Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

Winter-Sowing 101

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 357 Comments

Last updated on January 18th, 2022

winter-sowingMost years, I start my summer garden in January and February. How? By using a neat trick called “Winter-Sowing.” Winter-sowing is an outdoor method of seed germination that requires just two things: miniature greenhouses (made from recycled water and milk jugs) and Mother Nature. You can winter-sow your way to a beautiful garden, too…for pennies. Here’s how:

Make a Greenhouse. You can make a greenhouse from any number of  clear or translucent plastic containers. Like other winter-sowers, I use recyclables, including gallon-size milk and water jugs, and, on rare occasions, 2-liter soda bottles. With jugs and bottles, use a pen-knife to cut around the middle, almost all the way through. The uncut half-inch or so will serve as a hinge.

Next, punch out drainage holes in the bottom of the container. I use a Phillips screwdriver, heated over a flame at the stove, to facilitate the hole-punching job. Punch out also a few holes along the top portion of the jug. These extra holes provide ventilation. Ventilation is the key to preventing excess heat from building up in the greenhouse, and baking the seeds to death. Remove the cap from the jug or bottle. Watch me make and plant a miniature greenhouse.

Select the Right Soil. It is essential to use a light, fluffy, well-draining potting mixture. A commercial peat-moss and perlite mix is fine. Pour the soil, preferably to a depth of 2 to 3 inches, into the container.

 Water the Soil. Moisten the mix thoroughly, and then let it drain.

Sow the Seeds. Sow your seeds on the soil surface. Cover the seeds with more soil, when necessary, in order to achieve the proper planting depth. Gently pat the mix down, so that seeds and soil make good contact. Then replace the lid, and secure it with a strip of duct tape, as illustrated above.

If you live in a cold climate, as I do, plant your perennial and hardy annual seeds first. Should these sprout during a weird warm-spell in winter, they will not be harmed. Wait until March to plant tender annuals.  More details here: What to Winter-Sow…& When.

Remember to Label! For each sowing, indicate with a permanent marker (or a paint-pen) the seed variety and date sown. Do not omit this step, for there is nothing worse than finding, in spring, dozens of miniature greenhouses brimming with seedlings, and not knowing what they are!

Bring the Greenhouse Outdoors. Your planted and labeled greenhouse is now ready to brave the outdoor elements. Select a location that is safe from strong wind, but where sun, rain and snow will be freely admitted. My assorted greenhouses go on a wire-mesh patio table, out of the reach of Lily the Beagle, who would otherwise knock them over. For further protection from tipping, I place them in a large plastic box, with drainage holes melted in the bottom.

Relax! Now sit back and let Nature take over. As the weather chills and warms, your seeds will freeze and thaw. These natural actions loosen the seed-coatings. This is why advance soaking or nicking of hard-shelled seeds, such as Morning Glories and Sweet Peas, is not necessary when you winter-sow.

At the first kiss of spring, but while nights are still freezing, seedlings will begin to emerge. This is the time to check for water. Open the tops, and if the soil appears dry, moisten thoroughly but gently, so as not to disturb tender root systems. Then close the tops. On warm, sunny days, I like to open the tops for hours at a time, and let the seedlings enjoy the fresh spring air. The tops, of course, are closed at dusk.

I can’t tell you how advantageous winter-sowing can be. Last year I produced an entire garden’s-worth of perennials this way (far too many, in fact), without the need for light-systems, heating devices, or seed-starting kits. And, unlike windowsill-germinated seedlings, which more often than not are frail and spindly, winter-sown seeds grow up to be strong, sturdy plants, completely prepared for glorious careers in the open garden.

If I were you, I’d give winter-sowing a try. Honestly, it’s the easiest, most cost-effective way to achieve a beautiful garden.

Hungry for more? Get my email updates, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Other food and garden fun:

What to Winter-Sow and When
How to Transplant Winter-Sown Seedlings

Comments

  1. 1

    Carol says

    Holy cow! What a way to erase the winter blahs! I've never been able to successfully grow seedlings on my windowsills. Lord knows I've tried. But they always got too big too soon, or grew tall and lanky, and then died before it was warm enough here to plant them out. Winter sowing sounds like a plan that I can manage.

  3. 3

    Tom says

    I'll have to try this. After buying poorly grown, half-dead zinnas and snaps (at no discount) from Samascott's last year, I'm determined to grow all of my own summer plants from seed.

    When, exactly, should I plant my annuals in mini greenhouses? I'm thinking zinnas, snapdragons, marigolds and the like.

  5. 5

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Carol – yes, wintersowing is a good way to get an authentic sense of spring! Give it a try!

    Eric – wait until late March or early April to start your tomatoes.

    Welcome, Tom! Snap dragons are hardy annuals, and very slow to germinate. I would start them the first week in February. As for zinnias and marigolds, winter-sow these in March. They are quick to sprout, and will probably start blooming in their greenhouses in early May. However, wait until Memorial day to give them permanent positions in the garden.

  10. 10

    Janet G. Metzger says

    This looks like it might solve a lot of problems. Thank you for the step-by-step instructions.

    Also, over Christmas I did put herbs and plants in the kitchen window, including an African violet. You are absolutely right–the plant in the window is differnt from the plant in the room. It brought so much life and warmth to the house. Thank you, again, for all the encouragement.

    Neighbors brought me cut flowers last week, 1-2 days after the Christmas decorations were down (and when I was concerned about how to keep the house feeling lovely). Those flowers wilted today, BUT, with the snow on the ground there are green bulb shoots peeking out of the ground. Spring, indeed, is on her way!

    Thank you for all the lovely photos which got me through the winter. And also for the tips about planting. It sounds like I should start vegetables and stuff in March winter sowing rather than in the little pots. Nothing grew last year except for the green beans. Maybe this year I will get more…..

  11. 11

    Lisa Campagna says

    Good Morning Kevin,

    Wow! I am very excited about this one. I think that even I can handle this and plan to start a couple with kids on Monday. They will make great year end gifts for the teachers.

    Have a great day!
    Lisa

  12. 12

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Janet – Glad you're going to try winter-sowing this season. It really works!

    Lisa – Great idea, get the kids involved! And, if I were a teacher, I'd be delighted to receive, in spring, a little “greenhouse” of seedlings. Let us know how your project goes!

  13. 13

    aNNE SCHOMAKER says

    MY WINDOW GARDEN IS MAGNIFICENT RIGHT NOW. THE AFRICAN VIOLETS ARE IN FULL BLOOM AND MY ORCHIDS HAVE BUDS READY TO OPEN. I CAN SIT AT MY COMPUTER, GLANCE AS MY BLOOMS, AND SEE SNOW COVERED GROUND OUTSIDE MY WINDOW. HOW DIVINE. I TOO AM ANXIOUS TO BEGIN WINTER SEEDING FOR SUMMER FLOWERS. I REMEMBER YOUR OTHER IDEA AND WOULD SUGGEST TO EVERYONE, KEEP SCENTED CUT FLOWERS ON YOUR BEDROOM NIGHT TABLE FOR THE AROMA AND BEAUTY IT CREATES.

  18. 18

    erin says

    Ahhh, this is my favorite part about winter… I can't wait for spring. Do you have a list of plants on what to sow and when? I harvested some seeds from a few plants last year.

  21. 21

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Queen of the Click – Beware…Winter-sowing is highly addictive!

    I planted at least 24 containers last winter, and in the spring, to my delight (or horror) EVERYTHING had sprouted. Everything that is, except the delphiniums (I think the seeds were old).

  22. 22

    Dana says

    Dear Kevin, your Winter-Sowing 101 Tutorial is so charming that I cannot resist trying it for the first time on a pack of dwarf sweet peas seeds. I hope that this spring you will add a sequel to it showing the greenhouse graduation ceremony. That is to say, when and how do you plant the seedlings in the garden? How big do they need to be before they are ready to be planted? When do you do that? Best regards, Dana

  23. 23

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Dana – What a great suggestion. I did, in fact, photograph the transplanting-process last spring, and then forgot to publish the pictures. I shall correct this soon, lest I forget (again).

  24. 24

    Anonymous says

    What an amazing concept! Can one start most vegetables in this way? Now to find some milk jugs . . . Oh & what if the temperatures fluctuate to -30 and 5 continually?

  25. 25

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Anonymous – welcome to A Garden for the House, and also to the wonderful world of winter-sowing!

    You can start all of your hardy vegetables now (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, swiss chard, spinach, etc.). For these will tolerate frost after they germinate. Wait until March to winter-sow tender vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, etc.). Otherwise you'll have to cover their milk jugs with a blanket should frost threaten after germination.

    Of course any perennial or annual which is hardy in your region (or which reseeds itself) can be winter-sown now. It doesn't matter if temperatures fluctuate. In fact, most of these seeds require such fluctuating temps in order to germinate.

    Feel free to ask other questions as they occur to you — I'm here to help! You might enjoy reading my other winter-sowing articles, too.

  26. 26

    Terri says

    The quickest way I found to punch the holes is a soldering iron. It very quickly did all my holes so I was ready to plant. Thanks for the great idea.

  30. 30

    Tamara {Delish Mag} says

    WOW!!! Thank you so much for this great bit of information!! I had no idea this was possible. I am the woman who had the spindly plants lining every single kitchen counter, and who spent hours a day transporting those seedlings in and out of the house when trying to get them ready to go into the garden!

    Is this equally effective with vegetables like tomatoes as it is flowers?

    Thank you so much for this. Found you via Pinterest and will Stumble you now too to spread the good word. Happy gardening!

  31. 31

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Tamara – Nice to meet you. Winter-Sowing in milk-jugs works for any seed which will typically reseed itself outdoors. I've used the method for a number of veggies including romaine, spinach, brussels sprouts, peas, broccoli, and yes, even tomatoes. No hurry for the veggies — you can winter-sow them in March. Flowering perennials, however, you can sow in December/January.

    The method is not only fun, but it is effective, too. I always end up with more strong, healthy seedlings than I can possibly accommodate!

