Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

How to Transplant Winter-Sown Seedlings

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 71 Comments

This week, I received the following email from reader Brick:

Kevin, you’re extremely good looking. Are you single? My phone number is 212-xxx-xxxx. Also, when you winter-sow seeds, do the roots get entangled in their gallon-size milk or water containers? If so, how do you separate and transplant the seedlings?

Well, Brick, let me answer your most important questions.

The roots of winter-sown seedlings do eventually become entangled, and even root-bound. But these seedlings, which were born outdoors, are tougher than you might imagine. They are also itching to grow! No harm will come to the plants if you sever their roots at transplanting time.

Here are a couple of ways to separate and transplant the seedlings:

First, let’s look at some Brussels sprouts seedlings I winter-sowed one year. To remove these 5 tall youngsters from their milk jug quarters, I simply held one hand against the soil, and then inverted the jug.

I quickly inverted the clump again, so that the seedlings were standing in an upright position.

Then I pried the seedlings apart…

And planted them individually in a raised bed.

Later that season, the Brussels sprouts greeted me with…of all things…Brussels sprouts.

Here’s another way to remove seedlings from a milk jug: Cut off the front side of the “greenhouse”…

…And slide the seedlings out, all in one clump.

Then break the young plants apart, as described earlier. And don’t worry — you will not harm the plants! Remember, these babies were not coddled indoors under “grow” lights. They were born outside, and subjected to snow, ice, sleet, and driving rain. They are tough as nails.

And what about extremely crowded seedlings, such as the creeping thyme pictured above?

Here again, just cut off the front of the jug, and give the clump a shove.

Then slice the seedlings lengthwise and crosswise, as if you were dealing with a pan of My Very Serious Brownies. Plant the little squares, and then thin them out as they grow.

In all my years of transplanting winter-sown seedlings, I don’t think I’ve lost a single plant. So be brutal when you separate the seedlings. They can take it.

Was this post helpful to you? You can let me know by leaving a comment. As always, I love hearing from you.

More winter-sowing features at A Garden for the House:
Winter-Sowing 101: The Basics
How To Turn A Milk Jug Into A Greenhouse
What To Winter-Sow…and When

Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s email updates!

Comments

  1. 1

    Brittney says

    I winter-sowed about 25 jugs this year. It is my first time trying winter sowing. Do I need to water them at all? They are in a protected area on the south side of my house and I’m concerned about them drying out. Thanks for all the great info!

  3. 3

    Mary FT says

    Thinking of Brick, I’m so glad you’re married; otherwise you’d be mobbed, including by me, and I’m old enough to be your mother. Thank you for your posts, your recipes, your photos, your gardening, your interiors, your purple soup pot, etc. 🙂

  4. 4

    Elizabeth says

    I, too am so happy that you are married. My students were overjoyed except fp Blaine who is a fierce gardener and was making plans to move out your way. But I digress, we love purple and covet the mixer. In no rain CA. We do mist the seedlings in our milk jugs.

  5. 5

    L Roberts says

    THIS method of sowing seeds and then transplanting them into the garden is THE BEST!
    I’ve been doing it for the last two years, since I first read your column on how to do it.
    We start collecting milk/water/juice clear jugs from November on…
    Many many thanks to you for updating and sharing this planting information and technique.

  6. 6

    Peg Prizer says

    Sowing my winter jugs for the second year! They did great last year! I was very pleasantly surprised! Two days ago, I planted out 5 jugs and will do more every two weeks with different seeds. I even posted a link on my business FB page to your site! Love sharing all your positive posts and energy! Keep them coming!
    Thank you again,
    ~ Peg

  7. 7

    Sandy oueis says

    Kevin, This is my first year winter sowing . I live in Spokane wa when will they sprout? Do you have an educated guess. My rabbits got loose in my greenhouse and ate all my winter starts. I have all my winter sowing as backup. Can I still plant cauliflower , cabbage and Brussels sprouts ? Can you tell me when to start annuals? I noticed on your blog you started all your boxwood did you start in the milk jugs? I’d love to do cuttings of grapes ,lavender,ect. Love the mixer didn’t know there was such great colors.Im still talking about the blue one! Thank you, Sandy

  9. 9

    Denise says

    My grandma used to winter sow this way. It was neat to see this! Thanks for the reminder that I can and should do this. One thing – little green beasties ate my brussel sprouts last year. I tried soapy water without luck. Any ideas? Thanks again!

