You asked for it in our post, Winter Seed Sowing Anywhere, and I’m here to deliver. I told you all about how I start my seeds in the dead of winter and you all had a lot of questions for me. How do I know what to sow and when to sow? What kind of containers can I use? What about watering? I’ve got the answers to these questions and more. Discover how to winter sow seeds where you live.
How do I know if my seeds are good candidates for winter sowing?
Look for these key terms on your seed packets.
- Hardy seeds
- Seedlings can withstand frost
- Sow outdoors in late autumn or early winter
- Sow outdoors in early spring when nights are still cool
- Needs pre-chilling
- Requires stratification (cold, moist conditions)
All of these key terms indicate that a seed is a good candidate for winter sowing. Of course, your climate and gardening zone will play an important part in the success of winter sowing.
How deep do I sow my seeds?
The general rule of thumb is to plant twice the depth of the seed’s smallest dimension at the spacing indicated by your seed packet. I’ll be honest, with tiny seeds, I don’t worry too much about proper spacing or depth. I sprinkle them in and cover with a light layer of soil. When they begin germinating and sprouting in the spring, I thin as needed.
What do I use if I don’t have enough milk cartons?
There are a lot of great upcycle container ideas out there. Basically, any container that allows light inside will do. Here is a small list to get you started:
- Soda Bottles
- Bakery Containers
- Clear Storage Totes
- Deli Chicken Containers
- Travel Tin Foil Containers
- Meat & Cheese Platters (for shallow-rooted seedlings)
- Juice Cartons with the tops cut off and a baggie over the top (more suitable for southern locations)
Just be sure if you are using a container that doesn’t have a lid or cap that you drill in a few ventilation/moisture holes along the top.
What if I don’t have snow?
Winter is just a cooler season, not necessarily bitter cold and snow. Winter Sowing is merely getting a head start for your growing season, allowing nature to take care of everything. It’s like greenhouse gardening on a small-scale.
When is the earliest I can start Winter Sowing?
The Winter Solstice seems to be a good starting point. The days are at their shortest and typically the temperatures are at their coldest. The concern with starting too early is that the seeds will begin to sprout while the temperatures are too low to support the plant. By planting in the “dead of winter”, you can be fairly confident that the seeds won’t start until spring is beginning.
What do I do come spring?
You treat your winter sown seedlings just like you would any other seedling. You’ll want to remove the lid during the daytime to harden them off and transplant them when the soil is warm enough.
What about watering?
Mother Nature does a pretty good job at keeping your winter sown containers at the right moisture level during the dormant period. By keeping the cover off your container or cutting ventilation holes, rain and snow will enter the top and excess water will drain through the drainage holes. If you notice your soil is looking dry and crumbly, just dribble water along the edges of the soil. It won’t take much water and you want to do it slowly so you don’t dislodge the seeds. Be sure to use cold water so you don’t shock your seeds.
Once spring arrives, keep an eye on your sprouting seeds. Again, the containers should create a mini-ecosystem. If you notice your containers seem soggy, try moving them to a sunnier location. If they seem to be drying out frequently, move them to an area that gets sunlight, but not direct sunlight. If they need to be watered manually, use water the same temperature as the outdoor temperature and gently water around the edges.
The following guides are just that, GUIDES. Trial and error is the best way to figure out when to grow what in your zone. Click these links below to find out what zone you’re gardening in.
US Garden Zones | CAN Garden Zones | EUR Garden Zones | Other Zones
Zone 3 Growing Guide
February
Perennial flowers and hardy annuals.
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March
Most herbs and plants that require stratification.
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April
Frost-tolerant vegetables.
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May
Tender plants.
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Zone 4 Growing Guide
January
Perennial flowers and hardy annuals.
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February
Most herbs and plants that require stratification.
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March
Frost-tolerant vegetables.
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April
Tender plants.
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Zone 5 Growing Guide
December/January
Perennial flowers and hardy annuals.
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January/February
Most herbs and plants that require stratification.
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February/March
Frost-tolerant vegetables.
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March/April
Tender plants.
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Zone 6 Growing Guide
December
Perennial flowers and hardy annuals.
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January
Most herbs and plants that require stratification.
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February
Frost-tolerant vegetables.
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March
Tender plants.
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Zone 7 Growing Guide
December
Perennial flowers, hardy annuals, and plants that require stratification.
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January
Most herbs and frost-tolerant vegetables.
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February
Tender plants.
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Hello Jessica!
This planting system looks so exciting. My husband just lives for fresh grown tomatoes. I am going to try this. Being in western KY, zone 7, I figure to plant my tomatoes and some green peppers in February.
How many tomato seeds to sow in a gallon milk jug without being overcrowded? Or would a taller container be better?
We have been buying plants from Wal Mart and they don’t seem to last too long, we get one batch of tomatoes then the plant starts to die from the bottom up. We figure they are sick with something when we bought them. So the next garden will be in a new location with home grown plants, I am saving jugs! I am excited to start my flowers too!