  32. 32

    badger gardener says

    I've been waiting all year to try your idea. Saving up my milk jugs!
    Hope you are having a nice start to the holidays. Somewhere along the way in reading your blog, you said that beautiful china is meant to be used. And so for the first time I bravely pulled out my Haviland china, handed down from a Great-Aunt, and set the Thanksgiving table. It was so lovely. Thanks for all of your super useful info and inspiration.

  37. 37

    Paula Hunter says

    Wow, I can't wait to try it. I have absolutely no room indoors for sowing seeds… too many cordylines and agapanthas crowding the place. I am assuming zone 5, NH is similar to your climate?

  39. 39

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Paula Hunter – Your zone 5 NH location is perfect for winter-sowing (I'm 5-b). Seeds sown outdoors in mini-greenhouses always grow up to be stronger and healthier than those started indoors. Have fun, and let me know what you decide to winter-sow!

    a ragamuffin princess – Welcome. Winter-Sowing in milk-jug greenhouses works for any seed which will typically reseed itself outdoors. I've used the method for a number of veggies including romaine, spinach, brussels sprouts, peas, broccoli, and yes, even tomatoes. No hurry for the veggies — here in cold zone 5-b, I winter-sow them in March. Flowering perennials, however, can and should be sown in December/January. You can see my veggie and flowering annual schedule here.

  42. 42

    Beverly says

    I tried winter sowing for the first time in February of 2011. I was successful in growing perennial Oriental Poppies in flaming orange, Miniature Platycodon in periwinkle blue, Yellow Baptisia, Great Blue Lobelia, Montauk Daisies, and Candleabra Primroses in dark pink. It took almost no effort and was highly rewarding. All of these were perennial plants. The Lobelia was the most successful, yielding about 50 plants that I carefully upsized twice, finally installing them in my damp shady area on the north side of the house.

    Instead of taping the carton’s hinged lid, I threaded a thin piece of bamboo (from my own patch) through the handle hole, into the ground and diagonally anchored the whole shebang against wind. It worked well.

    I created holes in the base with an extra long nail and a hammer, sitting the plastic milk carton on the ground with its top open.

    I am saving my cartons as we speak to go again this coming winter. I plan to add to the list of perennials, using my own saved seed and some from friends. It’s like a new magic trick!

  43. 43

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Beverly – You came up with some terrific hole-punching and container-securing tips. I have to use tape on my miniature greenhouses, because they rest on a table, not on the ground. This because of Lily the Beagle.

    One question for you: where did you obtain the seeds of Candleabra Primroses? I have these Primula japonicas in the Woodland Garden, but last year searched for more seeds on-line and couldn’t find them.

  44. 44

    Beverly says

    All seeds came from my own yard with the exception of my sister-in-law’s Baptisia.

    I harvested Primrose seeds from plants which were a catalog purchase about 5 years ago. I think it was Bluestone Perennials, but I am not totally sure. I noticed small seedlings developing near the parents, but they failed to thrive. I wanted more of these plants so I saved the mature seeds and tried them in traditional APS trays first, with no luck (no freeze/thaw to break dormancy). When I tried them in the winter sowing jugs I got 15 very healthy specimens. I expect them to bloom in 2012.

    http://www.nargs.org/nargswiki/tiki-index.php?page=Primula+-+Candelabra+types

    This link has a photo, first one on the right, which matches the pink ones I grow.

  46. 46

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Beverly – I always mean to save some of my ripened primrose seeds in summer. But then I get caught up in other garden chores. This year — assuming the plants return — I’ll try to do what you do: save and winter-sow the seeds.

  49. 49

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Laurie – Before you plant the seeds, thoroughly moisten the soil and let it drain.

    Shannon – You can plant any veggies you like, with this warning: Should the non-frost-tolerant types sprout too early in spring, you’ll have to cover their jugs with a blanket on frosty nights.

    I winter-sow my spinach and other frost-tolerant veggies any time in winter. But I wait until 8 weeks or so before the last spring frost to sow my heat-loving tomatoes, peppers, etc.

  50. 50

    Cary Bradley says

    Reallllly hate to be a pest, but am planting winter jugs today and am unable to access your ‘winter sowing veggies and annuals’ (sic) link. Have tried to access it many ways, but unable so far. Please help me Kevin and tell me which vegs you’d plant now. I’ve got my flower packets ready, but wonder about vegetables in particular today. Thanks so!

  51. 51

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Cary – you are SO not a pest! Here is the link to the annuals/vegetables article. It’s based on my zone 5-b climate (which feels more like zone 7 this winter!).

    Although I wait until late March to WS most of my annuals (including veggies), you can, in fact, plant them now. The only drawback to such an early start is this: Should they sprout during a freakish warm spell when it is still very much winter, you’ll have to protect the not-frost-hardy ones. This means throwing a blanket over their containers, or moving them to warmer quarters at night.

    If you really want to sow annuals and veggies now, in January, go ahead with frost-tolerant types, including broccoli, cabbage, peas, and lettuces of all kinds, including spinach, kale and swiss chard.

    Hope this helps! Keep in mind that winter-sowing is not an exact science…

    Oh. You can even sow tomatoes now. They won’t sprout until the soil in their jug reaches 70 degrees or so — which, during normal years, doesn’t occur until May.

  52. 52

    Cary Bradley says

    Thank you once again! This is exactly what I needed. Thanks too for the reminder that this is not an exact science. I’m trying winter sowing to give me more indoor seedling starting space, while reducing my hardening off tasks later in the season. Hi-ho, hi-ho, off to Spring we go :)!

    Tomatoes now? You are indeed tempting me…ooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  53. 53

    Sharon Rose says

    Kevin, I read this a few weeks ago and have saved about 8 gallon jugs for my sowing. I live in zone 7 and am wondering if I can start the first week of February?

    I enjoy your newsletter and blog very much.

    Sharon

  54. 54

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Cary – Go for it. Give tomatoes a try!

    Sharon Rose – You can certainly winter-sow in February in zone 7. However, if your temperatures are particularly mild then — meaning no below-freezing nights — any seeds which require cold-stratification will likely fail. These types need repeated freeze-thaw episodes in order to germinate.

  55. 55

    Cathy says

    Hi There,

    I am a fairly new gardener. Typically I have always purchased seedlings from a nursery to plant in my garden. This year, I would like to try to grow some annuals from seed in order to save some money. (Also just for the experience of growing from seed.)

    I love these milk jug greenhouses. What type of annual flowers would you suggest I try in these? Would petunias work in these? They are my favorite annual. Or are they better started indoors? I have heard that they are challenging to germinate. What about inpatients or saliva?

  57. 57

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Welcome, Cathy. Like you, I used to spend untold dollars on nursery-grown annuals. Now I know better.

    Impatiens, petunias (one of my favorite annuals, too) and salvia are indeed very easy to winter-sow. In fact, even in zone 5 these plants will reseed themselves in the open garden if the soil is not disturbed in spring. You can sow them now or wait until March.

    The list of flowering annuals which can be winter-sown is a long one. I’ve had success with impatiens, petunias, salvia (‘Victoria Blue’ my favorite), plus snapdragons, sweet peas, morning glory, larkspur, bachelor buttons, ageratum, calendula, annual asters and marigolds. All these can be sown in January and February, or later in March.

    Wait until late March to sow nasturtiums, zinnias, sunflowers and other heat-lovers.

    Let me know what you decide to plant, okay?

  60. 60

    Hallie says

    Kevin, this is my first try with starting seeds outdoors and I’m so excited! Sweet peas, Delphinium, Hollyhocks and Fox Gloves so far (I’m still collecting milk jugs for the next month or so). Thanks so much for this awesome idea! I’ll direct my husband to your e-mail when he wants to complain about jugs in the yard in addition to the light cart in the guest room! 🙂

  61. 61

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hallie – Tell your husband to try living here for a week: milk jugs outside, light gardens and window gardens inside. Open a kitchen cabinet, and he will be as likely to find stacked clay pots as canned goods!

    Love all of the plants you are winter-sowing; hope you’ll report back on your success!

  62. 62

    Crystal says

    Hi, Kevin – I just found a link to your site today via Pinterest and I am very interested in trying your project! We are in zone 3b and I wonder if you have any advice about the time to plant here. Thanks so much for your help.

  63. 63

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Crystal – Good news for you. Even in zone 3b your winter-sowing schedule will be the same as mine in 5-b. Consequently, plant all of your perennials and hardy annuals while it is still very much winter. Hold off on tender annuals until about 8 weeks before you’d normally transplant to the open garden (meaning late-March or early-April).

    And have fun!

  64. 64

    kim says

    Hi Kevin, like many others here, I found you through Pinterest. I would love to start winter sowing asap. What do you suggest I try as a very new gardener. I think I’m in zone 5. Indianapolis,IN

    Thanks in advance!

  66. 66

    Shawnee says

    Hi Kevin, I tried to post a comment last night, but it wouldn’t go through. Anyway, I live in N. Wisconsin, zone 3, and I’m wondering how far behind your schedule I should follow. We usually have frosts here up until June 5-10. I’m always crazy to get planting before that, so winter sowing would be great for me. Last year, we had a warm spell in March and I put my peas in. They came up a couple of week later and even though it snowed on them a couple of time, they were great. Tomatoes never go in until June 10th and I have had success starting them in my window, but I would love to have everything in jugs outside and not have to haul them in and out to harden off. I’m really excited to have found your website. Thanks for all the info. Shawnee

  67. 67

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Welcome, Shawnee. Perennials can be started any time in winter. And right now in cold zone 3 you can winter-sow your hardy annuals (including peas, kale, and spinach).

    As a rule of thumb (and it is a rule I often break!), I “winter”-sow my tender annuals (like zinnias) and veggies (like tomatoes) about 8 weeks before I’d normally transplant them to the open garden. For you, this would mean the first week in April. Most of these seeds won’t pop up until the weather warms, but at least you’ll have them planted.

    And feel free to experiment with timing. I’ll admit that winter-sowing is not an exact science!

  68. 68

    Paula says

    Neat! Very excited to try this! Looks like I have some time to snag extra milk jugs from family and friends before I start my vegetables! We’ve had a ice/snow storm here in Michigan, so I’m gonna give it a couple of weeks before I start mine – sound good Kevin?