  10. 10

    Elba says

    Hi Kevin, its my first time writing to you, I been following you for a while, love all the recipes and share them with my 2 daughters, I am looking forward when I can buy your cookbook, have a Happy Valentine’s Day.

  11. 11

    Tawni says

    I brought my plants in and put them under lights because it’s going to be getting under 30 degrees for the next few days…and only the broccoli had germinated…is this ok?…should I put them back outside? Any thought are appreciated.

  12. 12

    Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says

    I agree about the hardiness and toughness of sprouts that are winter sown. I have had densely packed seedlings in the jugs compete with each other for an extended period of time as I procrastinated about releasing them. They did extremely well when unceremoniously yanked apart and potted (to allow them to reach a larger size before being placed into the perennial border.) It’s survival of the fittest, but growing exclusively outdoors, they are great at surviving all sorts of challenges. Most of my jugs hold seeds for perennials and many of them are types that need cycles of freezing and thawing to break dormancy and sprout. It’s hard to duplicate this indoors, even with refrigerator stratification. The winter jugs are handy and useful. And they can be prepped and executed at a time when the gardener has not too much else to do, at least in the Northeast. I welcome the thought of working far ahead of time for a great reward later.

  13. 13

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Beverly – I’ve tried refrigerator/freezer stratification too, and it did not work. Hallelujah for winter-sowing!

    Tawni – Keep everything outside. If you are worried about your broccoli seedlings, just throw a blanket or towel over the jug on below-freezing nights. Seeds which have not yet germinated won’t be harmed from the cold. Seedlings which are moved from outdoors to in will often perish from the dramatic change in temperature/humidity.

  15. 15

    Tawni says

    Ok…I’ve moved them outside to a sunny location…I was just wondering though…When it gets cold outside where you live do you cover them once they sprout?…or just let them be and let the strong survive? ….Just wondering what you do…

  16. 16

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Tawni – I only cover the frost-tender seedlings, and then — only if I have the energy to do so! In the past, I’ve had tomato plants survive below-freezing temps in their milk jug greenhouses, with no covering whatsoever. Of course, hardy annuals (like snapdragons) don’t require any frost protection, and neither do perennials. More details in these two posts: Winter-Sowing 101 and What to Winter Sow…and When.

  17. 17

    Bev says

    oh, I lust after a place where I can have a garden, even more than lusting after that purple mixer! I had great success with gardening in the past – just need a decent place for it now which is not easy to find in Colorado.

  18. 18

    Alice says

    Kevin, you inspired me to really push the season and try a modified version of winter sowing, by removing the bottoms of the milk jugs which I obtained by making all my friends remove their milk jugs from their recycle bins and give them to me. I pushed the bottomless jugs into the soil of a large flower pot and planted the seeds within the outline of the milk jugs. Replaced the milk jugs and hoped. I’m in zone 7a, so who knows? I may have the earliest kale, butter crunch lettuce and arugula anyone every imagined. I plan to repeat my gamble every 2 weeks.

  19. 19

    Trudi says

    Kevin, thank you very much for everything you do for Winter Sowing. It’s a fun method and it works like a charm. You have a lot of loyal fans!

    I love hunk-o-seedlings–the ‘Brownie Method’–for transplant. For heavy sowing to make plugs my two faves are alyssum and wildflower blends. They both cut easy and can make edging or beds in a flash. And they have the bonus of being good reseeders in the garden, I love their volunteer seedlings each spring.

