How to Easily Start Seeds Outdoors in Winter Using the Winter Sowing Method

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What is Winter Sowing?

Winter Sowing is using plastic milk jugs or other plastic containers, and using them as mini-greenhouses outside in the middle of winter, to sow your seeds. I first read about Winter Sowing, here on Kevin Jacob’s blog.  I have been doing this now for the last 5 years or so, and it has worked so well for me, that I wanted to share this Winter Sowing tutorial in hopes that it works for you too. Because it is SOOOOO EASY!!!!! Sow those seeds, and then forget about them for a few month! Seriously. That is all.

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Winter Gardening

Another reason I love winter sowing, is it allows me to get back into my gardening groove before the weather truly lets me. I don’t know about you, but after the holidays are over, I start getting the gardening itch. Winter sowing allows me to actually begin gardening in the winter, but without really dealing with the nastiness of winter. I plant the seeds indoors, and then just pop them outside and let nature to the rest.

Frugal Seed Starting in Winter

Winter Sowing is also a much more frugal way to start seeds. No need to buy all that seed starting equipment such as heat mats, grow lights, plant trays, etc. Just save your used milk jugs, and then the only thing you need to acquire is the potting soil to grow in, and the seeds! And duct tape. To see how I also start seeds the traditional way, using all sorts of equipment, please see my Essential Seed Starting Equipment post. And now on to my Winter Sowing Guide!

Winter Sowing Containers or Mini Greenhouses for Winter Sowing:

I like to use milk jugs for my winter sowing containers. To prepare them, first, poke a bunch of holes in the bottom for drainage,  and a few holes around the top for extra air circulation.  I use a Phillips head screwdriver that I heat up over a gas burner, than just poke it thru the plastic a bunch of times. Then you cut the milk jug almost all the way around about 4″ up from the bottom, but leaving an inch or so intact opposite from the handle, as a hinge. So that you can lift the upper part of the jug open. I use an X-acto knife to do this.

How to Plant your Winter Sowing Jugs:

Fill the bottom part of the jug with 3″ of damp potting soil. I use the same kind of potting soil I talk about in my Seed Starting Equipment post.  Have some duct tape or similar tape on hand, that you will need to seal the lids closed. Also, stick a label in there also with the name of the seeds you are planning to sow. Don’t write on the tape or jug, as the sun will fade it. Ask me how I know! Plant the seeds into the soil as directed on the package for depth of planting.

I tend to plant the seeds pretty densely, knowing that I will be dividing up the plants to transplant later in the spring. Spray with water so the top 1″ or so of soil is damp. Close the jug. Tape the jug closed all the way around. Make sure the original plastic lid that came with the container has been removed to allow for rain to get in, and the air to circulate out when it gets warm in there.

Caring for your Winter Sowing Containers:

Set your Winter Sowing containers outdoors in a sunny location that will receive rain. Do not put under an eave which might prevent rain from entering into the open top. Then, just be watchful of really warm weather. If the seeds have germinated and you get an out of the blue HOT day, the plants may bake in there with the lid still on.

So if you are getting some unseasonably warm weather, take the tape off and open up the lids. You may need to water them also. If it cools back down, tape them closed again. Then just watch. Once the plants are big enough to be filling the jugs with their greenery, it is time to pop the tops off like I just mentioned. And transplant as soon as you can for what you have grown.

Winter Sowing Flower Seed, Perennials and Annuals

I like to grow my own perennials and annuals using winter sowing.  I tend to start out with hardy perennial seeds first, as early as January. Then I plant annuals and more tender perennials later in March. Winter sowing flowers & perennials is a great inexpensive way to grow your garden. Save your own seeds, or exchange seed with friends or family and grow your own.

I usually start as early as January with lavender, phlox, rudbeckia, and other similar perennials. I will then do some sweet peas a few weeks later. And a few weeks after that, I will sow snapdragons, marigolds, nastursium, lobelia, alyssum and other annuals. But this is such a super flexible way of growing, if you haven’t started in January, go ahead and sow all the things in late Feb or March! Just remember to keep notes, so next year you can refer back and change up how you do things if you need too.

Winter Sowing Vegetables

I like to start my cold season vegetable crops in February. Some cold season veggies I have sown are all the brassicas (kale, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc), greens such as chard, spinach and lettuce. Root veggies and onions. Then by late March they should be ready for transplanting.

You could even try some warm weather vegetables like summer squash, winter squash or pumpkins in April. You could also start your cucumbers and melons in April as well. I have not tried warm season crops like tomatoes and peppers using winter sowing, but I bet it would work also.

Winter Sowing Zone 8

I am in gardening zone 8b, and these are winter sowing methods that have worked well for me here in the PNW. Please let me know if you try this growing method and what you plant when! If you aren’t sure what to plant when, I suggest starting a bit of seed, and then 4 weeks later, start another batch. Keep notes and compare what did well when. Then next year, you will have a better idea of what to plant when. I am anxious to hear how you all do!

Winter Sowing Results and More Information

Be sure to check out my 2018 Winter Sowing Results!

For more information on Winter Sowing, check out WinterSown.Org

Seed Starting 101: Winter Sowing