  69. 69

    Shawnee says

    Thanks Kevin! I did look on a more detail zone map and I’m actually in zone 4a, but I think it is just easier to count backwards from the dates you know are true to your area. I’m super excited to try this milk jug method, especially because it seems like nature just decides for itself when to sprout and grow. I’m going seed shopping tonight and start planting seeds as I get empty milk jugs. We buy milk in bags from a local dairy, so I’m going to have to switch to store milk or ask around for empty jugs! Thanks for the link to transplanting. I like your analogies to pulling taffee and cutting brownies. I’m reading Eliot Coleman’s 4-season harvest right now and I like what he says about making gardening a year round event (so I don’t go crazy in the winter!)

  70. 70

    dave says

    Hi Kevin. We are in zone 5b and we are getting very warm weather for this time of year. Some 80s and mostly 70s. Will the containers overheat in this weather. They still have not sprouted. Should the tops be opened during this heat spell, I have milk jugs with the cap off and have added extra ventilation holes on top.. Should I also be keeping the soil moist.? Any suggestions will be appreciated

  71. 71

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Dave – Bizarre weather, right? Since it has been hot and dry where you are, go ahead and remove tape and open tops on particularly warm days ( 70s and 80s.) Soak the soil, too. Re-close tops at dusk.

    Only a few of my winter-sown jugs have sprouted so far. But where I live (Hudson Valley, NY, zone 5-b), mid-March is still early for most seeds.

  72. 72

    Laura W. says

    This may be a dumb question…lol…but when spring arrives what it the best way to move them to the garden?

  74. 74

    Susie/VT says

    I am SOOOOO excited to get started with this!!!!
    Every year at this time, my south facing windows are crowded with folding tables full of seed trays in an effort to tame a bit more of my Vermont wilderness. White Pine grows like weeds here, and I have everything I can do to keep up with the areas that I have cleared. Now I can get some pretty ground cover started, grow lots of lavender to keep the squirrels and deer away, and get tons more started as well. I’m off to the recycling center to turn my yard into a field of mini greenhouses!!! I WILL take pictures!!!
    YIPPEEEE!!!!!

  76. 76

    Guillermo says

    I don’t know if it’s just me or if everybody else
    encountering problems with your site. It seems like some of the text in your posts are running off the screen.

    Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them as well?
    This might be a issue with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously. Appreciate it

  78. 78

    Erica Olivier says

    Oh my gosh! I just made my first-ever hoop house last weekend in order to winter my leeks and I thought I was done for the season but NOW I see I’m not!
    I’m in Colorado and will be trying this with peas and blue poppies!
    Thank you SO much!!

  79. 79

    Elaine says

    I tried this last year after reading about it in your blog and had GREAT results….however! Even though I used a permanent sharpie pen to write on the jugs it was faded and unreadable by spring. I have been saving my jugs and plan on writing inside – outside – using three different pens! It was very frustrating to have such beautiful plants without a clue what they were!!

  80. 80

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Erica – Great! Winter-sowing really works. No rush to plant peas, but your blue poppies (lovely!) can be winter-sown anytime between now and February.

    Elaine – Nice to hear that your winter-sowing project was a success. I’ve never had trouble with my permanent-marker ink fading out on the jugs. But I know that others have. One solution is to mark the jugs with a paint-pen. Apparently this ink doesn’t fade in sunlight.

  81. 81

    Liliana says

    Kevin… thank you for your posts they are a great help for someone like me who has just discovered gardening. I have a small balcony/terrace in my city flat which I would like to populate with a few plants… my first adventure would have to be an olive tree grown from the fruit I collected during a trip I made to Italy early last month. I just fell in love with those trees and now I want my very own tree grown from seed .

    When would be the right time to plant it and should I follow the winter sowing procedure? please… please… help me… I so want one of these beauties in my little terraced-city flat.
    Many thanks

  86. 86

    KimH says

    This is so simple, I want to say DUH! Why didnt I think of that? haha.. Actually some 30 years ago, I did start my garden plants like that but I’ve not done it for probably 25 years. Sure makes a lot less work than the way Im doing it now. 😉

    Gonna have to start saving my milk jugs, me thinks.. Great post! thanks!

  87. 87

    melody says

    Hey Kevin..
    You may have already answered this but the thread is so long! Which is a good thing!
    Once these are ready to plant, is there a special way you separate them so as not to damage roots?
    Thanks for your great newsletter. I look forward to it every week!

  89. 89

    Susan in MI says

    Raising my hand tentatively to bring up a very important (well, it is to me) point concerning the “where” of where you purchase your seeds. People don’t have a clue as to how many seed companies carry Monsanto seed. When they are purchased, the profit goes back to Monsanto.
    Before going to a garden center to get seeds or purchase through a mail order catalog, Pretty Please, take a look at:
    http://www.hawkeshealth.net/community/showthread.php?t=9375

  91. 91

    trilium says

    I did this for the first time last year and it was absolutely wonderful! SO easy. I was able to share a lot of baby plants with friends and it was so fun to see them blossoming at their homes.

    I’ve already started cleaning out and saving milk containers. Last year I picked up some 10 for $1 seed packets, insurance against it not working. This year I am going to drool over some varieties I want and either purchase or order them.

    I successfully grew seeds last year that I haven’t been able to grow in the conventional manner – and they were just so beautiful. So many beautiful plants for a fraction of my typical expense, not to mention labor!

    Thanks Kevin!

    Anyone know what they’re going to plant this year?

  92. 92

    Paula says

    Hi Kevin,
    I’m going to try this out during this winter. I did have a question for you. We don’t drink a gallon of milk (it would be a waste in our house) so we have half gallons and 2 Litre soda bottles that i’ll be using instead. Do you reccommend doing anything different since i’ll be using smaller containers? (besides not planting as many seeds in each container?)

    thank you!

  93. 93

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Paula – Half-gallon milk jugs will work. They are much easier to cut than 2-litre soda bottles.

    Two thoughts: You can always find hundreds (if not thousands!) of gallon-size milk and water jugs at the local recycling station. Friends and neighbors are another source for these containers.

  94. 94

    Constance Clark says

    I love these green houses! I have used these since I saw them last summer. I have a question though. Since here in Zone 9 of Sacramento we do not get snow. or a ton of rain, do you think that I should go ahead and start these now (Nov/Dec) or wait?

  95. 95

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Constance – Yes — go ahead and start the seeds now. Since your winter is extremely short, my advice is to place your mini greenhouses where they will receive only morning sun. Otherwise, the hot midday sun in your zone could potentially roast your seeds. Have fun!

  96. 96

    S. Taylor says

    This is like a little cold frame. I put some hay bales out in a rectangle shape then laid two windows over the top. The soil is tilled and composted, underneath, and ready for seeds. You have given me the courage to try. I doubt we’ll get the snow, but it should get plenty of moisture out there. I’ll figure it out. I’m going to try all edibles and plan to garden the yard, front back and sides, in a way that we can eat as much as possible, and the neighbors will think we have a landscaper ;o) Thanks Kevin!

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    Susi says

    You live in the Hudson Valley, and I don’t know what zone that is, but your cold must be somewhat ameliorated by the river and valley?. We’re in CT at zone 4-5, — how cold can we go? A friend from Montana was pretty sure she couldn’t do it!!

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    Jim & Kaydene says

    I live in Georgia and getting ready to try this method as we always buy plants to put in the garden. We have tomato & banana style pepper seeds (bought them online from a place you suggested). How many seeds should be used per gallon milk jug? We want to try flowers around our pool area, so are also trying to figure out what would be best in our area.

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    Elizabeth says

    I can see this working. I’ve had tomato plants sprouting in places I hadn’t planted (I had hens at the time who had ‘treats’ from my veggie patches). It seems to me that the seeds had overwintered and germinated of their own accord when they felt it was the right time. Nature is a wonderful thing 🙂

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    Diane Kratz says

    Hi Kevin,
    Happy New Year! Received my flower seeds from Summer Hill (Hollyhocks,Zinnia, Asters, Pansies, Columbine). I received a handwritten thank you and a free packet of seeds. Wonderful customer service! I also have Stevia seeds to plant. Any idea if I can winter sow that?

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Diane – If you live in a cold zone, as I do (zone 5-b), wait until April to sow your stevia. From what I’ve read, the herb can be tricky to start from seed — even under the best of circumstances.

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    Donna says

    Thanks so much Kevin! I live in zone 8a up here in Canada so I went out and planted a bunch of milk jugs up with a wide selection of the perennials I had in seed.. wish me luck! I’ll let you know what comes up.

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    Rory says

    I LOVE YOU, KEVIN! Best advice I have received all year. I am going to begin hoarding gallon jugs and know that I have a very specific purpose in the next few weeks.

    Great blog, just subscribed!

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    Samantha Hunter says

    I’m doing heirloom tomatoes, so I have to wait until March as I am also zone 5 (Syracuse) and I will direct sow a lot of things from seed in late May, but I wanted to get a head start on Romaine and cabbages — I see lettuce is March, but what about cabbages? I’m tempted to try cilantro, but it’s been such a touchy herb to grow I lost faith, though I do still have some seeds…

    We buy 5gal water at BJ’s, and it’s a big, rectangular plastic jug, and also some distilled water jugs, which are very inexpensive, at the grocery store, so those are an affordable way to get the containers.

    Sam

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Samantha – In January, you can winter-sow perennials, frost-hardy annuals (incl. cabbage, Brussels sprouts and broccoli), and also any annuals which are known to reseed themselves. (If you’ve ever had tomato seeds sprout in your compost pile, you’ll realize that they, too, can be winter-sown. Germination for tomato seeds occurs when the soil temperature reaches approx. 70 degrees.)

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    Beth says

    I’ve been home from work sick all week. Feeling better today and I think if I have the energy I will start some tomato plants this way. We always get volunteer tomatoes in our garden so I know tomato seeds are pretty hardy!
    I’m glad I found you site!

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    Beth says

    I am so gald I found you site. I have been home from work sick all week but am feeling a bit better today. You know when you aren’t 100% but are about to go stir crazy with boredom! This will be the perfect project to try. I can get my tomato plants started.

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    sue says

    this is SO cool! haven’t done it yet but am saving my containers and will start what I can this year and do more next year! LOVE it!