    Trudi
    WinterSown.Org

  20. 20

    Ginny Otto says

    I would love a purple mixer. Missouri is bad for freeze and thaw. So, I have not winter sown. But I will find a cool place and try it after reading your comments. Thanks.

  22. 22

    Lisa says

    Kevin,
    I”m thinking on WS brussel sprouts. I want to harvest them in November (around Thanksgiving) so they can be harvested after a couple frosts. Do I WS them now?

  23. 23

    Lisa says

    Kevin,
    When transplanting my wintersown starts, I have to plant them in a container. What soil do you suggest I use? Seed starting mix is for seeds. Potting soil maybe too heavy for the roots of starters. Should i mix it w/ Perlite? And if so, at what ratio? (I failed @ WS last year, so I have alot of questions…)

  27. 27

    Regina says

    Hello Kevin, Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you for your informative website. I do enjoy.
    But, I too did not do so well with my first year’s milk jug growing. Of about 10 different perennials, only about 2 actually survived to plant. Would have to research what I planted, but the ones that did survive were the lovely coral bells. Did not try again this year, maybe I’ll give it a try again next fall. My biggest problem was losing them after setting them out! Not your most organized gardener I had them sitting out on a deck area that only gets a few hours of late afternoon sunshine. Could that have been what went wrong? Thank you for any thoughts. I live in zone 7.

  28. 28

    Carole Mathieu says

    I notice that you use the semi-transparent jugs that milk and ice tea often come in. We don’t buy these items, but I can get clear jugs from the water we use at work. Will these work? I’m worried that the non-diffused light might cook the seedlings after they germinate.

  29. 29

    suzanne hissung says

    Hello Kevin and everyone. Has anyone had any luck planting directly in pots and using the plastic jugs as a protective cloche over the top of the pot/cutting of the bottom of the jug? It would be nice to plant in the pot I intend to grow in and just thin out as opposed to transplanting. I live in the PNW, our climate is dismal but not severe.

  30. 30

    Bernadette says

    Bonjour Kevin! Your posts are very informative especially to newbie gardeners like me. I live in Montreal, zone 5a, and I can’t wait for spring to arrive. I just want to ask your opinion on sowing seeds in newspaper pots then put inside the milk jugs for winter sowing? That way I don’t have to separate the seedlings and I can bury the paper pots directly in the ground. Is there any disadvantage to that? It will be my first time to winter sow this season. Thanks.

  33. 33

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Lisa – I transplanted the winter-sown Brussels sprouts in late May, and harvested in November. Brussels sprouts are always sweeter after they’ve endured a couple of autumn frosts.

  35. 35

    Lisa says

    Kevin,

    (about your brussel spout plants) when transplanting the starts, did you dress up the soil with

    compost, fish emulsion (or anything, for that matter)?

  37. 37

    Barbara says

    Hi Kevin,
    This is such a great idea, I have about 15 jugs under the snow right now and have another 15 to work on. Today I purchased a clematis and bleeding heart roots that are in bags in the garden section of Home Depot / Walmart. Would this work for these roots or should I wait until spring when the ground warm up? Thanks for your help. I really enjoy all the information that you have shared.v

  38. 38

    jenny says

    My sister, Mary Ann, lives in southern wisconsin and told me about your site.

    Will this work for zucchini, cukes, butternut squash, watermelon etc.

    thanks

  39. 39

    Jan says

    Hi Kevin,
    I’m in lovely Denver. We are having a really exceptionally warm spring. (Don’t mean to rub that in!) I’m trying winter sowing for the first time and am only trying annuals and herbs. Since it is so dry here and so warm right now, i have felt I needed to lightly spritz some of my babies. I’ve just used a mister on them in order to keep them moist, especially since I’m not seeing a lot of condensation on the jug. Is that the correct thing to do? Thanks for the help and your very fun blog!
    Jan

  40. 40

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Jan – You could spritz the seedlings, but here’s an even better watering-method: Put the jugs in a large pail of water, and leave them there for about 20 minutes. The soil will absorb water through the drainage holes in the bottom of the jugs. Well, that’s how I water my seedlings!

