Last updated on December 31st, 2013
YESTERDAY, while others were celebrating the follies of Cupid, I spent a few unromantic hours cataloging the seeds I’ve winter-sown for 2010. You might like to make such a detailed list, too, of your own myriad plantings. I find it helpful to indicate not only seed variety and date sown, but other essentials, too, like color, height, and final garden destination. This way, much hand-wringing is avoided when the young seedlings are ready for transplanting to beds and borders:
Planted on 1/11/10
Lupin ‘Band of Nobles’ mixed; full sun, 3-4 feet, Serpentine Garden
Delphinium ‘Pacific Giants’ mixed; sun-part shade, 3 ft, Cutting Garden
Alcea (Hollyhock) ‘Chater’s Double’ mixed; sun, 6′, front border Kitchen Garden
Lathyrus odoratus* ‘Navy Blue’; sun/afternoon shade, 6-10 ft, North Wall House
Viola wittrockiana (Pansy) ‘Giant Blue’; sun/pt shade, 6-8″, window box
Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft); white, sun, 6-8″, Kitchen Garden front border
Planted on 1/16/10
Digitalis purpurea (Wild Foxglove) purple; sun/pt shade, 4′, Serpentine Garden
Thymus serpyllum (Creeping Thyme) purple; sun, 3-6″, for cracks and crevices in blue stone patio
Oenothera speciosa (Evening Primrose) pink; sun/pt shade, 18-24″, North House Border
Planted on 1/24/10
Consolida (Larkspur) ‘Galilee Blue Double’; sun, 3-4′, Serpentine Garden
Aquilegua mixed; sun/pt shade, 24-30″, Woodland Garden
Aconitum carmichaelii (Monkshood) blue; pt shade, 4-6′, Woodland Garden
Delphinium grandiflorum ‘Blue Mirror,’ sun/pt shade, 3′, Potager
Planted on 1/31/10
Aquilegia (Columbine) ‘Alpina’ blue; light shade, 18″, Woodland Garden
Aquilegia ‘Scarlet’ part shade, 36″, Woodland Garden
Planted 2/10/10
Nepeta ‘Pink Dreams’ pink; sun/pt shade, 24″, beneath south wall Serpentine Garden
Oenothera lamarkiana yellow; sun/pt shade, 18-24″, Maple Tree Garden
Alcea ‘Camois Rose’ rosy-pink; sun, 6-7′, Kitchen Garden
Alcea ‘Apple Blossom’ pale-pink; sun, 6-7′ Garden Shed border
Berlandiera ‘Chocolate Flower’ yellow; sun, 24″ Serpentine Garden
Aquilegia ‘Crimson’, light shade, 24-36″, Woodland Garden
Campanula (Bellflower) ‘Champion Pink’; sun/pt shade, 2.5-3′, Stone Wall Border
Campanula latifolia ‘Brantwood’ purple; sun/pt shade, 3-4′ Stone Wall Border
* split between 2 containers
Do make a detailed account of your own winter-sown containers. Then, when spring arrives, you won’t find yourself crawling around in the mud wondering where to plant your columbine. With a list in hand, you’ll know what you have, and where, in the garden, everything goes!
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Be sure to read these Related Posts:
Winter-Sowing 101
How to Make a Greenhouse for Winter-Sowing
Perennials That Require Cold Stratification
My Favorite Seed-Suppliers…& Yours
Eric says
True, not a very romantic thing for V-Day, but what a USEFUL thing to do!
Gardenlady says
Yes, very useful when it comes time to plant. Nice that you listed height, because that can determine location in border: front, middle or back.
Adele says
Kevin, have any of your seeds sprouted yet?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Adele – The seeds are still chilling in their miniature greenhouses (read: milk jugs, soda-pop bottles, etc.). Here in zone 5-b, they won't germinate before mid-to-late March.
Erin says
I cant wait for spring!!! I sow more and more seeds every weekend! Thanks kevin for all of your wonderful knowledge!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Erin – I'm counting down the days 'til spring, too! How many containers have you sown?
Anne says
ANOTHER INTERESTING READ, KEVIN.
Andrew Thompson says
Pretty impressive, Kevin! Think of the money you've saved!
erin says
I have about 12 containers done and I plan on doing more this afternoon. Also going to tackle repotting orchids…..
