Starting Seeds & Winter Sowing

If you consider the time of year, not surprisingly, I've had a lot of visitors to my blog who are searching for more information on either Winter Sowing or seed starting.

So, my 2 cents on the subject (Please take it as such!).

As you can imagine, living up here in the lake effect pummeled part of Upstate New York, our indoor seed starting times are, more than likely, quite a bit more delayed than in other areas of the state. Or country, for that matter.

Up here, it's quite the complicated guessing game as to 'exactly' when to start what. We've had snow as late as the end of May, and years with deep freezes into June. As a matter of fact, we had a snowstorm a few years back on Mother's day, and I remember a certain July 4th that was absolutely frigid. We donned winter coats to go watch the firework displays! And the flooding is no picnic either...or the droughts...or sultery, humid summers. But, back to topic.

Usually it's quite a simple process to figure out when to start anything inside - just know your last frost date, read the package to find out when to transplant (most all of them will have the info written on the back), and count backwards from planting time (so many weeks before or after your last frost date) as to when to sow them.

Don't know your first or last frost date? No problem! Just go to Victory Seeds First & Last Average Frost Date, select your state and then your nearest city.

But remember, these are just averages and you'd probably get more narrowed information from neighbors and local gardeners that have lived in your vicinity for a while, so this is more of a guide than info set in stone - I live in a bit of my own micro-climate, so it's usually way off for me. I'm doing well so far to not start anything too early, but it's getting more difficult every day to stare at those packages and not plant something! In fact, each day I pay a tad more attention to where that little butterfly is on my 'countdown to Spring' ticker.

Don't want to do the counting? Problem solved by simply plugging the dates into this handy little Grow Guide. I've had this link listed on my blog for quite a while, but I don't think many ever notice it.

You don't even have to buy pots if your in the mood to Make Your Own.

Ways to start seed are as varied as the sowers themselves, but here are a few places to get you started:

The Seed Site

NDSU

Weekend Gardener

Taunton's Fine Gardening

Savvy Gardener

If you just have a question and want a quick answer (that you can't find already answered in the FAQ section) GardenWeb is full of experienced gardeners (they're very friendly, so don't be afraid to ask anything!) and is the best place to get fast replies.

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Winter Sowing is a different matter. No muss, no fuss, no coddling, no light set up, no inside space needed, (usually) no damp off, and a yard full of strong hardy plants. It couldn't be easier! :

Grab a used (but clean!) container. Milk jugs and big soda bottles are perfect!

Cut, drill or slice drain holes in the bottom.

Cut or slice vent holes in the 'shoulders' or top of the container (these will be enlarged as the temps rise). I make 3 or 4 U shaped slices - I find it much easier to just use small toothpicks or sticks jammed in to these openings to widen them as it warms up rather than keep enlarging slits constantly.

Cut it in half, about 3 or 4 inches up, leaving a hinge by the handle for easy venting come heat of spring. Some people prefer to cut the top off completely or make a 'window'.

Fill with at least 3 inches of a good potting soil (it doesn't have to be the expensive stuff!).

Sow seeds as directed on seed packet.

Tape shut with duct tape.

Stick outside and wait for spring and sprouts.

Bottom water if the soil in the containers starts to dry or add more drain holes if they seem to stay too wet.

Voila! Plants easy as pie and on the cheap. This site explains it all: Winter Sown. And for a SASE, Trudi Davidoff will send you free seeds to get you started.

Colleen, at In the Garden Online, also has an informative article at Suite101 on Winter Sowing.

If you're still sitting on the fence about trying this method, or have more questions, just pop over to the Winter Sowing forum on GardenWeb to have them answered in a jiffy.

I hope I've helped out with some of the answers to the questions people have been searching for.

Good luck and have fun! After all, isn't that what it's all about?

Spring Envy

We woke up to 12 below zero temps this morning, which isn't much of an assurance that spring is on the way.

Yet, people in the southern regions have green things popping up in their gardens and Winter Sowing sprouts showing.

So I guess all I can do is stare at the mountains of snow surrounding my little abode and cross my fingers that the warmth shall soon see fit to trudge just a bit to the north.

And, oh, yeah - sow some more seeds.
:)

Well, This Is Just...

Ridiculous!

There's really no other word to suit the amount of snow 3/4 of the way up the windows.

I'm not kidding. Man, it's dark in here!

Mondo lake effect before the storm, three feet during the storm, six inches of lake effect last night, and more on the way with no end of the nasty stuff in sight. Add some really fierce wind and...grrrr!

Watching the poor deer trying to lumber so ungracefully through drifts twice as tall as they are is heartbreaking. Especially when you realize how difficult it's going to be for them to dig through that depth to find something, anything, to eat. We've had one bedding down every night beneath our pear tree, but since this started, I haven't even seen so much as a footprint in our yard.

On the bright side, they can now get to tender branches that have been out of reach until this came along. And the kids are home for snow day number 3. Woohoo!

Now I get to snort at those people who say, "It's just some snow, what's the big deal?" Ummm, I dunno - wanna try opening any doors or looking out my windows? lol.

Well, we manage it every year, and usually it isn't such a big deal. But, this - four foot and still adding - is just ridiculous! I'll post a pic or two if I can get my daughter to take some with her phone for me (as long as you ignore my dirty windows!).

At least we didn't get the 42 inches Stratford and Fairfield did. Here are the snow totals for my area (unfortunately, it's only for Wednesday's amounts and not totals on the ground - that would be even scarier!): 2007 Nor'Easter.

I wasn't kidding! Although it was too bright out when T took the pics to see too much, that's the view out my living room window - the black line is the power lines at the street. I said it was deep!

The second pic is out the sliding glass doors (she had to get on tip-toe and point the camera downwards, so it isn't the best vantage point). My arbor is more than half gone...there are 2 three foot tall pots out there, one on each side, and you'd never know it, but there's a park bench directly beneath that arbor!

Free Seeds

I waited to see if I'd get them before passing on the link.

They arrived yesterday, so here's the link for some free Peppermint and Chamomile seeds included in Celestial Seasonings Herbal Expedition Kit.

Oh - and 12 more milk jugs out, so my Winter Sowing container count is now at 48. Woohoo!
:)

PVC Ecstacy

OMG! I love my husband!

D made me this plant stand for my Valentines gift! I couldn't even wipe the smile off my face while giving him the finger-wag for spending money we don't have, which kind of defeated the the whole purpose of the scolding.

I'm ecstatic! To me, this gift is the equivelant to other women receiving 5 carat diamonds. Who needs diamonds when you can grow plants instead?

Is there such a thing as being too obsessed with gardening? Maybe I need a twelve step program. If I ever win the lottery - look out!