Winter Sowing

[Melissa]

Yes...you can direct sow...my gaillardia, coneflower, and columbine take over that way...have to remove the seed to keep it from happening. What are you sowing?

 

[Melissa]

Here is my wintersowing...its begging to be planted

 

[RonsGarden]

Looking good Mel!
I use pots and ziplock freezer bags for my winter sowing!

Just noticed today that the Cardiocrinum cordatum I sowed in the fall of 2009 have finally germinated. |This species is a relative or the lily! I actually waited all last year, and through another winter, to finally see them emerge with their seed case propped on top of slender leaves! Really cool that they took 2 winters!
I have several other species that have gone through the same 2 winters, and I'm checking every day to see if they emerge!

Some of my Penstemons (I think I have 6 different species) are finally germinating and starting to show! I'll leave them outside in their ziplocks for another week, or so, until they max out their germination and start developing their first set of leaves.!

 

[Melissa]

You are a patient man

 

[Kya D]

Ron I can collect palmer penstemon seed this fall if you would like some.

 

[Kya D]

Mel your winter sown plants look great.

 

[RonsGarden]

Thanks for the offer Dawn!
I have Palmer Penstemon, just waiting for them to germinate!
I'm becoming a penstemon collector because most of the species love dry sandy soil!
Most of them are hardy in my area!

 

[Kya D]

Just wanted to offer cuz I know they winter over here in zone 5
We have a red one (firecracker I think) here but they aren't as easy to get seeds from so I don't know if I could find the seeds at the right time.

 

[RonsGarden]

Thanks Dawn!
I think I have that one too, P. murryanus!
I found a pot of Pineneedle Penstemon at a local garden centre a few days ago which has orange blooms! I never know what I'll find when I go looking at all the garden centres! The odd and unusual usually catch my eye! Same with all the online seed suppliers! www.hardyplants.com has the largest selection!

 

[errol]

This "winter sowing" sounds amazing! I think this is something I would like to try. I have lots of 16 oz water bottles, and some gallon water jugs also. I think I understand most that I have read here, but is the screw cap stay on the bottle/gallon jug when seeds are sown? then taken off when weather warms? Melissa, I notice you have the tops off your bottles..did you do that after the weather warmed up? Also I have regular potting soil, and I have a mixture of peat moss/vermiculite... which would do the best for winter sowing? thanks for any help...I hate being such a dummy in gardening matters! But I have learned alot on this forum..maybe someday I will be able to return the favor.
thanks
Errol

 

[errol]

by golly, I have several people saving gallon jugs for me. I have collected 22 in about 2 weeks now. I have about 60 of the 16.9 oz. water bottles, and have been putting in the drain holes and have them cut and ready when the time comes.
I would like to ask a question on the 16.9 water bottles..I notice Melissa uses that size also. How many seed (or plants) would you have in that size bottle? i figure no more than 2 and maybe just one? also has anyone ws tomato seed? If so I was wondering when to sow them, since I am in middle Tn z7 ?
thanks
Errol

 

[Melissa]

So sorry Errol...just saw this...been MIA. I would get lots of sprouts in the 16 oz bottle but then found it was better to just plant the whole clump instead of trying to separate them....handling them seemed to injure the poor little babies. I began putting fewer seeds per bottle so now I put around 4 -5 seeds per bottle, plant the clump, and let them fight it out for space as they get bigger. Good luck to you!! Oh and I have never tried tomoatoes...you can check wintersown.org though to see if and when it is safe for them.

 

[Mainegal]

Im not going to be able to start any until late Feb or March as I'm going to be out of town but will try to get some done once I get home again....
Good luck with yours