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    Stephanie says

    I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful and informative website! This is my first year winter sowing and I find myself frequently coming back to your posts for reference. Your pictures and commentary have been both enlightening and entertaining. I’ve taken over my kitchen with my mini greenhouse assembly line. My husband and our sweet puppy Gretchen have learned to steer clear of the crazed (but delighted) lady wielding the milk jugs and utility knife. I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to Spring so much before! Thanks again Kevin!!

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    Kara says

    Hi Kevin,
    I spent a lot of time trying to find what zone we live in. I finally found it because I’m interested in planting more this summer. We live in zone 4a. How would this change for me as far as winter sowing? Thanks for your blog. I really enjoy reading your recipes and about your gardens!

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Kara – In January or February, you can start all of your perennials and also any annuals which tend to reseed themselves in your zone. Wait until the weather warms (probably mid-April) to start your tender annuals (like zinnias). And have fun!

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    Chris Sherwood says

    Hi Kevin

    I love your website. I found it through Pintrest. I am trying your winter sowing ideas today in three milk jugs. (I’m saving more). I’m quite excited to see if this works here (Vancouver, BC)

    Tomorrow I make your Julia Child ham steaks. Had a devil of a time trying to find Arugula.

    Thanks for the tips!

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    jean says

    Hey guys,

    Just wanted to confirm that I called Starbucks locally and asked them if they would save me empty milk cartons for a day. They saved me two big bags of empty jugs. You have to tell them you don’t want them crushed as apparently that is the local way of trashing them, they crush them so they don’t take up as much space. I bet I probably have 20 milk jugs in the garage. So excited as that what was holding me back from planting more. I gave the girl a tip for saving them and she was happy too. Happy planting to all of you and thanks Kevin for a great website. Can’t wait until Spring to discover all of the new plants. Per your note, I’m planting Canterbury Bells, never planted them before and they look so cute.

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    Kat says

    hi kevin & fellow gardeners!! im soo excited i found you all…this will be my first gardening year and im so happy to get started, i live in michigan 48066 so i dont even know what zone i am…..so here are my silly questions for today……where are you all getting seeds already?? what type of soil do place in the milk jugs? im going to attempt perrenial flowers only this year…..and i will mostly be doing container gardening………every bit of help will be appreciated!! thank you, kat

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    Kat says

    o please one more thing…..im really wanting a couple pots of a short pink ornamental grass, does anyone know if they cause a problem such as re-seeding into my lawn? ty!!!!!! kat

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    Liz Knight says

    Hi Kevin,
    One thing that was not clear is if I should add any water to the soil/seeds after potting them in the jugs. I tried some with water and some without water.

    Thanks,
    Liz Knight

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Kat – I order most of my seeds via mail-order. Here’s a list of my favorite seed suppliers.
    As for soil, you can use any mixture that drains well, as mentioned in the article above.

    Lynne – Not sure I’ve seen blue containers. But if light can penetrate the walls of the container, it should be suitable for winter-sowing.

    Liz Knight – Before planting the seeds, I always soak the soil and then let it drain. But not to worry — if you plant your seeds in winter, Nature will usually handle the watering chores for you.

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    Mary Mac says

    I just planted up broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard and cabbage. They will go outside in a little while after they drain a bit. I’ll let you know how they turn out. I live in Michigan and last night after snowing all day the temp got down to 10 degrees. Cross my fingers;)

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    Karen H says

    Love this article! Like many others, I spend a small fortune at the nurseries for annuals and perennials each year. This time I’m following your directions to make my own mini greenhouses! In addition to gardening, being a handler of a certified pet therapy dog, I also work at Starbucks where we go through DOZENS of gallon milk containers. If you need milk jugs, stop by your local Starbucks and ask them to save the empty jugs for you!
    PS: be sure to pick up the jugs when you say you will; otherwise they stack up.

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    Lori says

    Hi again, Kevin! It’s me! You helped me with the milk cure for my roses last summer when I couldn’t find it. My house is an old house in the city – small lot. Previous owners made the yard a perennial garden and I am trying to keep it, but I am still learning. A lot of people have complimented the garden as they walk by, so I am encouraged!

    Anyway, we are zone 3a. Really flipping cold in the winter. Really flipping hot in the summer. I planted lavender, but my plants disappeared over the winter. Do you know if I need to modify your winter sowing techniques for my zone? Do you know what would be good choices of plants for my zone? I am a little lost, despite my research.

    I made some raised beds last fall, inspired by your newsletter, so thanks!

    Lori

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    Garry Repp says

    The winter sowing concept seems to be a good idea. I planted 8 milk jugs and I’ll see when they sprout. I am in zone 5b.

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Lori – Here is a list of perennials (by no means complete) which are hardy in zone 3a. All of these can be winter-sown. As for lavender — it goes dormant in winter. If you plant the ‘Munstead’ variety in a protected site (against a south-facing wall, for instance), and mulch it after the ground freezes, the plant may very well return for you when the weather warms in spring.

    Gary Repp – You are in the same zone as me. Hope you’ll report your success in April/May when sprouting occurs.

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    Heidi says

    Hi Kevin..
    Do you recommend doing this with veggie? and how would you transfer them into a garden? I’m new to gardening so this might sounds a little stupid..I love your weekly newsletter. the recipes are amazing..thank you for your time and devotion to teach people your techniques

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    L'il Bo Pup says

    Don’t remember where I saw this, but someone suggested cutting in half those little round paper tubes in the center of toilet tissue and sink into soil. In your green house this should make several little individual plants that could be easily moved without so much root disturbance. Move the whole thing into the garden since the paper should rot as the plant roots grow down.

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    Ann says

    Do you think I would have luck here in zone 2 with the milk jug planting? I’m thinking of experimenting with hardier cole crops and lettuces to start. Any suggestions? I could put the milk jug planted seeds inside my unheated greenhouse for a bit extra insulation….what do you think?

    Thanks!

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    Mary Mac says

    March 24th, still not a thing sprouted. Wanted to start some more today but have to get my ceiling in my backroom put up. It has been pretty cold her in Michigan this year, maybe that’s why they aren’t sprouting?

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    Cynthia says

    Kevin – I’m a new veggie gardener, is it too late to start this process for lettuce in Zone 5b? Or should I wait a couple of weeks at this point and sow directly in the ground (I have a cold frame). Wish I had gotten started earlier – this is such a great idea – I will definitely put it on my calendar for next year!

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    Joelle says

    Wow! Too bad I didn’t read this before winter was almost over. My question though, I live in rural Utah, and my area can be very cold AND very dry…would I need to occasionally put any water in my “greenhouses”?

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Ann – Go ahead and plant your lettuce and hardy cole crops.

    Mary Mac – Not to worry — your seeds (and mine!) are simply waiting for a little warmth.

    Cynthia – Go ahead and plant your lettuce now.

    Joelle – Yes – you’ll have to water your seeds if a spring drought occurs.

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    Mary Mac says

    Baby plants came through 2 months 10 days after planting! I just planted some seeds from my England trip last year as well as tomatoes. Everything in the flower beds is starting to test the air to see if they can come out of hiding. Love Spring!

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    Glen says

    Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to your blog before but after browsing through some of the articles I realized it’s new to me.

    Anyhow, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

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    Renee says

    Do you water your seedlings daily? I know I am rather late, but I would love to get ideas for this winter.
    This will be so great on my small porch of the condo!

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Renee – I don’t water the seeds at all in winter. But after they sprout in spring, I water regularly unless Nature provides adequate rainfall. Hope you’ll try winter-sowing next year — it really works!

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    Mary Farrell says

    I don’t remember how I happened to stumble upon your site, but I am so happy that I did. After raising hundreds of seedlings every year under a jerry-rigged light unit indoors, I even have neighbors saving milk jugs for me so I can try your winter planting method. It makes perfect sense when one thinks about the growing habits of plants in nature. I have, literally, hundreds of cherry tomato seedlings come up all over my yard, and even in the driveway cracks. I’m in zone 5, and the seeds of these tough birds survive our winters and thrive. Can’t wait to start planting in the jugs. I do need to find boxes to hold the milk jugs, and they are way too expensive to buy new and proceed to drill or melt holse in them. Any suggestions for a source of used and/or inexpensive plastic boxes? I don’t have a dog, but am concerned about our huge population of curious and destructive raccoons tearing the jugs apart. I’ve checked Craigslist and some discount stores with no luck.

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    Mary Farrell says

    HA! I really should proof-read so I’m not trying to drill holse instead of holes. I’ll blame the cataracts 🙂

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    Bett says

    Well, aren’t you just the BEST??? I’m going to share this fabulous idea with all my gardening pals as well as with the local nature center and native plant society. Is there NOTHING you can’t DO??

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    Pat McLain says

    this sounds like exactly what I need to do! Thanks for posting this again, I missed it last time around, I guess…gotta start saving more milk and water jugs, pronto…

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    Ann says

    I was wondering, would this work in a snow free area – CA? Also, does this work with Only seeds? Could this be done with cuttings? Thanks…

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    Karen Hermansen says

    What part of the country do you live? I live in SE Wisconsin and we don’t put cold hardy plants in until mid to late April.

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    Kim Fletcher says

    Kevin, how far north will winter sowing work. I live in Canada, just on the border of North Dakota and Manitoba. Our winters here can often get to 20 below farenheit or more and sometimes stay there for weeks. When it warms up a bit we often get extreme temperature fluctuations and of course lots of prairie winds that keep things cold.

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Karen & Kim – Here in New York’s Hudson Valley, which is zone 5-b, I plant my seeds in December and January. The seeds get buried under snow for months, and their soil stays frozen for months. In spring the seedlings emerge. It’s as simple as that! (Be sure to read the articles linked at the bottom of this post — especially “What to Winter-Sow…& When.”)

    Ann – Yes, you can winter-sow even in a mild climate.

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    Alison says

    Loving this for holiday gifts in lieu of endless sweets and eager to gather all my materials. I thought I saw mentioned here a delicious scented plant that releases its scent at night, but I’ve scanned this whole chat and used CTRL+F (find) to no avail. Does anyone have a name for me? I thought this might make the gift more exotic in Maine (zone 5B, coastal and southern).

