Last year I started some sunflowers too early and they got all stringy on me.

Jim

Yes, I've started seed this year already. I have the things listed below winter sown in baggies. I've winter sown before and I've sown in baggies before but I've never combined the two. It's an experiment. I'll see what happens. I put these out in December.

Anthirrum Braun Blanquetti (sp?)(snapdragon)
Tomato flame hillbilly striped
parsley moss curled
Beta cicia ‘five color silverbeet’(swiss chard)
Hibiscus trionum
Hibiscus swamp mallow
Hibiscus a short pink
Lathyrus ‘Cupanis’(sweet Oea)
Penstemon
Spinach
Wallflower
Alcea ‘majorette’
Calendula ‘touch of red’
Datura white
Datura purple and white
Tomato unknown variety

Then I started Inside also in baggies
Geranium phaeum ‘Samobar’
Rosa glauca
Lavendula angustifolia mix

Loretta

If you haven't already, you might want to look at the winter sowing sight. I put up 35 perennial seeds in gallon milk jugs outside in December.

I started zinnias last april and they came up quickly.

I've started some geraniums seeds inside in mini greenhouse with a heat matt and they've started to come up.

Nancy

I used the baggie method for winter sowing this year for the first time. The Spinach and Wallflowers have already germinated and are potted up.

Instead of winter sowing with flats of pots filled with seed and medium, I have 16 varieties of seed in small baggies, germinating outside in a 3"x5" plastic container enclosed in a 1 gallon baggie with vents in it. I check it every week or so.

With seed that needs warmth to germinate you can put the little baggies on a counter. With seed that needs cooler temps to germinate you can put the little baggies in the refrigerator. And since this year's experiment, I now know you can put the hardier seed in baggies outside in the ice and snow to germinate.

Winter sowing and baggies – a match made in heaven.

No you don’t need grow lights until after the seed has germinated. Then you pot them up and put them under lights. Try it, you’ll like it.

Loretta

Anyway I too have been doing the baggie method and have had fantastic luck with this. I usually put the baggies up on top of the refridgerator...child free zone (hopefully) and nice and warm with indirect light up there.

I have noticed a few seed varieties that don't seem to work well with baggies and end up getting a bit moldy/fuzzy. Delphiniums seem the ones I have the least luck with so this year I have them in a little disposable baking pan with a plastic lid in a nice sunny area. I'll see how that works.

I started some carnations and snap dragons 4 days ago and already they have germinated. The carnations even have little green leaves starting to unfurl.

Now I just need to get the grow lights back up.

Jim

I've been on the wintersowing forum for awhile. This is my 2nd year of doing it and I'm searching for new ideas to help things along.

Thanks, Tamra

The only protection they have outside is they are in the little baggie, standing in a plastic container (no top on it), within a one-gallon-size baggie with air vents punched in it. I put the whole thing in a shady spot outside.

I don’t remember if the link I gave mentions it or not but stand the baggies upright. I took a seed propagation class with Rob once and he told us that. I think he said it is because seed germinates up (leaves) and down (roots) so if the bag is standing upright things go well.

I'll post a picture of my little experiment later today if I can figure out how to post it.

Loretta

Loretta

Actually thinking about it, it should still be in the PA forum as the wintering information you are giving probably wouldn't apply to other zones. How you are wintering your seeds (which is really helpful to know Thank You!) is different from how someone in Maine or Kentucky might do it.

Either way your input has been really helpful Loretta. Thank you very much!

Jim

Alexa

If you did not try winter sowing this year, stop on over to the forum and read away and get ready for next year!

....actually I think that probably applies to most any seed that can handle a freeze, they naturally "know" when it's ok to grow. For some things like poppies, rudbeckia and petunias I usually throw the seed onto any open ground during the winter or early spring and wait and see what comes up..... (I'm so bad with potting up young seedlings, they're so much better on their own)

Started from seed inside---
Stargazer Dahlia
Coleus Wizard Jade
Snapdragon Mix
Sleeping Beauty Commelina
Blue Angel Salvia
Primula Beesiana
Moon Dance Scabiosa
Tea Time Rose 4 O'Clocks
Dwarf blue Bachelor Buttons (these were seeds dated 2005 that I found in the bottom of my seed box and decided to try just to see if they would germinate and almost all of them did)

Will sow late April/early May ---
Cosmos
Nasturtiums
Sunflowers
Morning Glory
Zinnias
Baby Blue Eyes
Gilia

Several others to direct sow after last frost.

I also have some Coleus cuttings from last Fall, Dahlia and Canna tubers started. Can't wait for warmer weather so I can get outside!

Daylilies
Fuji Dawn Violets
Chalon Pansies
Marshall's Delight Monarda
Oranges and Lemons Gaillardia
Polka Dot Dwarf Bachelor Buttons
Bijoulaus Bonnets Scabiosa
Dianthus Knappi
Light Purple Japanese Iris
Yellow Eyed Grass
Patio Dwarf Sweet Peas

I plan on doing some more in the next few weeks - especially the tender annuals, such as zinnias and maybe some tomatoes. Next, I want to pot up my amaryllis and St. Joseph's Lily.

Linda