Yes, I didn't think about it either until later. Once I started sifting them out and added more perlite I found I had much better results with both winter sowing and potting up seedlings.
Hello there dear dear pam,thankyou so much,lots of. Great help. I shall pass on znd share with my gardening neighbour up the lane, thankyou, xxhave a cosy weekend xx
Extreme temp/weather changes are a problem in my area. In the last 3 years we had crazy warm winters and rain in January. So it essentially caused spring like conditions and then we got winter in February. I had to put cardboard over them all, but it wasn’t enough to keep them frozen in full sun and they did get too much rain before I realized what was happening-most of them either froze or rotted. My garden notes helped figure this problem out as I take notes of weather. What works for me now-I will stick with setting them on the east side of house so they stay frozen and cover if we get heavy rain event in January again. We don’t have large roof overhangs. They get morning sun and shade later. It was always said to put them on the south side-the weather at times doesn’t work well here. And I don’t start them early-I wait til mid February or early March and move to full sun once the temps stabilize. If I feel the containers are light I water with a pump sprayer. Last frost date 5/12 Z5a, WI. Right now we are very cold with teens and single digits, below zero windchill and no snow to insulate and is total opposite of 2022 heat and rain. Most seeds don’t need that long of a cold spell (stratification) as I’ve stuck either the packet of seeds or planted in trays-popped them in the fridge inside a bag for a week or two and they did excellent. I know some are bored and want to plant, but I wait. And oh yes, it does get very busy at planting time as we get the crops in and I look and see all that winter sow begging to be planted😅. Great points Pam. I’m sure these tips will help many to figure out the right process to be successful for their area.
I’m glad you were able to find a solution that works for you! I’m all for experimenting and adjusting to the unique climate of each garden. I am wondering what this year will bring for me, we are having a very warm winter. Our temps are normally not so cold that they jugs need snow for insulation from te snow. I am worried some things will germinate too early. But most things that I sow in Fall and germinate make it through winter just fine and do fine in the jugs even if it turns very cold. They just hibernate. We are having daytime temps of 50 but below freezing at night. I have self seeded sweet peas cropping up everywhere, that is how warm it has been. They will be fine even if we get snow and be lovely come spring but I was surprised. Just strange weather all around.
@ your are was far enough west to not get this polar vortex that is happening. We had an extended really warm fall and dry, but then it finally turned cold and snow and thought we would have normal winter-well it heated up again in December and took the bit of snow with it. There’s only a clump here and there, but Wow it’s January cold like it should be right now-below zero windchills, teens and single digits. The SNOW is below us in the south 🙄 and of course the lake affect areas to east. There is always a January thaw about the 3rd week in. But snow-we are looking dry and worry about plants with no insulation. How exciting to have sweet peas already and will survive! Right now I’m nervous about our root cellar outside as it’s a hair above freezing and wondering what to do. The remote temp fades in and out and just popped up-must be interference that it doesn’t always register. Might try an incandescent light bulb inside, husband thought LEDs give off some heat, but I don’t think enough. Oh what us gardeners must learn with the changing environment. Take care and thanks for sharing ☺️
Hi Pam 👋 I am guilty of over sowing too many seeds in 1 container for sure! Thinning is not my jam. There were a couple seeds that grew leaves and got bigger but didn't produce blooms like calendula. Of the 41 jugs I planted. Only 3 didn't produce anything and for sure you have some late bloomers that I thought were not going to do anything and didn't start until mid June when I thought nothing was going to happen 😂
Thanks for sharing!! Yes, I have that bad habit of overdoing it too, some because they are old seeds and I think I won't get much germination and they they surprise me.
Excellent tips Pam. Over the last few years I've made several of these mistakes myself. The drainage holes in the bottom are necessary to prevent soggy soil in the early spring. I add a few extra holes in the side, about one or two inches from the bottom of the container, just for some extra drainage. The potting mix you use is also important, as you mentioned. Thank you.
thanks for the info. always glad to see your video's. i going to try my luck this year on seed sowing. hope and pray that they make some beautiful flowers for me this year. thanks for sharing and hope you have a great day!!!
Hi Pam great pointers on winter sowing! My error last year was not getting enough done and out fast enough. Guilty of watering through the top spout…I will soak in large container this year. Also, I think some of my seed packets were too old😮. That's why we are granted New Years, right?🎉😂
Yes, a lot of folks show you the watering down the hole and it really is so much easier to me to bottom water. Try, try again. I just got a few seeds yesterday I want to get to winter sowing this next week, but with our weirdly warm winter I am not sure how it will work out.
Such great advice, things I would have never thought of. I have thought for the last several years. For quite some time about winter sewing, but i'm intimidated by it for some reason. I do have a question. What is the difference between winter sewing and starting your seeds 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date? Thanks again for another great video.❤❤
It is the method, starting the seeds in small containers in the outdoors. Usually starting seeds 4 to 6 weeks prior to last frost date for many is not until spring and usually in a more controlled environment indoors.