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Alison – The evening scented plant is Nicotiana. There are several varieties, but the most heavily- (and heavenly!-) perfumed is ‘Fragrant Cloud,’ with white flowers. If you type Nicotiana into the search box at the top of this site (and then scroll down a little past the Google ads) you’ll find all of my references to this great plant.

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    Lori Savoie says

    I belong to a Gardening Club in my town in New England and told them about Winter-Sowing 101. I’m trying it this year and can’t wait to see the results this spring. I gave them your website and I’m sure they’ll be looking you up soon.
    Thanks for all the great advice.
    Lori

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    Alice Marty says

    I have been winter sowing for a few years now. I’d like to use your information and photos for a winter sowing presentation to some after school children and then at the Home and Garden Show. I’m a Master Gardener living in Mobile Al. We winter sow after Jan 1st so things don’t get too far along before a freeze. Even with our short winters it gives us a gardening boost to play with soil and seeds in January.

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Alice Marty – Go ahead and use the info and photos for your presentation. Just be sure to credit me and this website, okay? And I hope your talk is a big success.

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    gary says

    are these winter gardens for flowers or vegetables or both? which vegetables are not ideal for this? we are in South Western Ontario 1 hour west of Toronto.

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    Connie says

    Kevin- how many seeds per jug? I have green beans, corn, spinach, swiss chard, watermelon, melons, beets, carrots, just to name a few veggies LOL plus I have flower seeds saved from last years flowers.

    I don’t want to overflood the jugs but do want to maximize the plantings. So far have saved 4 milk jugs. My other question is how translucent must a jug be? Can they be white pails with a darker color lid or no? Thinking horse feed pails here.

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    Janice Straight says

    Hello and Happy New Year everyone. Yay! It’s January and that means winter sowing! I did my garden this way last year and I Still have Kale growing. This week I am gathering my reused plastics to begin my Spring 2014 garden and I can hardly wait! Two things I am grateful for–Kevin’s blog and winter sowing. So get out there, get your seeds and get ready to start your garden!
    Thank you Kevin and here’s to everyone having a safe peaceful and prosperous new year!

    Janice

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    Shawna says

    Please re-post this EVERY January!! I tried this last year and the results were phenomenal! I do have a question though… this year has been one of the driest on record for our area (the mountains of northern California) so there is no snow and the temperatures are in the teens and single digits overnight, but rebounding to low 50s by the afternoon. Do you think this will still work?
    Thanks so much Kevin. I love your blog!!!

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    Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says

    My empty half gallon milk jugs are collecting in the garage, strung up through their handles with a bungee cord to hang out of the way until I am ready to cut them. I have to collate and categorize the seeds I gathered from my garden beds in the fall, then decide which varieties will go into the jugs for 2014. Those varieties needing “stratification”, the freeze and thaw cycles, will readily germinate in the jugs (when they don’t grow in my seedling trays inside the house). It’s great to have this project to look forward to, especially with the eighth storm since December 1st coming at us today.

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    Laura says

    I’m excited to give this a try. Especially anything to get my mind off the current weather and redirect my thoughts toward Spring. I live about 40 miles south of Chicago and have been experiencing snow for two days. I love the snow…its what’s coming overnite that I am dreading. The high tomorrow is only expected to reach -16 with a windchill of -40. So, thoughts of Spring are a great distraction. I’m getting right on this project! Plenty of empty milk jugs at my house( two teenage boys!), seeds recently bought at the store when I should have been buying groceries(I did remember the milk!), and bags of soil in the garage that never made it to the shed. I’m good to go.

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Laura – This will be a winter to remember! Planting seeds in milk jug containers and then setting them outdoors in frightfully cold temperatures will provide an immediate sense of spring. Be sure to start with perennials and also annuals which are hardy in your area. Have fun, and stay safe!

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    badger gardener says

    My first seed order arrived and sat in my mailbox overnight in sub-zero temps. Hope they are still okay. I’ve heard of people putting seeds in the freezer but don’t know if that is generally considered a good idea.

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    Chris B says

    A small soldering iron (not much good for soldering) costs well under $10 and saves SO MUCH TIME. You never have to pause and reheat, as with a screwdriver. Definitely worth it, especially since the containers themselves are free.

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    Betty819 says

    Warning for those who are trying Wintersowing in milk jugs for the first time. Once you see it works, you’ll be hooked until you feel you have enough to fill your flowerbeds or life starts getting in your way. I didn’t wintersow for the past two years and I miss it. Just revamped my flowerbeds this past Fall and I want to see how they will look come Spring/summer. My life is now dedicated to being my DH’s caregiver..

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    JoAnn says

    This sounds very crafty!! I grow micro greens indoors under lights during winter & have to stop when I start my garden seeds because of lack of room. Would love to try this instead. We don’t buy jugs of milk or water, but we do have lots of empty 3 qt. apple juice jugs & 1 gal. vinegar jugs. Would love to find a good use for them, so here I GROW…lol :~)

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    gloria says

    Was buying seeds today at Dollar General (hey, 4/$1.00, who can pass that up-last year all germinated and were gorgeous!) when I got into a conversation with the cashier about planting. She thought it was way too early (uh, you think? it’s 13 degrees here in western NY), sooo, I told her all about Winter Sowing. She was fascinated and wants to try it, had me write down your blog address and name. Later, in the greeting card aisle, another woman approached me and said she overheard the winter-sowing conversation and wanted to hear more about it. Sooo, another 15 minutes later and you have another convert. I hereby dub myself your official Winter-Sowing ambassador for Dollar General and western NY, in general. I’m hoping the job comes with a sash. 🙂

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Chris B. – Have fun with your project!

    JoAnn – Thanks for the soldering iron tip. I’ve been told that a glue-gun, without the glue, works well, too.

    Gloria – Thanks for being such a fine ambassador. Much appreciated.

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    Julz says

    Maybe I sowed too early in the mini greenhouses (December) because everything sprouted in a couple of weeks. Now there is an unusual cold snap here in the mild Puget Sound area and everything is frozen solid. My sprouts were looking shriveled and I got worried so last night I tented them with an old sleeping bag and light bulb. This morning they look great. Did I overreact? Will they survive being frozen if I remove the tent? I’m talking about poppies, calendulas and lettuce.

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    Sheryl says

    I don’t have much to report – I just wanted to let you know how excited I am about this winter sowing project. I got my sister (with 3 teenagers, so lots of milk drinking) to save me some jugs that I could pick up at Christmas time. I FINALLY sat down yesterday, readied my milk jugs (I picked up some potting soil on my way home from snowboarding!), filled them with soil and planted. When I took the first 2 out to the snow-covered picnic table, I noticed fresh snow was starting! That motivated me to get the other 11 out there and all settled in. Planting in February in northern Vermont – how fun is this?!?!?!

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    Terry says

    I planted several seeds using this method just yesterday and sure hope this works and it is I only had 6 jugs but if successful will definitely be prepared next winter. I am excited to see the result!

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    Pat G. says

    Hi Kevin,
    You are so right about how germinating seeds really perks one up. I am in zone 8 and started my tomato and peppers Dec. 27th. I have them in my greenhouse and always grow extras (107 tomato plants) to give away. With CA’s drought, everybody should be planting this year. It is going to be mighty expensive at the grocery store this year.

    Here to a great growing year.

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    Rob says

    Just a thought for those that don’t mind scavenging…last week I walked around the neighborhood on recycling day and found plenty of uncrushed gallon milk jugs in blue bins by the curb. I’ve got eight of them planted with native wildflower seeds and hoping for a few more weeks of cold weather. Kevin, thanks for your tips and responses, they’ve been very helpful.

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    Heather Crable says

    Im totally going to do this with the Cape Gooseberries! They took so long to come up last year I did not get their full potential! Woohoo!

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    pam says

    Hi Kevin! love your blog! I’m going to be using Perlite & Peat Moss….can you tell me how to mix it? more peat, less perlite? or visa versa?
    thanks Kevin!

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Pam – Feel free to experiment with your potting mix. In general, you want the volume of perlite to be equal to or less than the volume of peat moss. Keep in mind that if your peat moss is dried out, it will repel — not hold — water. To hydrate peat, pour very not (but not boiling) water into the bag, and then seal the bag for several hours. Have fun with your project!

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    Linda Reynolds says

    WOW! I wanted to read the whole thing, but not enough time right now. I have done this before, my problem is how do you searate out the sprouts for planting?

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    Michelle says

    Hi Kevin! I’m curious about watering… my jugs are out and seeds have sprouted (Hooray!) but they’re starting to get dried out. Do you water? And if so, what’s the best way to do so?

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    Michelle says

    Kevin Lee Jacobs – Is it too late?
    I started my early season herbs/veggies/flowers on time and they’re doing great. Then I got crazy busy finishing school and delayed the warm-season veggies. I’m worried that I got them in too late. I planted tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other warm-season fare last week (circa Apr 29) and I’m in zone 5 (Colorado – last frost date = May 24). I could still do a few more jugs but am not sure it’s worth the effort… have I waited too long?

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    Property Management Companies South Bay says

    Right here is the perfect site for anyone who wants to find out about this topic.
    You understand a whole lot its almost tough to argue with you (not that I actually will need to…HaHa).
    You definitely put a new spin on a subject that has been discussed for years.
    Wonderful stuff, just excellent!

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    Debbie Meserve says

    I live in Zone 8. When can I sow impatients? Also, is there a way I can determine when to sow other plants not listed above without having to ask about each one? I’m looking forward to doing this project. Not only will it save money but it will help with the winter blahs.

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    teri says

    This year I noticed that my purchased, greenhouse grown tomatoes all got sunscald, while the volunteers in the compost heap were beautiful, healthy, and held up a good month longer into the Fall. I am definitely trying your method this year. I’m in zone 7. How much earlier should I start?

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    Lindsay says

    I am just wondering how easy it is to transplant into the garden in the Spring. Also when is the best time to transplant?

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Lindsay – At end of the above article, under “Related Posts,” click the link that reads “How to Transplant Winter-Sown Seedlings.” Have fun with your project!

