Answering your most frequently asked questions about winter sowing❄️
- What seeds are good for winter sowing and when should I plant?
Best to start your winter sowing some time after January 1st in all planting zones. Winter temperatures fluctuate a lot lately but you can use your final frost date as a ‘loose’ guide. Just remember, this method tends to lengthen the time it takes to reach harvest or full bloom so choose the seeds you have patience to watch grow!
Find our full list of seeds for winter sowing HERE
- What seeds should I avoid if choosing to winter sow?
We do not recommend winter sowing anything in the cucumber or squash family. They tend to not germinate well this way and they don’t like their roots disturbed, so they’re best started indoors.
- The idea is a seed will get a head start?
Winter sowing means that the seeds will germinate on ‘Mother Nature’s’ clock. If you want to give plants a head start or have preferences on when things will bloom or produce, we recommend starting your seeds indoors.
- Should I be checking on them periodically to see if they need watering?
As long as you gave the soil a good soaking when prepping you should not have to add water to them until your evenings are consistently above 40 degrees.
The milk jug containers have an opening at the top to let rain/snow fall through. You can choose to add holes to the top of the salad container lids as well. In most cases, the containers will have sufficient water to last them until Spring - just check on them once in a while, if they feel particularly light give them a drink!
- Should I use potting soil or seed starting soil?
You can use both! We usually use some combination of potting soil and seedling mix. The soil should feel light in your hand; light enough for the seed to not be suffocated and the water to drain out efficiently.
- What happens if a snowstorm hits and they get buried?
Let them get buried! This is a great blanket to keep them even warmer and they will get a great drink of water as the snow melts.
- Won’t the closed containers get too hot when it gets sunny?
On the days where temperatures stay above 50 degrees, open up the tops of your containers to let them breathe. Close them when the sun goes down. You want your overnight temps to stay above 40 degrees before leaving them open full time. The salad container plastic is thinner than a milk jug so they will heat slightly differently. Punching a few holes in the tops of either container will help with air circulation and temperature regulation.
Got more questions? Leave a comment below and we'll get back to you in no thyme🌿
Hi Elizabeth! The instructions won’t vary much by zone. But for zones with a short/warm winter, winter sowing in jugs might be ineffective.
Hi Mary! Berry containers would likely be too flimsy, but takeout containers might work! You’ll want holes in the bottom for drainage, and holes in the top as well to let in some additional moisture and help with venting. Negative temperatures are fine as long as you’re starting seeds that work for winter sowing 🌱
I started seeds for several varieties each of lettuce, broccoli, spinach and onions right after Christmas. I just noticed your planting guide today (Jan 14). I live outside of Philadelphia, have I planted some seeds too early?
How do the instructions vary byZone?
Hi, I have a few questions – Would plastic berry containers work (the ones you get from the grocery store), or are they too flimsy with too many holes in top and bottom? Would take-out containers work (the ones with the clear top and black bottom? Am I understanding correctly that only holes in the bottom are needed, and not the top to let the elements in? Lastly, will this work if we are still getting negative temperatures (F) in feb/march? Thanks so much!