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Andrew – money-saving, yes, but also horizon-broadening! The cultivars of hollyhock, columbine and bell flowers I'm wintersowing would scarcely be available at a garden center.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Erin – have fun repotting orchids. Sounds like a pleasant job to tackle while the snow is falling!
I just winter-sowed another container, too: Pyrethrum 'Robinson's Mix.' Rose, red, and hot pink daisy-like flowers on 24″ stems. These, in spring, will go in the cutting garden.
Accidental Gardener says
Just read yet another informative article. I am definitely going to give winter sowing a try. If I plant perennials from seed, such as delphinium and fox glove (or is this a biennial?), will they take a season or two to flower?
Thank you.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Accidental Gardener – love your name! I've had blue 'Magic Fountain' delphinium bloom for me the first summer from winter-sowing. Just be sure you start with FRESH delph seeds; old seeds are bound to disappoint. In any event, cover the seeds with a 1/4 inch of fine soil; they require darkness to germinate. They also require a moist cold period, which, of course, they receive from winter-sowing. If you need a good source for delphinium seeds, try Swallowtail Garden Seeds(dot)com.
Have you considered Larkspur? This, when winter-sown, always produces lovely spires the first summer.
As for foxglove, or digitalis, I've only planted the perennial mertensia. It bloomed the second year after winter-sowing. There are reports that digitalis in the 'Foxy' series blooms reliably the first summer from winter-sowing.
Hope this helps. Visit again, yes?
Angelika says
Kevin this sounds awesome!!! I have only started seedlings indoors soooooo when you do your milk jug method, how far ahead are you planting for annuals?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Angelika – Nice to meet you. Here in the Hudson Valley, zone 5-b, I’ve had great success sowing certain frost-tolerant annuals in the depths of winter. But those winters were “normal” ones — meaning consistently cold.
Winter 2012 has been unusually warm. Although I’ve already started to sow my perennials and biennials, I’ll hold off on most of the annuals and veggies until late March, or about 8 weeks before I’d normally transplant them to the open garden. Here’s a good run-down on when to plant annuals and veggies.
Barri Blix says
I live in north central British Columbia, Zone 2, (how different from yours!) and can’t winter sow as garden under 3′ of snow. Only thing I have out there is half a bed of parsnips covered with straw and Remay. Before I sow I have to wait for snow to melt – then when do the seeds go in?
Does soil have to be warm? Thanks. Barri
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Barri Blix – You can winter-sow right now. Plant your perennials, hardy annuals and herbs outdoors in containers, where they can freely receive snow, ice, and eventually rain. The details are here: https://www.agardenforthehouse.com/2012/11/winter-sowing-101-6/
Marylou Smith says
Thank you so very much for your awesome newsletter. I love my gardening, but this year, I almost felt depressed when the frost came. No longer could I run out for my Italian eggplant, or my basil and parsley or even my okra. It was a sad day at my house. But your winter sowing newsletter blew me away! I can still garden in January! I was so happy! I am mostly a veggie gardener, and right now they are out on my deck. I’ve got my sister saving me her milk cartons. I’m off to check out the herbs I can sow next. Oh happy day! Thanks again!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Marylou Smith – Winter-sowing puts an April bounce in my January step, too!
Sharon Mack says
Kevin, I love your recipes Im getting ready to start my milk jugs.
What a great web site you have. Im zone 4.
Jasper says
Thanks for the great article! I can’t wait to use this novel method to start next years annuals and perennials. I live in Vancouver, BC – zone 7b. When is a good time for me to start Winter-sowing? Thanks again!
kaye says
Thanks for the great info. & idea! I’m giving it a try this year (living in zone 5-b) My question is: will all my winter-sown seeds bloom the first year?
Nancy says
Oops! It is mid March and I want to try your winter sowing method. Is it too late for this year? I live in zone 3/4 in Minnesota. Daytime temps are running between low 30s to mid 40s. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Geri says
Nancy, I also live in Minnesota, zone 4a. I didn’t get my planting done either and am just starting today. I figure it’s worth a try, the jugs will work like little greenhouses. I won’t benefit from the freezing/thawing effect that Kevin says helps with germination but better than waiting until it’s warm enough to plant in the ground. Would you agree Kevin?