|
 Easy
and Affordable Winter Seed Starting
By Melinda Myers
[December 27, 2025]
Turn off the grow lights, gather a few milk jugs and potting mix and
start planting seeds. Winter sowing is a way to start transplants
from seeds outdoors without a greenhouse or cold frame.
You’ll save money on equipment and time tending the seeds and
seedlings. Just transform milk jugs, soda bottles and other items
into mini grow chambers to start some of your favorite and hard to
find transplants from seeds. |
Gather flower and vegetable seeds,
milk jugs or two-liter soda bottles, duct tape, a quality potting
mix and weatherproof marker. Check the seed packet for information
on planting details and timing. Winter sowing dates vary with the
growing climate, individual gardener, and the seed variety you are
planting.
Try starting hardy perennials, hardy and self-seeding annuals, and
cold weather vegetables now through late winter. Other flowers and
vegetables seeds are typically winter sown at about the same time
you would plant them indoors or a month or two before the
transplants get moved into the garden. Keep a record of your
planting dates and results to help you fine tune your planting
schedule and increase future success.
Wash containers and make four to 12 small holes in the bottom of the
jug for drainage. A hot skewer, knife, screwdriver or drill work
well for this step. Next, partially cut the jug to create a hinged
lid. Make your cut about three to four inches above the bottom,
leaving the area with the handle attached so it forms a hinge. Use
the bottom of the milk jug handle as your guide.
Place a coffee filter or piece of
paper towel over the drainage holes to contain the potting mix while
still allowing water to drain. Fill the bottom with moist, quality
potting mix. Plant seeds at the depth and spacing recommended on the
seed packet. Mix smaller seeds with sand to help with proper
spacing. Gently water until the excess runs out the bottom of the
container.
Make transplanting easier by using the cardboard tubes from toilet
paper to help space winter sown seedlings. Cut the toilet paper
cardboard tubes to the right height and set them in the milk jug.
Fill the bottom of the milk jug with potting mix and plant the
seeds. Otherwise, plan on doing some careful separating of the
individual seedlings in each milk jug or soda bottle.
[to top of second column] |
Label the inside and outside of the
jug with a permanent marker. Close the lid and seal it shut with
duct tape. Remove the cap before setting your milk jugs in a sunny
location outdoors where rain and snow can reach it. Set jugs in a
milk crate in windy locations and protect them from curious pets and
wildlife if needed.
Water your outdoor seed starting chambers during snow-free and dry
weather. This will be much less often than those seedlings growing
indoors under artificial lights.
Your plants will be ready to move into the garden at their normal
planting time. Just open the lid, harden off the seedlings and move
them into the garden.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books,
including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small
Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything”
instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s
Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and
contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned
by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com]
|
