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| I'm new to gardening, and just found out today about winter sowing. Another member has offered some free seeds, and said that there are a few that can be WS now. I'm terrified to put the poor things out there in all this snow, but I'm taking a leap of faith! I was wondering though if I can use home made paper pots in some kind of container? I know that I have to make sure there are drainage holes in the bottom, and vent holes in the top, I'm just wondering if the paper pots will hold up until the end of May?! (that's when everyone else around here has said you can plant)If not, I guess I'm going on a yogurt binge :) Do I just make sure there's a layer of water in the bottom of the container at all times so the newspaper/yogurt cup can wick it up? And what about when it turns to ice? Will the paper still wick it up? Thanks for taking the time to help! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Just to understand, are you thinking of using the paper pots inside some sort of plastic container? If so, I'd skip the paper pot and just put the soil in the container, with drainage holes in the container (like a milk jug or 2 liter bottle or larger yogurt tub). Otherwise, I doubt your paper pots will hold up to the weather, once wet, they are usually pretty easy to tear and fall apart. As for the snow, don't worry. I've been winter sowing now for several years and put those little seeds out all winter long. If they survive here they will be fine for you. Keeping good moisture in your containers is important later when the seeds begin to sprout. You certainly do not want your containers sitting in any water or they will rot. For now, I usually top off my containers with some snow and don't worry much about the moisture. Ma nature usually takes care of that for me first thing in the spring. Hope this helps :) |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a 6 (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 5:23
| irishdreamer23 - don't be terrified. If you didn't winter sow the seeds and they fell naturally to the ground and spent the whole winter under "all that snow," they'd still be fine as long as critters didn't eat them or the wind didn't blow them away. The containers replicate a greenhouse but allow the seeds to experience the winter weather they've spent a couple million years getting used to. I don't use the newspaper pots because they get mixed reviews from the experts on this forum. I just sow the seeds in containers with lots of drain holes in the bottom and set them outside. We're closing in on 4 ft. of snow where I am and all my containers are out there, either in it or under it. Do these help any?
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- Posted by irishdreamer23 none (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 8:01
| If only I had found out about WS sooner, now I'm scrounging in my kitchen for containers! Can't wait to get started! Thinking the nearest dollar store will have SOMETHING to get me going!! Yes dirtbert, I was planning on putting the paper pots crammed together in some kind of plastic tray with a lid, so when it is time to transplant I can just plop the whole thing in the ground without disturbing any roots. I tried starting veggies from seed indoors a couple years ago, had no idea what I was doing, spent a ton of money on seed starter packs, etc. and it was a complete and utter failure. Last year I bought some perennials from Walmart and such, but I couldn't believe the cost for such tiny plants! Can't afford to do that every year! Plus, there's just something special about starting from seed. I've been researching more and more about gardening the past couple months, and feel much better prepared to tackle my dirt this year! EEEK! Gardenweed your little sprout is just darling! One of my biggest worries, I know when they start sprouting you're supposed to take the top off your container, right? Well I know where I am, we could get spring like weather for a week or two and then suddenly plunge back into -20 C temperatures. Wouldn't this kill anything that's sprouted? LOL, here I am concerned about this and I don't have a single seed planted! I'm so excited to get started though! Hubby and daughter think I've gone off-my-rocker, but I don't care! Can't wait to see their faces in the spring when I have a ton of plants for the garden with little to no cost!! |
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- Posted by gardenweed_z6a 6 (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 8:45
| irishdreamer23 - my family, friends and neighbors all laughed their heads off when they saw my container ghetto last year. They stopped laughing and most were smiling as they drove away with their cars filled with winter sown perennials. I estimate I gave away close to 500 gallon-size pots of WS perennials. Let 'em laugh. Like every newbie, I worried about them after they sprouted and watched the weather forecast like a hawk. I kept notes of the times the temp dippled below freezing. I didn't lose a single sprout due to frost. Keep in mind they are used to the weather outside from the time they sprout. What seems cold to you or I is just "normal" for them. WS lupine sprout April 5, 2010 WS lupine leaf November 6, 2010 |
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- Posted by rosemctier z5/6 waynesburg PA (My Page) on Thu, Jan 27, 11 at 9:46
| irishdreamer-- it's my first year too but i'm taking the word of all these very convincing and devoted gardeners and jumping in. i have 52 containers done so far and show no signs of stopping. does your city have a local recycling drop off? i have shown no shame in dumpster diving at the recycling center, much to the embarrassment of my 16 year old daughter LOL. i have friends and neighbors saving containers for me too. |
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| Jennifer..do you have a Starbucks or Carribou coffee near you? A lot of the members here have gone into Starbucks and asked if they can get the empty milk jugs from their dumpsters? I understand that Starbucks also gives away used coffee grounds. Some people sprinkle coffee grounds around their established plants. Does Ontario recycle plastic, glass and cans? You can always take walks or drive around after dark the night before recycle day and raid people's recycle bins for milk jugs or 2 liter soda bottles. Ask family or friends to save their milk or liter soda bottles for you. |
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- Posted by plantrancherbecca z4 (My Page) on Tue, Feb 1, 11 at 22:45
| Greetings! I haven't read all of the replies so I apologize if I repeat what someone else has shared... Last March I ws'd broccoli, pole beans, and morning glories in toilet paper tubes tightly packed in a rectangular, clear plastic container that held salad greens. I cut plenty of holes in the bottom as well as the top and took the top off on nice days before leaving for work and replaced it at night. I was able to peel the tubes apart at the end of May and plant individual seedlings but the cardboard was delicate. I will do this again and feel it is worth the challenge/trouble because I have a hard time thinning seedlings! I plant my flowers in jugs like everyone else and find them easy to separate into hunk-o-seedlings. Good luck and have fun!! |
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