Last updated on February 17th, 2013
MY 2012 WINTER SOWING ADVENTURE is well under way, starting (but by no means ending) with the 8 miniature greenhouses you see pictured above. What I’ve planted in these jugs, along with a few helpful reminders and one very nifty trick for increasing your own winter-sowing success:
1. Lupinus polyphyllus, Russell Hybrids. Lupines bloom their first summer from winter-sowing. I’ll add these stately spires in purple, pink, red, yellow and white to the already-existing patch (above) in my Serpentine Garden. I planted 18 seeds split between two containers.
2. Linum perenne – I bought perennial “Blue Flax” for two reasons: first, the packet of seeds cost me only 99 cents; and next, because I can never resist blue flowers. I’ll let me you know how they work out. Part of winter-sowing is the fun of experimentation.
3. Primula japonica – Reader Beverly sent me these seeds from her own pink plants. I’ll add them to the other japonicas in my Woodland Garden.
4. Centaurea cyanus – You can count on “Bachelor Buttons” (above, in my Kitchen Garden) to bloom their first summer from winter sowing. Why I value this plant.
5. Myosotis – “Forget-Me-Nots” bloom their first summer from winter-sowing, and bring dependable, early spring color to the Woodland Garden. Well, I told you I love blue flowers.
6. Lathyrus – Who can resist Sweet Peas? I grow them next the north fence in my Herb Garden. There, they bloom and bloom until the weather turns hot. Mercifully the seeds require neither nicking nor soaking when you winter-sow them.
7. Delphinium elatum – Delphinium is the only flower that has ever eluded my winter-sowing efforts. I’ve read that the seeds need to be fresh — and in January they mostly likely are not. Still, a boy can hope.
Good drainage is absolutely essential to winter-sowing success. For without sufficient means for moisture to escape, seeds or seedlings are bound to become dislodged when the snow melts and early spring rains arrive. I eliminate such potential disaster by punching out 12 holes (3 in each quadrant) in the bottom of my gallon-size milk or water jugs.
I also punch out holes along the sides of the container, as pictured above. Two or three holes per side, about a 1/2-inch up from the bottom, are sufficient.
If you set your greenhouses in a plastic bin, as I do, you’ll need to equip that bin with drainage holes, too. Bins are useful — they mitigate the chance of tipping, and furthermore, they make it easy to transport the jugs should you need to move them for any reason.
A hot tip: If, in the interest of admitting more sunlight, you wish to remove the brand label (“Crowley Milk” or whatever) from your miniature greenhouse, simply warm the label with your hair-dryer for 30 seconds.
The heat will soften the adhesive. Then you can easily peel off the label, without any residual stickiness.
Well, I hope you feel motivated to start your own winter-sowing project. If you have any questions about the method, feel free to ask! I’m here to help.
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Related Posts:
Winter-Sowing 101
Transplanting Winter-Sown Seedlings
How to Turn a Milk (or Water) Jug into a Greenhouse
Donna B. says
Hehe! Thanks for the tip on removing the sticker – now to invest in a hair dryer!
I’m going to really hunker down and attempt winter sowing this year. I haven’t started yet, but I hope to on my next day off! I’ve been force-feeding my dearest milk so I can have enough gallon jugs for the many flowers that need winter sowing… At this rate, we only have four jugs saved, but there’s two in the fridge! Time to make cookies!
It’s funny, I’ve attempted Sweet Peas, and Forget-Me-Nots with no success – yet I got a Delphinium to bloom in it’s first year [grown in a yogurt cup, ignored till July… emergency separation of six two inch plants growing in a two inch space, watered till drowning…] my best weapon for growing plants is neglect! 😀
Reminds me… I need more Nicotiana…
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Donna B. – Oh, the hoops we gardeners are willing to leap! I, too, have purchased gallons of milk (when I needed only a quart) in order to increase my “greenhouse collection.” (I’ve also purchased Boston lettuce from the supermarket solely for the nifty tub it comes in — a tub which makes the perfect propagation-quarters for African violets).