  41. 41

    Cindy says

    Hi Kevin,

    I’m so disappointed with the results of my first effort at winter sowing. I was so inspired by your blog post that in late January I scavenged seven milk jugs and sowed two varieties of clematis, black eyed susan, geranium, vernonia and swiss chard. Absolutely nothing has sprouted! 🙁 I obviously did something wrong. Perhaps I’ll try again next winter. Love your blog anyway…Cindy

  42. 42

    Josie says

    Hi Kevin,

    I tried winter sowing for the first time this year. I am having better success then I ever had starting indoors. The weather has been getting quite warm here so I opened up the containers to give the seedlings some sunlight. I noticed there was a green substance covering the soil. It kind of looks like moss. The layer of green seems more prominent on the containers that have not sprouted anything yet. It makes me wonder if the layer is preventing those seeds from germinating. The containers are in direct sunlight. There always seems to be condensation on the inside. Any thoughts on what the issue is?

  43. 43

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Josie – The green stuff is algae, and not harmful to seeds/seedlings. Algae forms under warm, moist conditions. To control it, just continue to open the tops of the jugs on warm, sunny days, as this will increase air circulation.

  45. 45

    rocky says

    Hi, love this site! I have a question please. I’m in zone 5a and I planted several milk jugs and soda bottles this winter. First timer. As of now only batchelors button has sprung up and looks great but everything else-columbine, snapdragon, foxglove, agastache to name a few have no signs of life yet. Should they by now? They were in sun most of the day now I’ve moved them to full all day sun. I’ve kept an eye on them and misted with a spray bottle through the tops occasionally to be sure nothing dried out. Thanks so much!

  46. 46

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Rocky – Do you live in the Northeast? Spring arrived very late here (and, heaven help us, another cold-front is headed this way), so winter-sown seeds will be slow to germinate this year. Several of my milk jugs have sprouted, but I’m still waiting on the snapdragons and a few other perennials. I keep reminding myself that patience is a virtue!

  47. 47

    rocky says

    Thank you! Yes I’m in Maine. I can be patient, just hoping I didn’t somehow mess up my first attempt I guess!

  48. 48

    Josie says

    Hi Kevin,
    A quick question about growing brussels sprouts- Have you ever had a problem with them leaning? This is my first time growing them. I have four seedlings a bit smaller then the ones you have pictured. They all look happy and perfectly healthy, except for the fact that the two largest seedlings don’t want to stand upright. I have mounded a little extra soil at bottom of the stem, but that helps for an hour or so. It’s like they’re drunk. When it’s been above 50 degrees, I keep all my milk jugs open in full sun and they have had exposure to some wind. I am in zone 7a and was planning on transplanting soon, but I am worried they won’t make it.

  49. 49

    Attila says

    Found your blog via browsing Tammy Schmits’ site and the info you have is really great. I plan to start a lot of north east (Pennsylvania) native seeds from seed. I have been debating your milk jug method vs the 50 or 72 plug trays. I would think that the individual seed plugs would allow seedlings to grow more before planing out, but on the other hand take up a lot more space and can get more expensive buying the plug trays. I’d be curious to hear your thoughts on this.

  50. 50

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Attila – Native seeds (plants) are tough as nails. I’d winter-sow these in milk jugs, and transplant to the open garden in one of the manners described above. Have fun with your project!

  51. 51

    Elaine Sweeney says

    Hi,

    Always enjoy receiving your garden advise. Now residing in zone 9 and am curious about winter sowing. Quite different climate from the zone 6 to which I was accustomed.

    Thank you.

  52. 52

    Dominic says

    Kevin, my tomatoes sprang up and are too tall too fast- 2 ” in a few days because of the warm Ky weather. Afraid they’ll be too leggy and fall over on me. Should I start over? .. and this is an awesome blog!

