Another thing I "like" about gardening is , it gets me thinking about what I'm planning to do next year 😊 !!!! And at my age that means the 🌎 world to me !!!!
I absolutely love this! To have something to look forward to is such a gift! Age is just a number and I imagine your garden is exquisite :-) Thank you for sharing!!!
Great tips! Here in So CA, my WS Cosmos popped out of the top and bloomed. I pinched off the top and may need to open all the jugs that are growing tall. Assuming I need to transplant this month (March). I pinched off the Cosmos blooms to encourage a bushier growth. 🌸🌸🌸 Great tips today!
I love your channel. You are such a joy to watch. My question is I have several of these that have been growing for 4 to 6 weeks. At what point do you go ahead and decide to transplant or open them? In my area we are already in the 70s 60s most days. Of course, I know we would not need to open them if they have not germinated, but most of mine have.
Thank you so very much. The goal is to not open them even if they’re growing out of the tops and look like they are ready to burst until you are passed your last frost date outside and can transplant them once you open them into containers or pots or the ground wherever you plan on planting them. So where are you located? What zone are you in and when is your last frost date?
Oh thank you! I’m in Zone 8b. I’ve left all of the ones that are cold sensitive alone and removed a couple of the cooler weather annuals out to see what would happen. 😂 We are 70s and 50s mostly now. Average Last frost date is next week. Yay! Thank you so much for the feedback.
Congrats on almost 10k 🎉! I too have a hobby greenhouse and wondered how I could better use it with winter sowing. I think I am going to try mine inside and check daily for watering. Coffee filter is great idea. I have all my jugs on $Tree shower liner and I number my containers with the master list on my phone. I am zone 6A Ohio.
Just be super careful in the greenhouse. It gets so much hotter than outdoors and can cook your plants. There is not need to put them inside as they need the outdoor winter process to work properly. Keep in mind your containers are a mini greenhouse so I would strongly caution you against your greenhouse idea. Thank you on the well wishes. I appreciate you!!!
Love the tip about putting quick tips on packets as I have been sitting there reading packets. I’m thinking light for Germination, Height, Sun/Shade plant, & Planting time before last frost. I need to go back and watch for your codes for the info. I definitely need to tamp down soil in containers. TY
Hi Kim, it is March 19th and i am in Georgia 8a. Is it to late for me to start flower seeds in milk jugs? I just couldn't get to it before now. Love your videos and trust your advice.
Susan Mulvihill from Susan's in the Garden passed along a great tip. She uses a 3-4 inch long piece of tape to secure the lid in place, then she goes back and tapes the whole jug closed. I tried it this year, it works like a charm. So much less frustrating trying to wield a long strip of tape while lining up the two edges. It comes out so neat.
I did both seed starting for the first time ever! I am definitely doing this again in December. I like the winter sowing outside in the containers. Thank you tons and tons!! I truly enjoyed it! I planted a couple of plants in the ground to see how they will do. 7:51 Hopfuly in two weeks I can plant them all!! See you on your next video! I am in zone 8b.
OK so we are at the two week mark and if you’re anything like me here in zone eight a we are having a 30° freeze tonight so air on the side of waiting a little bit longer if your temperatures aren’t steady warm above freezing in the 50s at night. It’s not worth it.
so it has been in the upper 70s in my zone six garden for quite some time. I’m winter sowing a lot of lettuces that look amazing. They are still tiny, but should I start opening up the lid on these really warm days?
No!!!!!! Don’t open it at all until the plants are big and ready to plant in the ground. The point is to leave them enclosed until winter passes and you’re at or past your last frost date. Lettuce can be earlier Zone 6 is still way too cold i would think. Keep them closed for a good while still
I have some japanese maple seeds i have collected and I have held in to them for over a year afraid I will mess them up. Here in zone 8 NC. You have all weather all year long.Thank you for your time.
I have never planted Jap Maple seeds. Be sure to do your research and try maybe just one at a time to see what happens. I would really study what that seed needs (how it needs to be planted) before I planted it. But you've got this, I have faith in you!