Another way in which I’ve removed labels from jugs is by holding the jugs about a foot above the gas flame of my stove, just long enough to heat the label’s adhesive. I didn’t mention this in the article above because it is, of course, a little dangerous. But it does the trick.
You mentioned nicotiana. Years ago I winter-sowed several varieties. These have returned (and how) each spring hence. I love the flowers which open from dusk to dawn, and the scent they emit is SO intoxicating.
badger gardener says
Donna and Kevin,
I cannot relate in the least. I have 2 boys, 4 and 7 y/o so I am awash in milk gallon jugs. So greatful to find a practical , recycleable purpose to them. If we lived closer I would send mine along to both of you : )
Tony says
This looks like a neat idea that I think I will try. Have you tried this approac for vegetable plants too or only flowers? Im also curious how you transplant them. It looks like you have a lot of little seedlings all in the gallon jug too close together. Do you break them apart and transplant into larger individual containers or just plant the entire ball of soil from the mini-greenhouse into the garden directly?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Badger gardener – I’ll bet those two boys can help Mom plant the recycled milk jugs! Great way to get kids interested in gardening, right?
Tony – Nice to meet you. I use three different methods for transplanting winter-sown seedlings, none which involve shifting them to larger containers. Be sure to read Winter-Sowing 101, which covers the basics. Then proceed to this post, which covers transplanting to the open garden.
I hope you’ll give winter-sowing a try…it really works!
Kim says
I started my winter-sowing garden last week. I am looking forward to the results!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Kim – Good for you!
Claire says
Can you make a suggestion for what potting soil to buy? My head is spinning from reading a garden forum about which is the best. Some use specific seed starting mixtures, others skip soils with “moisture control” or fertilizer additives.
Finally there is a use for the heavy duty produce containers from Costco. One in particular contained apples – each apple in it’s own little “greenhouse”! I can’t wait to start!
Thanks, Kevin!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi, Claire! Over the years I’ve used regular “all-purpose” potting mix, “moisture control” potting mix, sterile “seed-starting” mix, “African Violet” mix, and my own compost, blended with perlite. I can tell you they ALL worked. The critical factor is that the mix be very well draining. And every commercial peat and perlite mix on the market meets this requirement.
A sterile seed-starting formula is only required for seeds which are started indoors. Outdoors, nothing is sterile!
Terri says
I’m getting milk jugs ready today! Very excited to try this! My windowsill seedlings were SO pitiful last year.
One question though. In N. Illinois we’re having unseasonably warm temps–highs in the 40s… some trees are budding. 🙁 So should I hold off until it gets colder? Thanks.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Terri – Weird weather everywhere — including here in the Hudson Valley. Fortunately, most – if any – seeds won’t germinate when the temperature is in the 40s. So go ahead and winter-sow your perennial flowers and herbs now. Save some seeds from each packet, however, just in case the weather gets even stranger than it already is!
I’d hold off on sowing any annuals until late March, or about 8 weeks before your last predicted frost.
Let’s hope the weather straightens out, okay?
Rebecca A says
I would love to try this but don’t know if it would work at all here in Mississippi. You mentioned the weird weather, but I swear I was out pruning my liriope yesterday while it was 78 degrees. It is supposed to cool off again this weekend, but I am afraid that another couple of days like this would have everything growing before another inevitable bout with winter. Do you know if winter sowing is possible in my climate?
Terri says
Yes indeed! Not that I really want two feet of snow, but…
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Rebecca A – Good news for you. According to research, you can winter-sow all of the perennials (and bienniels) which are suited to growing in your zone, no matter how mild the winter. To avoid cooking the seeds during really warm spells (like 78 degrees!) locate the containers where they will receive sunlight during only the morning and late-afternoon hours.
I’d hold off on veggies until about 8 weeks before you would normally transplant them to the open garden.
Rebecca A says
Thanks for the info! My husband started to squash the milk carton this morning and I screamed, “WAIT!” I washed it out and left it by the sink and will go start looking for seeds now. Time to start scrounging containers! (With three little boys in the house we go through a lot, shouldn’t take me long to start an entire garden.)
