Sowing Seeds in Winter Months for Spring Gardens
Seeds of last summer’s flowers have fallen onto the cold
ground and if conditions are favorable, they will grow into new plants next
spring. In fact, many, tree, herb, vegetable
and flower seeds can be grown outside in the winter. No special equipment is
needed: no greenhouse, no cold frames, and
no shelter required.
New Yorker, Trudi
Davidorff came up with the term Winter Sowing and has successfully educated
gardeners about the wonders of using Mother Nature’s methods to plant your
spring garden months ahead of schedule.
Warmth loving plants such
as corn, beans, and squash will prefer spring and summer temperatures but asparagus,
onion, cabbage, lettuce, spinach and all the chard and Brussels sprouts family
will respond well to winter seeding outdoors. Any tree, shrub, herb or
ornamental plant that can take a winter freeze will also do well. This month
you can winter-sow these seeds outdoors: Alyssum, asclepias (butterfly weed),
calendula (pot marigold), corn flower, coreopsis, cosmos, foxglove, hollyhocks,
larkspur, petunia, poppy, beets, broccoli, parsnip, chard, carrots, Mache,
radish, lettuce, spinach, kale, shallot, parsley and dill.
Some seeds have
complicated needs for heat, cold, moisture and light. They have thick seed
coats that prevent water from being absorbed until the best time; otherwise,
they could sprout and die.
Cool or
Cold-Stratification describes the periods of moist-cold that are required to
break through the seed coat and challenge the seed’s protective hormones so it
can sprout roots and shoots. The temperature has to be between 32 and 45, and
the cold period has to be between 1 and 3 months, depending on the plant.
Generally, planting seeds
outside in January resembles planting them outside in April. Select high sided
trays, clear plastic clamshells, milk cartons cut almost in half, plant flats
and other containers with holes. To put holes in milk jugs, just cut the
corners with scissors or use a soldering iron to melt holes.
Select sterile potting
soil mixes from the garden center or mix peat moss half and half with sand or
perlite. Pour hot water over the peat moss to help it absorb water before
planting. Wet the soil and let it drain before planting. This method allows the
soil to settle so you know how much more to add before adding seeds.
Label each container with
the name of the plant and the planting date. For labels, you can use tape,
recycled window blinds, strips of milk carton, etc. Write with a paint filled
pen or a pencil to mark the labels. You can keep a master list of details, or
just mark each container with information such as sun/shade, plant height,
perennial/annual, etc.
Follow the seed pack
instructions: Press seeds into the soil if they need light to germinate and cover
seeds that need darkness.
Put the containers
outside, covered or uncovered. With plastic clamshells, the cover can be
snapped into place because rain will get in. Punch holes in solid covers for air
circulation. Check covered containers weekly to be sure the top of the soil
never dries out.
When seedlings emerge,
make the holes in the top larger for increased light and air circulation.
Seeds that need cold
treatment in order to sprout include: Monkshood, flowering onion (allium),
angelica, columbine, flowering cabbage, heather, tea plant (Camellia), trumpet
vine, (Campsis), redbud, virgin’s bower (Clematis), dogwood, bleeding heart
(Dicentra), shooting star (Dodecatheon), Christmas rose (Helleborus), daylily
(Hemerocallis), lavender (Lavandula), bitter root (Lewisia), lobelia, Tahoka
daisy (Machaeranthera), Phlox paniculata, primrose (Primula), trillium,
globeflower (Trollius), snowball bush (Viburnum), and the viola, violet-pansy
family.
Resources
Get Busy Gardening - http://bit.ly/1awfgHu
Permies – Homesteading and
Permaculture All the Time http://bit.ly/1g7YXVD
Tom Clothier Germination database
- http://tomclothier.hort.net
Winter Sown -
www.wintersown.org
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