It is mid-january, and that means we are beginning winter sowing. We are using an easy method that doesn’t require too much hassle and can get you an early start to seed starting without the expensive grow light setups.
Start growing! Visit our online store for $2 heirloom seeds, custom blend fertilizers, and gardening tools http://www.migardener.com
Our daily blog: https://migardener.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MIgardener
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MIgardener
send garden snail mail to:
MIgardener
1426 Oakland Ave.
St. Clair, MI 48079
Our book is out! The AutoPilot Garden. A guide to hands-free gardening – every method and a bit of knowledge that we use to grow big! Check it out here: https://migardener.com/collections/bo…
————————————————————————————————————
Love what we do? Here is how you can support this channel to create more content, at no additional cost to you!
Shop on Amazon with this link: https://amzn.to/3HFpsEb *
Per popular request, we have created an Amazon Storefront with all our most tried and true Amazon finds. If we wouldn’t use it we would not endorse it: https://www.amazon.com/shop/migardener *
*We get a small commission at NO cost to you.
Thank you all so much for watching and Grow BIG!
24 Comments
I winter sowed tomatoes and peppers a few years ago. The tomatoes did good, but the peppers were stellar.
Yes! We are doing poppies and snapdragons!!
Artichokes, carnation, lavender, echinacia….I save all the containers from the store bought deserts and produce…I have a small open shed I made out of a plastic kids play house that I put them in.
I had no idea so many things could be winter sown! I’ve already started some inside, but will use this method now, too. Thank you!!
I've jugged 😂 all my brassicas, they are ready to go. I'll be starting a couple others as soon as more 1 gal jugs become available. It's just feels great to get dirt on my hands in the winter! I love this ❤
Stop eating and smacking on camera dude!?
I’m preparing my jugs now so I can winter sow my herbs & flowers. Question, can I do this method with my strawberry seeds? Ok you answered my question. I just had to finish the video! 😅
We winter sow in our breezeway on a garden greenhouse shelf. Tomatoes do great. Peppers are slow. We put pans or potting trays under the milk jugs to catch any water that drains. Will do a few outside this year to see what happens. It is really fun to get a head start on growing when you don't have a greenhouse.
Why is everyone rushing to get winter sowing done now? Last year I tested the same snap dragon seeds from Botanical Interest results as follows: January jug failed, February jug failed, March jug failed, but early April jug did awesome. I also tested Cole crops MI seeds like broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, and peas, all the same results.
Unless you need cold stratification, don't waste your seeds.
We had a lovely guest visit our garden club last winter and share her tips for winter sowing – I had tried it before with npt much success by she inspired me to give it another go. 37 of my 40 jugs did amazing! I was able to start everything in my brand new 20×30 inground garden from seed last year and it was awesome! I have asparagus, lavender, oregano and dahlias snuggled up under leaves, compost and straw overwintering in the garden.
opinions vary I guess.
Yes I believe you crazy! But it works!…lol
Question, Luke — can the jugs be clear, like the gallon water jugs, or should they be opaque like the milk jugs? I have a bunch of clear ones. Thanks!
At -15C up here in Canada, we’re not ready to sow… 🥶
I'm soooo glad you did this video. I was just told about this, but I didn't know how it worked, and now I do. I don't have much seed starting room indoors, so this will be a big help! Thank you!😊
Very inspiring Luke!! I'll give it a try, thanks!
You should have left a hinge at the handle 😉. Maybe.
Hopefully the top stays on. It would save a step to not have to tape.
The WS didn’t fare very well last year and looked back on garden journal where I frequently jot down weather. I noted seeds were showing signs of swelling in February and 3 days later we had snow. The seeds must have froze as I only ended up with one of the 3 that I noted were starting to germinate. We had Very warm January last year—rain and 40s—highly unusual. Then a bit of winter showed up. I covered with cardboard to shade on the hot days and prevent too much rain entering, but it wasn’t enough. Those whiplash temps were drastic and lasted till spring and was never steadily cold with gradual warmup.
The seeds either rotted or froze.
I saved the containers and by leaving the hinge I’m able to string them all together. However, I could just string the lids, but don’t think the bases will stack. It’s no big deal if I do only a few and I use water jugs that are different shape. I don’t see the need to wash them because as you said that any soil can be used which is another savings. 👏🏼👏🏼 It makes sense because fall sown meadow seeds do fine.
This year it Finally decided to be winter and staying steady if not down right cold so I will do a few containers up. I just dug carrots last weekend under 20” snow and mulch and hopefully i can still find unfrozen soil 😊.
I did about 50 projects last year and will cut back and test out a few tomatoes, peppers and onions and compare those with indoor starts to see if there is an advantage in growth/production. I have a few flowers also, but none that need cold stratification so I can start them much later around March. I know there is no difference in starting onions early as they soon catch up and if they are out too soon they just get set back by frost. Starting seeds inside too early is a lot more work also.
I did like the idea you showed last year where you planted right in the garden and covered with a clear tote with holes. That is a way many could plant if they don’t have any of the supplies or money to do so. Some have luck planting inside large totes and others fail and it has to do with moisture and heat regulation. Some have the time to babysit totes and better weather. The idea behind containers is mostly no babysitting. Z5a, WI.
What? Where is your snow? I live in Ogemaw County and we got 14"😂
Thanks for sharing🙂
I did try 2 years ago. Total dissapointment. Only a couple kale made it. It was before I bought your seeds so maybe I'll try again.
We will be trying some apple cider half gallon jugs this year. The are taller than milk jugs which keeps the plant inside the greenhouse a little longer hopefully.
you should probably spend a little more time filling orders and less time posting the same videos over and over. i ordered seeds 2 weeks ago and they still havent been shipped. i had to cancel my order.
You mentioned using this method with tomato and peppers. Have you had success with cucumbers and summer/winter squash?
Awesome. I have been doing this for years. Shared in my homesteading FB group❤