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Rebecca – Yes – Warn your family that every plastic, gallon-size milk or water jug is a potential winter-sowing “greenhouse.” Happy planting!
Sharon says
Thanks to Terri for asking, and thanks to Kevin for answering – New Jersey has been downright WARM this winter thus far, and I was wondering if I could winter-sow now or not.
Kristen C. says
I found your blog on a link from Pinterest and I am so excited about it! I love all your ideas- I went and got the milk jugs out of the recycling and bought some potting soil. I live in the Pacific NW and have been looking at my empty garden boxes longingly. Glad to know there is something I can do right now!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Kristen C. – Nice to meet you. I agree – there’s nothing more thrilling than planting your summer garden when it is cold, wet and dreary outside. Which seeds are planning to sow?
Cathy in Cleveland says
How late in the season can we continue to create and set out our little greenhouses? I don’t have that many milk jugs (no kids) and will need to slowly acquire them throughout the winter.
I am sowing herbs in my containers.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Cathy in Cleveland – Thanks for writing. For what length of time you can set out the greenhouses depends upon which seeds you wish to sow. Many perennials require cold-stratification – alternating freezes and thaws — in order to germinate. You will find a list of such seeds here. Sow these (and other perennial seeds, too) now and through February.
There is no hurry for annual seeds, including veggies. I typically sow mine in late March.
As for increasing your collection of gallon-size plastic milk or water jugs — if you have a recycling plant or transfer station near you, you can probably find all that you need. Otherwise, friends and neighbors can be a good source for these recyclables. Hope this helps!
Gina o says
I’m so glad have found this! We live in windy Wyoming, so I will have to make a few adjustments I suspect! I will be starting some herbs and Perrenials very soon! Thanks for the idea and can’t wait to see what more is to come. Any favorite Perrenials that are very hardly?? I believe we are zone 4a! Thanks again!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Gina o – Nice to meet you. Winter-sowing is fun! As for perennial-ideas, I’d start here.
Kathy says
Will the white milk jugs work? I have heard that they are white so the light wont come through so the milk will last longer before spoiling. Would liter pop bottles work if they are completely clear?
Linda says
Just found your site and its very interesting! Can the jugs be set on the ground or do they need to be elevated?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Kathy – Are the “white” milk jugs you described actually translucent like those pictured above? If so, they are perfectly fine for winter-sowing. Clear soda pop bottles will certainly work, although it can be difficult to remove the seedlings from them at transplanting-time.
Linda – Welcome. I elevate my containers in order to keep Lily the Beagle (as well as assorted woodland creatures) from knocking them over. If your own yard is never visited by dogs, cats, chipmunks or squirrels, then I see no reason why you can’t place your containers on the ground.
Carol Emmert says
Kevin, thanks for the helpful advice on winter-sowing! We’ve started 35 “greenhouses” so far. We have had such a mild start to Spring here in central Indiana (many 70+ degree days in March) that we’ve actually had to transplant 3 of our lettuce varieties to the bed early because they’ve outgrown their mini-greenhouses. (Not really a problem- but a surprise for sure!) My tomato seedlings look superb, and many of the perennials that have been hard to seed start seem to be doing well also. Since we’ve no shortage of jugs here, I’m planning to cut the tops off and use them as cloches for the tenderest plants after transplanting. Now I’m using the warmest of days to get the garden beds ready since I’ll have LOTS of transplanting to do. I keep recommending your method to all my gardening friends, thanks for all the great work!
Anita says
When is the best time and what to look for when digging up Gladiolus bulbs in the fall?
Sandie says
I’m growing some red leaf lettuce in jugs right now!
Fred says
Greetings from Otis, Colorado, We made or first huge step to getting out of the “city” and purchased 13 acres with a domestic well last year. This is our second winter and are doing well with the mild temps and NO Snow on the plains.
We have purchased a variety of organic seeds for fruit trees, grapes, garden veggies and herbs, sweet corn, watermelons, etc…
My 1st question of many to come is:
Can we start 50% of the seeds now in this concept or is it just restricted for for flowers?
