies. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloche_(agriculture). I have enjoyed salads from my garden on Christmas eve doing this.
This is what worked for me last year. Started seeds in red solo cups. Put cups in a shallow but long plastic tote. Covered with a heated blanket (I didn't have heat mats). Once they sprouted, I moved to my shelving unit with grow lights. Still needed to purchase shelving unit, grow lights, seed mix and cups. But cups I got from $ store, and I Bought about 64 quarts of seed mix on heavy discount at the end of the previous season. Same as Christmas decor, budget $ for stocking up at end of season when things go on clearance so you will have what you need to start the next spring
Every year, with my tomatoes, I will allow one tomato to fall to the bottom of the planter. Or a squirrel will take a bite out of one and leave the rest. I'm not good at identifying sprouts by their leaves to distinguish between crops and weeds. But I can always spot a tomato or pepper from a mile away. I normally will get saplings that are far more superior to purchasing starter plants the next season. I do have to reposition them after a while. Because in Michigan, a warm up doesn't necessarily mean a final warm up for the season, sometimes I will see a sprout that can get taken out by a random freeze. Sometimes there's a victor that still makes it through even that.
I love your videos so informative , I’m learning a lot . This year will be my second year gardening thanks to corona virus I found a love for garden that I had no idea . I just subscribed I being watching your videos for 2 years sharing it with my friends and I just realized I had never subscribed 😂.
yes, that’s for sure what is important is to grow a sustainable garden for your family not a lawn for show. I don’t mean you have to be a junk collector but collect what is necessary. Good attitude mB👍 like Luke said, Grow Big or Go Home.
We had a neighbor move in about 1.5 years ago in the middle of summer when the garden was in full swing and complained it was an eyesore. I guess they should have found another house...LOL. The rest of the neighbors always stop by to talk because they love it. We live on a corner and the garden is between our driveway and our hating neighbor's
Luke doesn’t have any trouble with his neighbors. Marysville, MI. has a population of approximately 12,000 people - no subdivisions. Luke doesn’t like the way it looks and that’s his choice. I’m agree with you, I don’t care if the neighbors like it or not. It’s all about communication, IMO if you were to explain Winter Sowing or try to get neighbors involved there might be less of an issue?
You're forgetting they need water and air too till spring? The bottle method includes leaving the cap of the bottle off to let water and air in regularly. You don't mention having to make holes in the tote to let water and air in ór having to lift these regularly. How you describe it here, it kills of the seedlings before they even get a chance 🤷♀️
Love this idea for a nicer look than jugs! I imagine they give more room to growing leaves too. Do you poke holes in these bins to let water and air in?
It really depends on *how* you employ plastic bottles... As hanging planters, they work great and if you paint/cover the clear plastic to protect the roots (which is what I do), they look downright cute! With recycling centers unable to cope with the amount of plastic waste we generate, I think it behooves us to reuse and upcycle all that we can, at home. I even clean up and use detergent bottles and paper cups for planting and seed-starting!
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. I didn't know that you had a book. Not a doomsdayer but the internet might be broke when I need information. Going to order it this evening! God bless 🤟👍
I have been itching to get started gardening and keep smacking my hand too soon too soon. I am definitely going to try this but not this week in the below zero weather. Too cold to be outside that long...lol