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    Emile says

    Know that you are not only growing great organic plants and saving
    money for yourself, but you are also contributing to the
    well-being of the future. They can give step-by-step planting
    instructions, such as: plant positioning; how much sun; and seasonal planting times.
    Things that readers are unlikely discover from a regular gardening book.

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    Evelyn says

    Hi, what are you wintersowing this year? I love wintersowing and have been doing it for a few years now. The milk jugs are the best containers ever.

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    Lynda says

    I would love to try this but living in Vermont, where there is almost no winter sun and the temperatures can routinely get down to -10 to -20 I’m not sure the plants would grow or survive. Any ideas?

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    Nancy says

    Thank you for posting this again! I remember reading this before and saving my water, milk and juice jugs during the year. Unfortunately, I lost my mind and forgot why I was saving a mountain of jugs and took them to the recycling center. NOW, I remember. In the future, I am going to cut the jugs as I go. The tops and bottoms should stack, saving space, and serve as a reminder that they were cut and saved for a purpose!

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    Bev says

    Kevin, I’ve been hoping you would post this again. Thank you. I am a terrible gardener. I try, but, am not very successful. Last year, I tried your method. I don’t have a nice table and large container to put the jugs in. I had them sitting on the ground in my back yard tied with string to tree stumps and clothes line poles. Looked real classy. But, it worked! I gave away a lot of tomato, squash and cucumber plants. My family and friends had great gardens from the seeds I planted. Mine didn’t do so great, but, better than in the past. And I loved seeing the success everyone else had with them. I have a shed full of jugs ready for this year. Can’t wait to do it again. Thanks again.

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    Sheri says

    Zone 8b Inter island: Last year I cut the bottoms off milk jugs (keep the cap) and direct planted my seed in my garden rows. I prepped my soil first then I made the indention of the jug in the soil and dug the indention out a bit. After I checked to make sure the jug settled in good then I planted my seeds then placed the jug back over the indention, I back filled the soil around the jug and watered lightly, if the water found a way out I back-filled these areas. I then inserted a bamboo stick down the jug pour spout hole and into the soil as far as I could push it. Then I made a hole in the cap and slid this down the bamboo stick and re-secured it back on the top of the milk jug. (The anchored jugs stood up to my awful coastal winds.) Then I took DE (diatomaceous earth) and sprinkled this around the outer buried area of the jug to keep any bugs out. I had no need to transplant. There were some bare areas on my rows and I just lightly seeded in non-invasive annual herbs and strawberries starts from the old strawberry mama’s.

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    Anne in Vermont Zone 4/5 says

    Hi Kevin,

    As i reported before, i failed utterly with my bottle greenhouses last year, my first attempt, but re-reading the instructions above, I think now that perhaps my growing medium was too heavy. I plan to use just peat moss and vermiculite as you suggest. Please would you tell us the proportions? Perhaps I should read through the four years’ of comments and questions to find the answer. Also, is watering unnecessary until the seeds germinate? Wish me luck.

    Thanks for all your posts and Happy New Year,
    Anne

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    Anne in Vermont Zone 4/5 says

    Found the planting medium answer in comment #182; still looking for watering.

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    RMickelsen says

    I would love suggestions ! I have tried this for two years with little to no success . I love in the Salt Lake area, and have tried for two years to start perennials in January and February with no luck. I have done just as you did EXCEPT the milk jugs were sitting directly on my stone table. I did not group them in a plastic container- do you think this makes enoug of a difference ? I planted 60 containers last year…including starting some of my onion sets …assuming they would get a quicker start…the onion sets i put directly in the ground did much better, and the ones in the cartons mostly rotted . The perennials I tried …lupine, delphiniums, and a few others ….very few germinated and the ended up dying before the cold season was over…..long winter last season….snowed on and off all the way up to June. Any suggestions would be appreciated…it was lots of work with no results two years in a row.

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    Kattrinka says

    Kevin, When you talk about transplanting seedlings do you mean potting up or directly into garden? Do the seedlings grow large enough to plant directly?

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    dori says

    Oh! THAT was why I saved those milk jugs that were cluttering up my storage space so I threw them away just recently– I was intrigued by last year’s article. Well, on rereading it occurs to me to ask: Why do I have to burn holes in milk jugs? Why can’t I just use a bunch of those black plastic nursery pots and set them in , say, a plastic cake box with a clear plastic lid? Or use some of those plastic boxes with their own hinged lids that you get in the grocery store when you buy donuts or pre-washed salad greens? I thinks this could work better than cluttering up the top of my frig with seedling trays and a grow light. I hope our long weeks of cloudy weather (Seattle) don’t prevent the little plants from getting enough light. I will sow onions today.

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    Sarah Corson says

    Thank you, Kevin, for this great advance in gardening! I tried it last year with 80 jugs and all came up. I have been gardening since childhood and I am still gardening now at age 79 and this was the best way of getting a good start I have ever tried. I had only one problem with it. I labeled them with Permanent magic markers, but discovered that they are not permanent when exposed to sun and rain.. I had a great garden, and recognized many of the plants, and friends and seed catalog pictures helped identify others. And I really enjoyed several others which I still have not identified! I experimented with jugs using other markers throughout the summer and still do not have a satisfactory method I can trust not to fade. But believe me your winter gardening is the best way in my opinion so I will try other other labels this year and even if they fade, it is still worth it! Any suggestions? Thanks again for this great method!

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    Danielle Bradbury says

    You know you’re a genius, right? 🙂

    I’m looking forward to starting this soon!

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    VA Wine says

    a FB friend posted this article . a week later i have filled all the jugs i have at the moment. working on more. we are zone 6 and are in the single digits at the moment. love the idea.

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    Crystal says

    We didn’t have any luck last year. I think that it didn’t rain or snow enough. They got wet enough to sprout, and then they dried up and died. If it doesn’t precipitate, how much and how often do we need to water them?

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    Tami kanning says

    If I’m in zone 8a eugene or can I winter sow now? I hope so I just bought a bunch of seeds and finally have everything together. It seems like you told someone there wasn’t enough thawing and freezing in zone 7. Could I put them in the freezer for a few hrs to freeze them then out thhem outside?

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    Elaine says

    I apologize because I have just “skimmed” the article but are you talking about sowing “Just” flowers or all veggies too? I basically just plant veggies.

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    JoAnnWVa says

    I am reading this with my jaw still dropped open. I too am now living in zone 5b and with the cold temps and huge depths of snow I’d never think I could plant a thing for spring now let alone do it outside. Ok, I’m game. Snow depth and all I will try it! Thanks for the amazing information.

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    Asha says

    Hello.
    Thank you for the detailed steps.

    Do we need to mist the soul during the winter months if there has been no snow or rain?

    Please advise,
    Asha

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    Belinda says

    Hi Kevin,

    I have had great success sprouting seeds in your milk jug greenhouses and have spread the word about your great blog. This year, I mixed in some clear jugs. For me, the whitish jugs will be all I use in the future. We travel quite a bit during the Spring and I don’t think the clear jugs forgave my neglect on warm days the way the milky ones do. I have noticed that the clear jugs need water more often. Even so, I can’t possibly use all the seedlings that are up. This is just a wonderful method and it is one of the many things I’ve learned from you.

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    Al says

    I have a mini indoor greenhouse. Do you think i have to tape the top of the carton back on?

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    Nelly says

    Woah! I just discovered your site on my endless research about learning everything about gardening. I’m from Dominican Republic where summer is all year around and winter feels like late spring days, I miss home so much I decided working on the little garden is the perfect excuse to be outside and feel like home. We live in Yonkers, NY I believe zone 7a ? It’s a rental house but with a lot of room for flowers and a slopped backyard with a shady area where every kind of weeds tall, creepy and invasive grow free that I dream of transforming into something nice to see. The soil is also a problem, looks like the town was built on a giant rock. This year I overwhelmed myself buying a tons of veggies seeds but too late in the season, I didn’t want to spend so much money in plants since I had to amend the sandy rocky soil. I planted some seeds inside and put them by a window, it was a miracle they survived transplant but it’s so much work, and doesn’t look nice in the dining room. I left out the flowers because it’d be so expensive to buy the plants. I’m going to soak myself with your articles and save those milk gallons.
    One tip if you use milk gallons is to wash them very well to avoid contaminating the soil, lucky me I have toddlers and a lot of motts juice containers.
    I’d appreciate a lot any ideas about perennials and annuals flowers to plant in the shade area that only gets some sun in the morning. Here’s a picture of what I did to start a vegetables garden https://instagram.com/p/3r6_MthQAN/?taken-by=nellyoliveri

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Nelly – Nice to meet you. I checked out the photo of your new beds on Instagram — lovely! Tons of how-to stuff on this website of mine. Enjoy!

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    Raenel Stull says

    What cold climate do you live in? I live in North Dakota. Would this work for me.

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    Scott says

    Sorry if you already answered this, but do we need to make sure the soil stays damp? Should they be placed in full sun and if so would this mean they would need to be watered more frequently? Can this be started as soon as perennial seeds are harvested in late summer and fall or does it need to wait until winter?

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    Russ Watkins says

    How you doing? I winter sown a coup[e of years ago I had about 75% germination. Most them died after I planted them, Yarrow and a few sage survived , due not harden off properly. I read about using different clear plastic containers. I thought it might be hard to get the seedlings out of the containers. So I came up with the idea of using peat pots in a clear plastic storage container with hole for drainage and air circulation. The storage container held about 40 peat pots. My question is that realistic option to the milk jug, etc, method? Can any of the Asclepias seed that require stratification be winter sown? When do I the plant seeds and should the seedlings be planted after the required stratification period if that is past the last frost date?

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    Beverly, zone 6, eastern PA says

    I always look forward to this reminder post.

    I have 11 jugs saved already, a record for me.
    I will be trying the many previous perennials that worked well and adding the tiny but spectacular Clematis viorna and the cobalt blue (1960’s hairdo) Clematis ‘Roguchi’.

    I promised myself to set aside soil in buckets in the attached garage so it’s not frozen when I need it. Can’t wait to set up this project.

    Best germinator last year was Belamcanda, the perennial ‘Blackberry Lily’, now renamed as an Iris I believe.