  53. 53

    Kristy says

    Hi Kevin, I love your site. My question, Can I use the milk jugs for spring sowing veg. seeds in the end of April for planting the end of May? I live in south east MI and usually cannot plant until after Memorial Day because of frost.
    Thank You,
    K.R.

  55. 55

    Tee says

    A very good writer and understander of the people who you focus on. I have been a gardener for 74 years and always looking for new ideas. I have never winter garden in the jugs and am looking forward to doing so next year. I have a seed starting system in my house, but use windows, etc also.
    One thing to remind your followers to check out is that their zone code is correct. Mine has actually changed in the last 10 years. I have always been in zone 7 , but for 30 plus years our winter always goes down to as much as 12 below zero. I live on a mountain in Tennessee. It makes a difference in how I grow things. Zone 7 is not suppose to go beyond 0 degrees. Keep watch for a few years on your weather and make sure you are listed correctly.

  56. 56

    Tina says

    Hello fellow gardeners,
    I have used the WS method many times with great success. Want to add a cautionary note here. When the weather warms your seedlings can fry if you don’t prop them open during the day. The temps inside the containers can be 20+ degrees warmer than the outside temps. I use a clip clothes pin on the bottom rim then rest the top of the milk jug on the pin to vent the container. Then I lay a note on my pillow that says DID YOU RE-COVER YOUR CONTAINERS? This has saved my plants many times when I might have forgotten to go out and remove the clothespins for the night. Hope this tip isn’t redundant. Formerly from Kansas but Tina from SW Iowa now

  57. 57

    Radhika says

    Hello Kevin, I am in zone 6a (Indianapolis). When is the right time to transplant winter sown plants in the garden beds? For my indoor started seedlings, as a rule of thumb I wait until Memorial Day for transplanting outside. I am guessing winter sown ones can be transplanted much earlier since they are accustomed to the cold already. Please advice.

  58. 58

    Kimmy says

    It appears I am a few years late with my comment! My garden zone is 6a and I’m wondering if it’s too late to sow my seedlings outside? I started some inside and I found that last year they were very spindly and many died when I transplanted them into the garden (cucumber, squash, chard and kale). I also don’t have full sun on my property but have a community garden plot that hopefully will stay open this season otherwise it will be the front lawn!

  60. 60

    Beth says

    Hi Kevin,

    I was so happy to stumble upon you on YouTube. I have sown about 70 containers. Many are doing wonderfully. Is it unusual that some have not germinated yet? I am in zone 6a

  61. 61

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Beth – So glad you found me on YouTube. Not at all unusual for some seeds to sprout ahead of others. With time and warmth, the pokey seeds will germinate and grow!

  64. 64

    Debra Lynn Langley says

    Can you add me to your list. I just found this posting but don’t see a place to sign-up.

  65. 65

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Pauline – Winter-sowing refers to outdoor seed germination. Click the link that reads: Winter-Sowing 101 for more details.

    Hi Debra – The sign-up link for my email newsletter at the very end of this post. (Probably I should move the link front and center!)

  66. 66

    Lisa says

    Can I place my wintersown jugs outside if there is no snow? The Temps here in MI are in the 30s (Christmas day and day after will be in the 40s!) Should I wait til January?

  68. 68

    Suzanne Discenza says

    The comments are old, I see, so I don’t know if I’ll get an answer. However, I’d love to know how transplanting works for things that don’t like root disturbances, like squash plants. I grew squash indoors last year and when I transplanted the first time, I lost all my hard work because they all died. I think I only got to hold onto one plant! I had to start all over. Could you start 3-4 squash plants in one jug, and then separate them into the 3-4 plants once it was time to transplant? Would they live? I’m so eager to do this but I’m scared of losing all the hard work like I did last year. Thank you so much!!!

  70. 70

    Danielle says

    Can you transplant you plants into single containers to sell after winter sowing?

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