I did winter sowing last year and although I had germination, I was too much of a newbie to know that when we had "freezing" temperatures, I needed to protect those seedlings (Maryland zone 7) and I lost a whole bunch of seedlings. This year it didn't move me so I'm skipping it although I do see lots of gardeners who are quite successful. Also, you are quite proficient with those razor blades!!! There are holders for those kinds of blades which might make those of us "older" mothers a little less scared watching you cut open boxes and slice through milk jugs!☺☺♥ Can't wait for your 2023 garden layout, you're a master for using every last inch of space you have.

This was just the encouragement I needed to winter sow. Thank you for sharing the process! 💕

I've been doing this for the past 5 yrs and I swear by it!!

I tried a lot of things this way and the perennials did the best for me. The Sea Holly and the Hissup did the best.

Saw your pictures on Garden Answer the other day. So beautiful to see.🥰 Nicole on Flowerhill Farm has a great video on Bells. Going to try both methods this year myself to see which one works best. Thank you for sharing.

Strawflower surprises me. Can’t wait to see how this works.

I like winter sowing because it frees up space for growing other seeds inside. I only put 5 seeds inside so they are easy to divide and I do have to water at least every three days because I live in the desert.

So excited that you posted this because I was going to try a few of the cool flowers.

Love winter sowing, just received my invoice for your choice of flowers and hope to add some of these 😁

Thank you Christina. I didn’t have any success winter sowing last year but I’m not giving up. I really need to get going making the containers so all I have to do is fill them. Thanks again for getting me motivated . ❄️💚🙃

Thanks for the idea. I didn't know I can do that. I don't have growing lights so that's the perfect idea. Thanks 🙏

I can't wait to see the garden plan! I've been pouring over mine for weeks now. I'll probably change everything before the season starts. haha

Like this idea never tried thanks!

I put coffee filter in bottom of jug to retain soil.

We are cold here in Idaho. I think I am going to try this.

I’m in Tx, zone 8a. I tried this with poppy seeds that I stratified in the fridge for 13 weeks. Have yet to see any germination, but they’ve only been in their milk jugs for 2 weeks now. Haven’t tried this with any other seeds, but may try with my echinacea seeds that r still in the fridge.

Great video as always. But I wish you would get a box cutter instead of using the razor blades. You made me nervous. I thought you were going to cut yourself. I bought 2 types of bells of Ireland from burpee. I'll do a video when I start my seeds. Thanks for sharing and happy gardening 🌿🌱😊🤗

Lisa from 5b Iowa

Thank you for the very helpful video! Is this the only way you will be starting the seed varieties you mentioned or will you also start some inside and direct sow some of the same varieties? Just wondering how reliable this method is and if you get enough seedlings?

Can you do hollyhocks the same? This was done in January? Can you sow earlier? Thank you.

I've sown more than 50 6-liter bottles. But I'm afraid now that I didn't put enough soil. Can 2-3 inches of compacted soil be enough?

I'd like to try that! Don't have the plastic jugs. Do you have to protect the seedlings in the jugs after they germinate? What a space saving idea!!

When do you do the plating? Fall? Winter months? I’m in zone 7 (Delaware)?

I didn't like winter sowing. To much trouble when I'm too busy planting my cool flower seeds. They are either too full to separate like I'd want or just don't do as well.

When do you start this process? What month?

That's a really weird technique I reckon... It's really risky! Was it invented in the US? I saw another video where the woman only had one or two seedlings per milk jug.. I reckon it's for people with no greenhouse 😮

Great video as usual! One question: I’m in the same zone, directly west of you. I’ve been following Lisa Mason Zieglers Cool Flower book and several that you started, such as straw flower are hardy to zone 8. Have you had success being in zone 5 or is it an experiment? Another such as feverfew suggests starting it indoors. Have you winter sow that one as well before? I would love to winter sow it. Thanks for all your great videos!

I tried winter sowing the past 3 years and zero success. So frustrating as everyone states it’s so easy. I either water too little or not enough. So much more work for me then just sticking with starting indoors.

How cold can the seeds get w/o getting killed? We go to -40 F.

Could this work in trays in unheated greenhouse?

How many seeds are you putting in the jugs?Is there a maximum?