Another tip is to cut AWAY from your body when you use a blade...I nicked myself prepping my containers (nothing serious, but it COULD have been!!). Wood burning tool and coffee filter was a game changer! Question: I am in 7b and winter sowed lettuce on 2.26. It's getting a little crowded and the lettuce is getting a few sets of leaves. When do you recommend planting those out? Thank you, Kim!!
Probably now honestly. Lettuce can handle cooler temperatures not freezing though so watch your weather and make sure it’s safe. Thank you for the tip You’re absolutely correct
Great tips, especially for a newbie lol !!! I garden every year and love it BUT I have never grown from seed. I will most likely direct sow but honestly i am going to try to start some of my seeds coming up here in containers. Just going to experiment and have fun. I love your video's and can't wait to follow along. Thank you for sharing 🩷🪻🌱🌷
I'm laughing. You've come a long way! I have started the same seeds inside and out for winter sowing. Hands down, the winter sown seeds are so much stronger. It looks like you have all the tips down solid. I also have deer pressure. It's so annoying when other people are charmed at seeing them. I hate them. I have to cover my bushes with netting or else they'll be eaten down to sticks.
Mine are eaten down to sticks. I had no idea I even had deer issues. We had to put my dog to sleep and I never realized the power of having dogs. They were inside dogs but we’re always outside with me and I guess their scent must’ve kept the deer away I came outside and wow I have no azaleas left. I started spraying liquid fence so maybe just maybe
Hey, that is certainly OK. I just did mine yesterday and I’m going to finish up tomorrow. Life happens and we just have to do the best. We can absolutely you keep in touch and let me know how it goes.
Your videos are so helpful, Kim. I love how sensible your advice is. I'm trying out winter sowing for the first time for my flower garden. I'm in zone 7b too. Have you winter sown Celosia before? I heard that the roots don't like to be disturbed when transplanting. Any luck with that?
I'm also in 7b and I've winter sown celosia before. It worked fine. You transplant them when they are still fairly small so you don't really disturb roots.
Congrats on your first time. How amazing it will be. Brace yourself! So I am one that disregards that disclaimer in roots not liking being disturbed. I winter sow and had great success with Celosia. Try it!
thank you for the video. Just wondering if you need to treat for slugs. I did use the coffee filters in my jugs. Also,, what do you mean about 2nd round of winter sowing. Is there enough time to do another round outside. It is still very cold here and nothing has sprouted yet. Very excited
You're welcome! What zone are you in? I am in 7b/8a and just started my winter sowing last week. So I would say if you are in a lower zone go for it. Don't wait too much longer but heck yea. I have never treated my containers for slugs before I opened my containers up a few years now and had minimal slug damage. I would say for me it's just another layer of protection because they do munch the leaves pretty bad if enough are in there.
Hi There! About the slugs, you may want to consider using a single layer of tulle over the opening of your jug. I picked this tip up from another gardener who said that plugs were getting into her jugs from the top instead of the bottom. Hope this helps! And you can buy tulle at any crafting store and sometimes at the Dollar Tree 💚
What kind of soil go in the jugs? When will the sea packet say on the back if it needs to be uncovered and you do mean just sprinkle across the top of the soil and don’t cover right?
Hey! Thank you for your questions. I have a few videos that give the information but will also share on here. I love to use the Miracle Grow Potting Mix (I show the bag at the end of the video) it's in the yellow bag and I bought it at Lowes. The seed packet doesn't always say whether or not it needs to be covered up to grow or if it need to be uncovered so ALWAYS google it. Type in "Do ____ seeds need light to germinate?" and it will pop up and say like yes _____ needs light to germinate or _____ needs dark to germinate. If it does need darkness to germinate then you would sprinkle the soil over the seeds not too deep though. just lightly most of the time it is like 1/4" which is very minimal. If it says don't cover then you sprinkle your seeds on the top of the soil and press the seeds lightly onto soil with your fingertip lightly (not burying them but just making sure they are pressed onto the TOP of the soil) and then closing the container. Does that help you? Let me know if you have any other questions.