Good morning Pam! 😊 great video! I have done some winter sowing with 50/50 success lol 😆 great tips! Hope you are doing great. ❤ My notifications are not alerting me to your replies 💩 but know I’m still watching and cheering you on 🎉
You are very welcome. I am happy to hear that you are still enjoying the videos. Notifications act up from time to time, but my aim is to post every Wednesday and Saturday, or at least that is my current schedule. This year is going to be a weird one for me winter sowing with all the warm weather we are having (warm for winter).
If your temperatures are right and conditions are right, you will have to follow that as I don't know what kind of weather you have in spring. I did it one year and it worked but I did not get petunias to bloom until August but we stay quite cool through May. I prefer starting my petunias indoors and getting an earlier start on them as we do have such a short season.
Most information I've found is emphatic about NOT using seed starting mix because it doesn't have enough nutrition. I use potting soil that includes fertilizer.
Since most arepotting soils use synthetic fertilizers, I avoid those as I am a organic gardener but that should work. The 'popular' garden youtubers I have seen always have used and recommended seed starting mix so I wanted to be sure and point out the misnomer of that and why not to use them. I did the same in my previous videos on winter sowing, even doing a side by side test with each. So glad you found what has worked for you.
@@devonhull6985 It isn't the end of the world and I will use the potting soil with the synthetics if I cannot find anything else so I don't want to send the wrong message. Use what you can get and works for you.
I'd never use salt in the garden, it would ruin the soil and the plants, try First Saturday Lime. Or set up beer traps, they do work! Or line the bottom with a coffee filter. I have not had to do this but it does help.
Plus most use peat moss which isn't a sustainable choice for those that are concerned about that. Try to find a peat free potting mix is difficult too.
I know I am guilty of that too. Especially with old seeds, I think they won't do well so I will sow way too many and they surprise me by most germinating. I should err on the side of caution and just expect more to germinate rather than less.
I have had great success using coco coir, perlite and compost for nutrition when seed starting and over wintering. Happy gardening 👩🏽🌾
Great, thanks for sharing.
Something new I learned is to feed the seedlings when they get their second leaves. Thank you so much!❤
You bet! Seedlings need a little extra boost as they get going.
I thought the wood chunks were in the soil to increase drainage but I never considered it was hogging up the available nitrogen. Good to know
Yes, I didn't think about it either until later. Once I started sifting them out and added more perlite I found I had much better results with both winter sowing and potting up seedlings.
Thank you😊
You're welcome, I hope it was helpful!
Hello there dear dear pam,thankyou so much,lots of. Great help. I shall pass on znd share with my gardening neighbour up the lane, thankyou, xxhave a cosy weekend xx
Please do! I hope they find it helpful. I will get to doing some winter sowing this week. I have Canterbury Bells to get sown.
Hi Pam. Lovely to see you: a treat 😊😊
Thank you! 🤗
Extreme temp/weather changes are a problem in my area. In the last 3 years we had crazy warm winters and rain in January. So it essentially caused spring like conditions and then we got winter in February. I had to put cardboard over them all, but it wasn’t enough to keep them frozen in full sun and they did get too much rain before I realized what was happening-most of them either froze or rotted. My garden notes helped figure this problem out as I take notes of weather.
What works for me now-I will stick with setting them on the east side of house so they stay frozen and cover if we get heavy rain event in January again. We don’t have large roof overhangs. They get morning sun and shade later. It was always said to put them on the south side-the weather at times doesn’t work well here. And I don’t start them early-I wait til mid February or early March and move to full sun once the temps stabilize. If I feel the containers are light I water with a pump sprayer. Last frost date 5/12 Z5a, WI.
Right now we are very cold with teens and single digits, below zero windchill and no snow to insulate and is total opposite of 2022 heat and rain.
Most seeds don’t need that long of a cold spell (stratification) as I’ve stuck either the packet of seeds or planted in trays-popped them in the fridge inside a bag for a week or two and they did excellent. I know some are bored and want to plant, but I wait. And oh yes, it does get very busy at planting time as we get the crops in and I look and see all that winter sow begging to be planted😅.
Great points Pam. I’m sure these tips will help many to figure out the right process to be successful for their area.
I’m glad you were able to find a solution that works for you! I’m all for experimenting and adjusting to the unique climate of each garden. I am wondering what this year will bring for me, we are having a very warm winter. Our temps are normally not so cold that they jugs need snow for insulation from te snow. I am worried some things will germinate too early. But most things that I sow in Fall and germinate make it through winter just fine and do fine in the jugs even if it turns very cold. They just hibernate. We are having daytime temps of 50 but below freezing at night. I have self seeded sweet peas cropping up everywhere, that is how warm it has been. They will be fine even if we get snow and be lovely come spring but I was surprised. Just strange weather all around.
@ your are was far enough west to not get this polar vortex that is happening. We had an extended really warm fall and dry, but then it finally turned cold and snow and thought we would have normal winter-well it heated up again in December and took the bit of snow with it. There’s only a clump here and there, but Wow it’s January cold like it should be right now-below zero windchills, teens and single digits. The SNOW is below us in the south 🙄 and of course the lake affect areas to east. There is always a January thaw about the 3rd week in. But snow-we are looking dry and worry about plants with no insulation.
