Winter Sowing - Plant Veggies Now Place Outside to Germinate in the Spring - It Really Works!

Winter sowing is a technique I have been using for several years. It sounds unbelievable but it really does work. You can plant cold hardy seeds now in containers, place them outside, and they will germinate when the weather warms.

This technique works well with lettuce, kale, cabbage, and similar cold hardy veggies. It will also work for some flowers such as sunflowers.

Following is a video I found that demonstrates this technique very well. I myself use the one gallon milk or water jugs. Putting drain holes in the bottom is important to prevent over saturation.

Even though the video is quite detailed, I thought some still photos that I took during the process would also be helpful.

Also, visit Winter Sowing for more information and to view seed lists of what will work using this technique. Today I used this method to plant Romaine and Iceberg lettuce, and also two types of kale: Vates Dwarf Blue Curled and Siberian Blue.

As previously mentioned, I use one gallon water jugs which work well as do milk jugs. I wouldn't recommend a white plastic container as it will not allow any sunlight to enter.

A very important step is to puncture or drill some drain holes. This will prevent excess water from building up which could occur.

Next cut the containers except for about a one inch section by the handle so that the lids will open with a hinge.

Now it's time to add potting soil. I try not to use seed starting mix which tends to be a lighter mix that doesn't retain much moisture. Potting soil will work better for this technique as it will remain more consistently moist.

Before adding seeds, I thoroughly wet the soil and allow to drain. Once the soil is lightly tamped down, the seeds can be sprinkled on the surface.

Try not to plant too many seeds. A moderate amount shoud be added to ensure a good amount of seedlings once the seeds germinate.

Now add a thin layer of potting soil over the seeds according to planting depth recommendations on the seed packets. Tamp lightly, then moisten using a spray bottle. This step is very important as to not disturb the seeds while providing adequate moisture.

The final step is to seal the containers using duct tape (or clear tape). The containers are now ready to be placed outside until spring. Remember to leave the caps off to allow rain and snow to enter and provide moisture.

Most important of all, don't forget to label the containers!!

I will write followup posts showing the containers outside during varying winter conditions.

Thanks for visiting.