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    Bev says

    Inspired!!! tried a similar method several years ago and learned what you point out. Careful watering in early Spring is key. I “doused” instead of delicately sprinkling. My favorite tool for delicate sprinkling is a bulb baster…also use it for hanging plants that have water absorbant crystals in the soil to give the crystals time to absorb the water…takes some patience, but worth it. Now, to decide what to plant first!

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    Ralica says

    Kevin, wonderful training, thank you. I’d like to know if this method is recommended for California, zone 9, where we have much milder winters. And the last few, barely a winter at all….

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    Belinda says

    Hello again Kevin,
    I can’t believe you put this in today, when it’s been so much on my mind. This method is nothing less than a gift to humanity. It has really produced strong seedlings for us.

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    Susan says

    Kevin, thanks very much for this great tutorial. Apparently, one can also sow grass seed in late winter before a snow fall. The cold temps keep the seed viable until the spring rain and warmer temps bring it to life. We have a south facing strip that’s been a challenge for starting and keeping grass (either from seed or sod) and so I plan on winter sowing in February. If that doesn’t help, it will be time for a tougher ground cover.

    Your labor saving tips are much appreciated.

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    anita says

    Just read your great idea about seedlings in milk jugs. Never had any luck with seeds and often wondered how the Amish do that, but now I will try this. One problem I have. I live in Florida zone 8/9 tell us when and how PLEASE. We have some possible frost nights and a short cool /cold period in mid Jan to Mid Feb.
    Thank you anita

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    JoAnn says

    I tried this with a rose bush I purchased online that hardly grew. It only had 3 leaves and was 2″ tall at the end of summer. I dug it up and repotted it, brought it inside and put it on my mudroom window. It now has 25 leaves. Hopefully I can keep it alive all winter to replant it. Would love to see the lime green roses blooming.

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    Debbie Voss-Grumish says

    I followed your plan last winter. I successfully sowed lettuces, garlic chives, parsley, mint, marigolds, zinnias, morning glory, sweet alyssum, and many others. Had lots of baby lettuce plants to fill lots of pots very early. Also, enough alyssum to border my beds. Thank you so much for the step by step. I had so many plants for so little money! Thank you!!! (I used a long, thick nail heated on our gas stove flame to make my holes…worked great.)

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    Debbie Voss-Grumish says

    I tried your plan last winter. I am in Minneapolis and planted everything in March. I successfully sowed garlic chives, parsley, mint, sweet alyssum, lettuces, zinnias, marigolds, morning glory, nasturtiums, and much more. Had a lot of baby lettuces to fill pots, enough sweet alyssum to border my garden, and more plants than I had room for. Can’t wait to do it all again. THANK YOU SO MUCH for the step by step instructions! By the way, I used a long, thick nail and/or a skewer heated on our gas stove to make my holes. Worked like a charm.

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    Debbie Voss-Grumish says

    I did this last winter in Minneapolis and it was a big success. I sowed lettuces, parsley, mint, garlic chives, marigolds, zinnias, morning glory, nasturtiums, and more. I sowed everything the beginning of March and had more plants than I knew what to do with! Thank you SO MUCH for all the step by step information. Am definitely doing again this winter!

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    Carolyn says

    Last year at a garden tour I admired large river rocks labeled in black ink identifying the plants. The home gardener said she used Sharpie Industrial Permanent markers…she said they were very hard to find. I found them on Amazon 12/7.29. They are fantastic even write on discs. They are perfect for winter sowing. But truly are PERMANENT.

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    Jane H says

    Temps are now frigid 10-20 F ….do I immediately set my greenhouses out after planting ?

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    Ellen says

    Hi Kevin! Thank you for your post! I have been planning a garden with the raised bed method and have been looking for ways to start the seeds. I have one seed from a Clementine orange and was trying to figure out how to start it indoors. Can I start it using this method? I don’t know what “zone” i’m in so can you tell me? I’m in Topeka Kansas. Thank you again!

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    Ellen says

    Hi Kevin! Thank you for your post! Don’t know what “Zone” i’m in, I live in Topeka Kansas. Can I start a Clementine Orange tree using this method? I only have one seed and would like to get it started, I plan to start it in a 5 gallon bucket. I am also planning to use super soil, baby diaper filling for moisture, to start all plants. Is this a good idea for seed starting? Thank you again!

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    Kathleen says

    Hi. I was wondering if the milk jugs have to be clear plastic. I have some white ones but have a feeling those won’t work. Thanks!

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    Sara Ann says

    The only seed starting mix I can find has fertilizer. What are your proportions of peat to perlite? And you are talking about peat in the big bales, right? Thanks!

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    Beth C says

    Hi Kevin! Thank you so much for this valuable information- I am so excited about trying this out! The kiddo and I have already made two ‘greenhouses’ and put them outside, but I am wondering if you happen to know the dimensions of the plastic containers you use to keep them from blowing over! We just had a nice big snowstorm and both of them were knocked over by the snow!

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    Jane H says

    Just wondering if the size of the container matters ? I have 46 varieties started in milk and iced tea jugs…..running out of room but not seeds ! I divided a couple of the last jugs I planted as I was out of containers. I just used an additional piece of plastic or cardboard inside the jug and planted one variety on each side. I’m cleaning out my mudroom and discovered some old clear plastic containers with lids. They are 3 1/2″ at the bottom 4″ at the top and 4″ tall like your average 4″ square pot. I know I’d have to leave some headspace when sowing but overall what do you think about using these ?

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    Angi says

    Couldn’t you do this in February or March with tender veggies and just bring them in at night?

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    Ourania Antonopoulou says

    Thank you very much for the tips and ideas that you share with us all.I have just now discovered you and I feel lucky because my knowledge on gardening is limited. I live in the north suburbs of Athens,Greece and the climate is very different.Anyway your tips are very useful.Concerning the tiny seeds and how to sow them I came across a nice idea on the net.You roll out a piece of toilet paper on the soil then you sprinkle the seeds on it so you can see where they are and then you cover them with a thin layer of soil and you lightly water them.I hope I helped you
    Have agood time gardening
    Ourania

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    Linde says

    I’ve had success using this method. Tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach, parsley, rosemary and chives.

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    Carol Samsel says

    I’ve been using this method for a few years now ans have had better luck with it than any other method I’ve tried. Looking forward to an even better gardening year this year 🙂

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    Margaret says

    i didn’t get my tulip bulbs planted before the first snow. What can i do. I am zone 4.

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    Igor says

    Firstly, I must comment, that there is so much passion and finesse that you share….. thank you.
    I may have missed the answer to this question, and for that I apologize, but can you get the same results with a clear plastic gallon jug? I am sure the seeds would sprout, but is the opaqueness of the white milk jugs you use or recommend part of the secret…… that you so gallantly, share?

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    Peggy Bell says

    Would a closed in portch all windows (no heat) it gets the morning. When it shines. Now it is 35′ out there. But has been running way lower here. In eastern Wa.state. Thank you for all of your info on everything!

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    Margaret says

    Kevin, I was excited to try this last year and I saved all summer long to get enough plastic containers to do the job. But as spring came and my life got busier, I discovered all my hard work during the winter was wasted because I was not home for a few days and all my cute little seedlings ended up roasting to death in my makeshift greenhouses. So please warn your readers that they have to be extra vigilant in the spring. It was a very defeating experience for me.

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    Donna says

    Kevin, thank you for for the cake recipe. I will make it this weekend. I’m saving water jugs to start my seeds. Thank you for all your wonderful advice.
    Sincerely, Donna

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    Donna says

    Kevin, thank you for the cake recipe. Saving water jugs to jump start seeds. Thank you for all your wonderful advice.
    Sincerely, Donna

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    badger gardener says

    I am ready to start a few milk-jug greenhouses. I’ve been having trouble putting in an online order at High Mowing as I want to try a different kale this year and am anxious to get that out for winter sowing. I’ve tried a few times and keep getting a message that I can’t place an order. I guess I need to place it the old fashioned way, via phone.

    I am also perusing new-to-me tomato varieties. I’m leaning toward trying Old German.

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    Macy says

    Does each milk jug content get transplanted as is, or do you separate each sprout for transplanting individually?

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    Beth G. says

    Kevin, in preparing my milk jugs for winter sowing, I discovered that the reaming tool on my Swiss Army knife is perfect for making the drainage and ventilation holes. Thanks for your easy-to-follow intro to Winter Sowing! I love your website.

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    Deborah Goodman says

    I’m getting my jugs ready tonight. All we are trying right now is rhubarb. Hopefully it will work. Come April I will start some tomatoes and maybe a few herbs for the chickens and some other veggies. I’m looking forward to not spending a small fortune at the greenhouse this year and knowing that my plants are not sprayed with anything that might be harmful to the bees and other pollinators.

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    Patti Law-Poggi says

    Good Morning, I have done this method before with great results, but my regular sharpie marker did not hold up and I had quite a mess (like you mentioned above).
    My question is when should I plant tomatoes in zone 7/8 (California), you told someone above to sow much later but was that because of the zone difference?

    Also how can I sign up for your newsletter.

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Patti – I’ve used both clear and quasi-opaque milk and water jugs for winter-sowing. Both types work equally well.

    Tomatoes: Here in the cold Northeast, the seeds can be sown any time in winter. The seeds germinate when the soil temperature in the mini greenhouse achieves 70°F. Hard for me to calculate when, exactly, you should sow the seeds in sunny and warm California!

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    Patti Law-Poggi says

    Kevin, I’ve only just recently found your sight and I absolutely love it! I have come from England and have lived in California for years (half hour from Yosemite Nat. Park) – up in the mountains. I’m trying to start a small town nursery at the age of 77 (ha) and it’s name will be “Miss Patti’s English Country Garden Nursery” and your knowledge and great pictures are just what I need to keep me inspired. Thanks so much Lovey (that’s not getting fresh, that just like “honey” in England).

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    Marta says

    Hi Kevin, This will be my third year using your little greenhouse ideas the only problem I’m having is the making pen it fades so much that when it’s time to plant I don’t know what is what. Any ideas?