How exciting to have sweet peas already and will survive! Right now I’m nervous about our root cellar outside as it’s a hair above freezing and wondering what to do. The remote temp fades in and out and just popped up-must be interference that it doesn’t always register. Might try an incandescent light bulb inside, husband thought LEDs give off some heat, but I don’t think enough.
Oh what us gardeners must learn with the changing environment. Take care and thanks for sharing ☺️
Hi Pam 👋 I am guilty of over sowing too many seeds in 1 container for sure! Thinning is not my jam. There were a couple seeds that grew leaves and got bigger but didn't produce blooms like calendula. Of the 41 jugs I planted. Only 3 didn't produce anything and for sure you have some late bloomers that I thought were not going to do anything and didn't start until mid June when I thought nothing was going to happen 😂
Thanks for sharing!! Yes, I have that bad habit of overdoing it too, some because they are old seeds and I think I won't get much germination and they they surprise me.
Great video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.
You are so welcome! I am glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent tips Pam. Over the last few years I've made several of these mistakes myself. The drainage holes in the bottom are necessary to prevent soggy soil in the early spring. I add a few extra holes in the side, about one or two inches from the bottom of the container, just for some extra drainage. The potting mix you use is also important, as you mentioned. Thank you.
I also add the holes in the side near the base, just in case the bottom holes get plugged, you never can have too much drainage.
thanks for the info. always glad to see your video's. i going to try my luck this year on seed sowing. hope and pray that they make some beautiful flowers for me this year. thanks for sharing and hope you have a great day!!!
You've got this! Happy winter sowing!
Hi Pam great pointers on winter sowing! My error last year was not getting enough done and out fast enough. Guilty of watering through the top spout…I will soak in large container this year. Also, I think some of my seed packets were too old😮. That's why we are granted New Years, right?🎉😂
Yes, a lot of folks show you the watering down the hole and it really is so much easier to me to bottom water. Try, try again. I just got a few seeds yesterday I want to get to winter sowing this next week, but with our weirdly warm winter I am not sure how it will work out.
Such great advice, things I would have never thought of. I have thought for the last several years. For quite some time about winter sewing, but i'm intimidated by it for some reason. I do have a question. What is the difference between winter sewing and starting your seeds 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date? Thanks again for another great video.❤❤
It is the method, starting the seeds in small containers in the outdoors. Usually starting seeds 4 to 6 weeks prior to last frost date for many is not until spring and usually in a more controlled environment indoors.
Good morning Pam! 😊 great video! I have done some winter sowing with 50/50 success lol 😆 great tips! Hope you are doing great. ❤
My notifications are not alerting me to your replies 💩 but know I’m still watching and cheering you on 🎉
You are very welcome. I am happy to hear that you are still enjoying the videos. Notifications act up from time to time, but my aim is to post every Wednesday and Saturday, or at least that is my current schedule. This year is going to be a weird one for me winter sowing with all the warm weather we are having (warm for winter).
Should I winter sow petunias seeds in late Spring?
If your temperatures are right and conditions are right, you will have to follow that as I don't know what kind of weather you have in spring. I did it one year and it worked but I did not get petunias to bloom until August but we stay quite cool through May. I prefer starting my petunias indoors and getting an earlier start on them as we do have such a short season.
Most information I've found is emphatic about NOT using seed starting mix because it doesn't have enough nutrition. I use potting soil that includes fertilizer.
Since most arepotting soils use synthetic fertilizers, I avoid those as I am a organic gardener but that should work. The 'popular' garden youtubers I have seen always have used and recommended seed starting mix so I wanted to be sure and point out the misnomer of that and why not to use them. I did the same in my previous videos on winter sowing, even doing a side by side test with each. So glad you found what has worked for you.
@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse true, it's not organic; haven't seen any organic alternatives at the big box stores
@@devonhull6985 It isn't the end of the world and I will use the potting soil with the synthetics if I cannot find anything else so I don't want to send the wrong message. Use what you can get and works for you.
help with slugs. I want to sprinkle salt around the containers, thoughts?
Line the bottom with coffee filter. Water can drain out but slugs can’t get in.
I'd never use salt in the garden, it would ruin the soil and the plants, try First Saturday Lime. Or set up beer traps, they do work! Or line the bottom with a coffee filter. I have not had to do this but it does help.
Thank you, I just wrote that too then saw your comment.
My understanding is seed starting mix isn’t a good choice. It dries out too quickly.
Plus most use peat moss which isn't a sustainable choice for those that are concerned about that. Try to find a peat free potting mix is difficult too.
Over-seeder here. lol. Gotta do better!!!
I know I am guilty of that too. Especially with old seeds, I think they won't do well so I will sow way too many and they surprise me by most germinating. I should err on the side of caution and just expect more to germinate rather than less.