I plan to till and mix the sandy dry soil with the two tones of compost I purchsed from a local greenhouse last year and make raised beds. Thinking of a 60% soil & 40% compost mix.
All Suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.
~Fred
[email protected]
US Army MP K-9eod 1987-95
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Fred – Congratulations on your 13 acres! You can winter-sow anything which grows in your climate (and not just flowers) starting with perennial plants. You’ll find lots of details on this site under the category Winter-Sowing.
Fred says
Thanks Kevin,
We started our first group of seeds tonight with the kids 🙂 !
~Fred
Fred says
We have our first set of seedlings: Watermelon x3 , White Grapes x2, Papaya x2, Fuji Apple x1 in egg cartons !!!! our Girls (8 & 6) are bouncing about with [email protected]@K [email protected]@K [email protected]@K Here and here and Here !! Love the excitement this project has created with our youngest. Thanks! Merry Christmas to all !! ~ Fred
Fred says
Have sprouted 🙂
Fred says
Quick Question is it ok to add more dirt once the seedlings get over an inch tall? Some are falling over, bending and dying?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Fred — Two questions for you: did you start your seeds indoors…or out? Also – in which hardiness zone do you live?
For winter-sowing, best to start the seeds in gallon-size milk or water jugs, as described in Winter-Sowing 101. These containers hold the proper amount of soil.
AliceSue Curren says
Kevin, I live in upstate New York, when is a good time to start planting? Also I usually plant both flower beds and window boxes. Do you have any suggestions for my window boxes as I usually plant Millibelles (not sure of spelling) in my window boxes which I have not been successful at finding the seeds to start them myself. I would be open to planting something else but not sure what to plant as I really love the Millibelles. I have tried Petunias however I hate the maintenance with them. Any Suggestions?
Also, when would I want to start planting my vegetables?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Alice Sue Curren – Now is the time to start your winter-sowing project. For ideas on what to plant, be sure to read my post “What To Winter Sow…& When.” I think that Calibrachoa, or “Millions Bells,” are terrific for window boxes. I believe this petunia look-alike is still under patent, and consequently seeds are hard to come by.
As for vegetables, these too are listed under the post linked above.
Jean Thomas says
Kevin: I just discovered your website a few weeks ago. Thank you so much for all the work you put into it and the wonderful ideas. I started saving up Milk Jugs after seeing your Winter Sowing idea, and just last night was wondering how to get those pesky labels off to make them look as clean as yours, and lo and behold, I just found your tip on how to do that. I have been telling everyone I see about your blog…love it that much!
Deana Eckel says
Hey Kevin–None of the links for “Transplanting Seedlings from Their Greenhouse Jugs” seem to work for me. Any help would be so appreciated by this eager first time winter sower! Awesome website–can’t wait to begin receiving your newsletter!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
HI Deana – Thanks for the heads-up on the broken link(s). They are now repaired.
Lesley says
Hi Kevin, just finished reading your blog on winter sowing. Your website is wonderful and the photos of your garden are beautiful! I have some seeds left over from last year. Would they still be viable now? Thanks, Lesley.
Ps: I made panna cotta for Christmas Lunch. Served warm chocolate sauce, blueberries, and strawberries. Bellisima!
Lori Lawrence says
hello Kevin,
I have 135 jugs thus far, and realize now I put far too little drainage holes, i’m putting 4 in bottom, 4 around sides, and with an aul, sooooo, yeah, maybe I need to go out and… but anyways, can you please post a “now pic” of your jug sown perennials? or is that what is at the top of the page??? no one ever posts the updated “now” garden pics… I’d like to have another 120 this winter anyways… and I WILL be planting some of the “365 days to bloom” seeds, thanks to your tips… first year blooms? O YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS… HALLALUJAH PRAISE JESUS! also would love to try your tomato pie from another post, thanks so much, blessings!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Lori – Wow – 135 containers. Good for you! Go to the search box at the top of this site, type the words “walk in garden” (without quotation marks), and you’ll find tons of photographs of the plants in my various gardens, a great number of which were winter-sowed.