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    Pam Graf says

    Three weeks ago My 8 yr old son & I prepared 17 mini green hse milk jugs w flowers, vegs and herbs. We are in Illinois (zone 5b, I think) All of the containers have sprouted. Some earlier than others. But by the 3rd week they all have a little something growning.
    This is our first year trying the mini green hse. I have to say we will be doing this again. It was so much fun, exciting and rewarding. What a way to teach my son all about gardening. He loves it.
    Thank you for your wonderful and informative post. I have referred several people to here as well.
    Good luck to all with their gardens

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    Sharon says

    Now I need to get the jug out of the recycle bin and start gathering more! I wanted to try this before so now you are spurring me on. I’m thinking of haybale gardening this year. Any articles or feedback on that Kevin?
    Happy New Year!

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    Joe says

    Thank you! I just tried your method but I used a power drill with a brad point drill bit (the sharp point helped to pierce into the plastic and get the hole started). I found drilling the holes first and then cutting the jug open worked much better since leaving the jug uncut (and more stable) made it easier to drill the holes.
    I’m excited to see how it works out for the plants. I have over two dozen little greenhouses out on the patio table now.

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    Pat Carrigan says

    I have just constructed an small (8×8) leanto roof greenhouse on the south side of a shed. It has plastic walls and clear fiberglass roof panels. It is unheated. Would this method work, just put the containers on my shelves? I do realize that I would have to water them more often maybe, but it sounds like an excellent idea

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    Stephie McCarthy says

    Hi, Kevin, my article “A Winter Sowing Wizard” has been updated since it was mentioned here in the comments years ago. This is how to Winter Sow without the plastic jugs, using plastic storage bins and regular nursery pots. These can all be reused again for years, and stack away easily off-season. http://bit.ly/2QRMFsJ

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    Jane Howe says

    Well I guess you took this offline this week for a while because I use your info in my classroom every winter. When I went to access your photos, I got a message that it had been removed. I do winter sowing with my Growing Greater students every year!

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    Emily says

    What a timely re-mention in your email! One of my planned winter projects this year is to start my garden at home instead of buying plants from a store. Your instructions will be so helpful. Plus, it looks like I’m in the same zone as you so I can use your list of when to plant things. Thanks, Kevin!

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    Diane says

    I am now in FL til May but will be moving to ME and the property is in dire need of landscaping! What can I grow now in S FL that I can bring to ME and plant in May??? I love flowering plants. Thankfully there is a lilac bush on the property but that is about it!

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    laurie hunter says

    Hey Kevin,great article re winter sowing. I live in zone 7b Lexington SC and don’t get snow can i still do this? How? TIA

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    Brian says

    Hi Kevin, I used your method last year and it worked great! Do you reuse the containers from the year before, or do you start with fresh ones each year? (I wasn’t sure if there would be concern of potential diseases carrying over).
    Thank you!

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi Brian – I often use previous years’ containers. No need to create a sterile environment. Outdoors — where the seeds will germinate — is anything but sterile!

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    Susan Collins says

    I live zone 5a, have to wait till mid march or else they are destroyed by the cold and wind combo. Then, you need to be careful to check on conditions are not too dry or too moist. Had a couple dry out. Those were just my specific challenges!

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    Charlotte says

    Hi Kevin. I am definitely going to try this winter growing sounds interesting and Thanks . Have a Great Day !Take Care ,Char from Ontario Canada. It’s Sunny today and we don’t have much snow .

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    Elke ~ Zone 4b/5a says

    I just tried this using rectangular plastic OJ containers, laid them on their sides & cut a flap on the top for access. Thalictrum rochebruneanum and Alchemilla ‘Thriller’. I normally start my snaps indoors around mid-Feb, so I’m thinking this might work well for those too – but going to test on these other seeds which I’ve had difficulty germinating in the past. Thanks for the tips!

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    Nancy S. says

    Kevin, Thanks for the reminder about winter sowing. I have had varying degrees of success in the past couple years but your enthusiasm is making me want to try again. One thing I would stress, though, is to label in multiple places with multiple types of pens. A couple years ago, I labelled the milk jugs with permanent marker and by spring, the labels had all faded so I couldn’t read what was in each jug. Last year I used permanent markers, pencils, and regular pens, and labelled the jugs, tape, and popsicle sticks inside the jugs.

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    Merry says

    So gallon bottled water jugs can be used too!
    Winter sowing was the only time I successfully raised larkspur… a beautiful earlier flowering plant in many colors!
    But…. larkspur doesn’t transplant well, and doesn’t like being crowded together in the jugs. So…. this year I will try putting the seeds in individual peat pots…. inside the jugs! Plants transplant well if you leave them in the peat pots. Think we will have our Larkspur this year!

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    Laurie says

    Hi Kevin! I’m curious to know if you’ve undertaken this already this year, and also what you winter-sowed this year. I’m in RI, zone 6a/6b. How often do you check on the jugs? I’m so excited about this! How’s your foot? I hope it’s not slowing you down too much…..

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    Kristin says

    Hi Kevin- I am in nearby Albany NY and just found your website. I am really excited to give this a try as I do not have a great space to grow indoors. I am frantically collecting milk jugs, but am wondering if I can also use my “greenhouse” which is really just a clear plastic tent over some wire shelves. This would expose seeds to the cold and sun but protect from rain and snow… would it work the same if I watered them myself throughout the rest of the winter? Not quite as easy as your set it and forget method but would love to use it if I can. Thanks!

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    David M Adamson says

    Looks like a good head start! Are you going to grow your Butternut squash the same way as last year? Do you grow them in a pot or ground when they grow over the arch?

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi David – Since the seeds of winter squash germinate so quickly, I simply plant them directly in the garden. And you are right — the butternut squash was AMAZING on the cattle panel arches. (I’m still eating the harvest!) This summer, I plan to grow Acorn squash and Delicata squash on the arches.

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    Sonja says

    I’ve had this in my head ever since I read your original post. One problem, we have no plastic milk/water jugs, nor does anyone we know. (Guess we’re all trying to get rid of plastic whenever possible!) Anything else that could be used for this early seed starting that we might have? Thanks.

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    Loie says

    Thank you, Kevin. I’m going to give this a try. I just received some forsythia I ordered and it is blooming. Your “greenhouses” will add to my desire for spring to come soon!

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    Margit says

    I tried this a couple of years ago. Everything was going great until, on day, I didn’t take the tops off the containers when it was sunny. Can you say Fried, dead seedlings? I was so discouraged that I didn’t even attempt to try this method again.

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    Maria Chee says

    Kevin,
    I am in Southeast Massachusetts, zoned 7a. I am new at winter sowing. When can i start winter sowing the following:
    cucumber, sweet peppers, and scallions .

    Thank-you.
    Maria

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    LB says

    Hi Kevin, fellow zone 5b-er here. I tried this last year and my mini greenhouses immediately froze solid; nothing grew.
    This year, inspired once again by you, I am trying again. I made sure to buy a very fluffy peat-based potting soil, thinking that last year’s fail was due to my soil being too dense and wet. I even added perlite to it to make it extra light and fluffy. I am worried now because on the cold nights so far my soil seems to be freezing once again. Doe this happen to you too? Is this a fail? It just doesn’t seem very greenhouse-ish in there. :/
    Thanks so much! Love this idea and really want to make it happen this year….

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    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Hi LB – My containers freeze solidly too, sometimes for months. Seeds of hardy and half-hardy plants (snapdragons, alyssum, spinach, etc.) are not affected by frozen conditions. They sprout when the potting mix warms in spring. For more details about what to plant when, click here: What to Winter-Sow…and When

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    Siddhartha Banerjee says

    Kevin – Would winter seed-starting work if I were to start now? And would my germination results be better/faster if I were to put the containers in my hoop house greenhouse? I would still put the lids back on the containers before dark.
    Thanks!

Trackbacks

  7. […] planted some peas and carrots yesterday and am planning on planting some more seeds in my greenhouses…again, pics to come. Thx for being patient! Share this:FacebookTwitterPinterestLike this:Like […]

  8. […] Also, I have been doing a little bit of gardening myself; I do have 1.25 acres to cover after all. I have  been doing what is called “Winter Sowing” basically you take whatever flower seed you want in your garden and plant them in milk jugs or other small clear containers. Then you set the containers outside. You are supposed to start in December or January. You leave the caps off the containers so that rain and snow can get inside. You leave them outside the entire time, through all conditions including freezing temperatures. The containers act as mini greenhouses. The seeds remain dormant until the warm weather arrives in March or April and then they begin to sprout. In the spring it will continue to freeze and maybe snow but you just leave the little sprouts outside in their mini green houses. This type of planting is supposed to create supper hardy plants because they are enduring the elements from the beginning. I only just planted mine so I don’t have any sprouts yet but I will keep you updated. If you want any more information on winter sowing you can visit this blog. https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/ […]

  19. […] While I’m lovin’ the winter weather, I’m also preparing for SPRING!!  Ah, Spring, my heart doth beat for thee!  A couple years ago, I ran across the idea of winter sowing seeds in “mini greenhouses.”  I’ve tried planting seeds indoors, and it will be an experience I will never ever repeat.  Ever.  But sowing them outside in the winter in milk jugs?  Sounds crazy, but it works, and it’s simple.  And simple agrees with this girl.  (Here’s a full explanation of the process:  https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/) […]

  30. […] Groups of NKE 3rd and 4th grade students got to participate in the “winter sowing” seed starting project at NKE on March 6! Seeds are started in these milk jugs, which can be set right outside now and act like a mini greenhouse. (You can read more about how winter-sowing works, and how easy it is to do at your own house, here.) […]

  31. […] a lot about flowers lately and dreaming up a garden to grow this summer. And learning all about winter-sowing. I started some seeds of my own at the beginning of the month. I eagerly go out every day and check […]

  41. […] >9. Milk Jug Mini Greenhouse 2ilk-jug-in-gardening4.jpg” alt=”Clever usage of milk jug in gardening” width=”0″ height=”0″ />Use a pen-knife to cut around the middle, almost all the way through. The uncut half-inch or so will serve as a hinge. Punch out drainage holes in the bottom and a few holes along the top portion of the jug. These extra holes increase air-ventilation. Ventilation is the key to preventing excess heat from building up in the greenhouse, and baking the seeds to death. If there is a cap on your jug or bottle, remove it. You can find more instruction on hagardenforthehouse.com […]

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