Hi, I’m in Wisconsin and am trying this for the first time. When should seedlings start to germinate? I put tomatoes out late February but nothing has sprouted yet. Please let me know what you think. Thank you and Happy Easter!
Fairly new at gardening. What is the best way to water them? I would think just pouring in water would not be good.
I like to dribble it along the edges of the container.
Newbie gardener here. Since the Guide only goes up to Zone 7, am I to take that to mean that attempting Winter Sowing in Zone 8A would not work? Thanks.
Hi Carol! You might be able to winter sow, but your climate may make it so you don’t really need to. I’m not familiar with gardening in such a warm climate. I’d ask locals in your area for advice.
I live in central FL, zone 9a/b. While it isn’t totally necessary to winter sow here, it is beneficial. It helps to protect from pests and helps prolong length of time between watering. Sure, we don’t get freezing temps too often, but having the jugs does make it easier to protect when we do gave them. The key is to not start too early. No earlier than late Dec, but mid to late Jan worked best for me. It’s very difficult to wait, what with temps in 60-80. But if you start too early, the seedlings will need to be transplanted, long before the last chance of frost. You can also sow your seeds in jugs during the warmer months, for a jump start on the next cycle of planting. I just suggest you keep the jugs in the shade, and regularly check for need to water.
Dear Jessica, Quick question – after winter sowing, in the spring, do you transplant from milk containers into the ground?? Can I do that so that the crop has more room to grow, more nutrients, etc. How has this gone for you if you’ve done this before? Thanks! Kate
Yes, once the soil and air temperatures are appropriate, you’ll want to harden them off and transplant them into the garden.
i have just purchased almost 4 acres in northeatern ga. moving from TEXAS to get out of the insane world cities provide. my only gardening to this point is tomatos from seed. thanks for your site. look forward to using your milk jug starter kit…lol, why didnt i think of that?
thanks
Can cabbage be planted the same time as Broccoli? I don’t see cabbage mentioned.
Yes, Shaela, you can. It’s not an all-inclusive list because I haven’t gardened in every zone.
I have no green thumb whatsoever. I kill everything but would like to g8ve.it.to this a shot. I cannot find my zone. We live in NW Pennsylvania. My father seems to think that they will freeze and die if you put them outside because of the snow/frost. He’s skeptical but I’d still like to try. Though he does have me wonder how they do not freeze??
Can u help me find my zone?
There is a lot of variation of zones in NW Pennsylvania, but if you go here, you can pop in your zip code and it will tell you which one you are in.
As far as the freezing, the seeds won’t be hurt by freeze cycles, only the seedlings will. The seedlings won’t begin to sprout until nature gives them the cue that it’s time. The mini-greenhouse created by the milk jug protects them from the temperature fluctuations we often see in spring.
I dont even know what zone am i? I am in Glendale Arizona border of Phoenix and Glendale.I started winter sowing 1/15/16 in milk carton, i try to watch them closely, im not sure how often to water them, its been warm here lately 70’s this week
For your area (I’m assuming you don’t have a freeze if it’s in the 70’s in January), I would water just enough to keep them moist. If they are drying out quickly, you can move them to an area where they are getting dappled sun instead of full sun.
I used to live in the desert climate for more than 30+ years. This young lady is in the 7 to 8B or even possibly a 9 growing zone. Weather is unpredictable this time of year and she could be looking at 70 to 75 degree days and still have 35 to 55 degree nights. What is chilly to us and chilly to the desert regions is completely different. She should check sites like Mother Earth or Farmers Almanac to find her exact zone…. this advice is from someone who survived zone 11, but loves her zone 5.
This is awesome! Looking forward to trying this method. Thank you!
Great information,I’m going to give winter sowing a try.
It would be nice if you had all the growing zones, where are 8-11? I’m new to growing in Zone 8B and still learning when to start seeds or direct sow.
Winter sowing is best suited for areas that have sustaining frosts. I’m not too familiar with gardening in warmer climates, but I think you can follow the standard seed packet directions. I encourage you to check out SchneiderPeeps. She is a great source for southern gardening.
thanks… i’ll let you know how it goes.
I am in zone 7… central mountains of Arizona… we have had an unusual warm spell and many of my jugs have started sprouting …. now they are predicting a cold storm this weekend…. should I cover the jugs or just pray?
If you have sprouts and/or greenery beginning to show, I would cover them when there is risk of frost. Under the soil they are protected, but once they emerge, they are exposed to the elements.
Is there a guide to find your zone?
Hi Sharon!
I just updated the post to include the US, Canadian, and European growing zone charts. I also included an additional link for those who don’t have a zone map so they can figure out what zone they would be based on annual temperatures. I hope that helps.
Thank you
You are so welcome Sharon.