10 Winter Sowing Mistakes You’re Probably Making (and How to Fix Them!)

[@rebeccazody1278]

Third yr WS, I have 120 jugs out so far. I winter sow all seeds, even tomatoes, etc in January. They will germinate when they are ready. Still have melons, gourds, squash to put out and some more annuals to go. I will do those later this weekend. One year I had germinated tomatoes- 3-5 inches high, under snow covered tarps for two days. They made it fine. Did not lose any of them. I put my holes up on the side 1-2 inches to keep them from getting too dry. Zone 6a

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Sounds great! I will have to try some tomatoes earlier and see how that works for me this year. I tried some last year but a very late hard freeze zapped them, but it was a very freak hard freeze that even killed some of my 5 year old Japanese Maples so it may have been a off year.

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

Sounds great! Can you tell us more about your successes and any difficulties? Any plants not liking it so far? Which hardiness zone are you in / when last frost date? 😊

[@ILoveTheMoodyBlues]

Thanks for the zone info!! Same zone hete and good to hear you can put everything out at the same time

[@Anghooeyrhymeswithjulie]

Thank you! this is very helpful and bottom watering is going to make a big difference for me.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Glad it was helpful! Yes, it amazes me that folks say to water from the top when it is so easy to let it absorb from the bottom.

[@sandyasposito8262]

I have winter sowed for 3yrs now & I love all your videos! Thank you!!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Thank you. It is a great way to start seeds. Even in years when I have some big fails because of weather, I always get plenty of new plants! Last year was a rough one for my winter sowing containers, they 9 feet of snow we got crushed many of them and they opened up while under it. But this year I am already seeing some hollyhock seedlings coming up in one jug!

[@debradiggs7489]

Pam i just had to watch of your older videos ❤ i love your gardening they are always beautiful

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Thank you so much, it means a lot to me! I am always working on improving!

[@jessbordeaux9845]

Love your use of the old colanders!!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I do love repurposing and reusing.

[@cherylwhitesell4103]

I water mine before I seal it up. Works for me!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Great.

[@patjackson3506]

Love your channel and videos. I’ve learned so much, including what zones really mean. Thanks for the tip about not watering from the top. I also watch “Hooked and Rooted,” and she suggests taking a toothpick and dipping it in water to pick up those tiny seeds to place them where you want. That worked so well for me. Best wishes as your channel continues to grow.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I had tried the toothpick trick but had a hard time getting them to turn loose when placed on the soil. Maybe I need to try again. My little pinkie fingernail usually works pretty well but for someone that has close-clipped nails the toothpick or sharpened pencil tip would be a great choice.

[@lightwavz]

Glad to see you using a Posca pen! I never thought to pick one up from my studio and put it in my greenhouse. I have yet to winter sow my seeds. I still have about 2 months of freezing temperatures at least. I figure I should get going this weekend!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes, I have a lot more to do and I need to get them done soon. But I have another trick up my sleeve if I don't get the ones that need to cold done soon enough. Thats coming up soon.

[@AmsNl2BcnEs]

Excellent point about hardiness zone. Lots of online resources links the two factors.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yes, I see a lot of that and it misleads many.

[@nickirios8647]

Have you ever done a plant sale? I'd love to learn about that.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have considered it but no I have not, I usually give away my extras.

[@thomasphillips6612]

My last frost date is February 1 South Texas zone 9

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Wow, I am envious, mine is the 3rd weekend in May.

[@JulesGardening]

Amen on the drowning. I am wont to "help" too much. lol.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Isn't that true of all of us, I call it 'loving my plants to death'. LOL

[@JulesGardening]

Very nice overview. 👍

[@lydiarose29]

I heard chickens in the background. I let mine free roam about 6 hours a day. Question: Once you transplant your plants in the ground, how do you keep chickens away from them till they can get bigger, stronger? Mine seem to head right for them...ughh

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I rarely let my hens free range, they have a large protected pen that gives them plenty of space. We have a lot of predators around that want to make a meal out of them. During the late Fall and winter time when there is no snow I would usually let them go ahead and roam a few hours a day and they can't really harm much. But with the bird flu being a problem right now it is safer for them to be kept away from wild birds and their droppings. I have a lot of wild birds in my garden so I won't let them out right now.

[@lydiarose29]

@FlowerPatchFarmhouse okay thank you for replying back to me.

[@xoxXCutiepieXxox]

I love your coffee cup ☕️ 🌹

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Me too, I got it at Wal-Mart, it is part of the Pioneer Woman selections.

[@criticalthinker72]

I'm not sure if you've noticed a difference or not but I wouldn't be sitting it out in rainwater considering what's falling down with the rainwater. But you can do a rainwater test if you want to know.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

There is that risk but our treated water coming from a faucet it not any better and the will have to tough it out.

[@dvssayer5621]

I know right! Poisons! But yeah in everthing.....

[@suzannegault1725]

Just started winter sowing in the jugs. I’m in Arizona so it gets warm here quickly but it was in the 20s this morning. Thank you for the handy hints!

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You are most welcome. Let me know how it goes. I am sure Arizona has its own challenges for gardening.

[@RoseMary-vs3io]

Handy tips👌

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I am glad you found them helpful!

[@hannablom5803]

I winter sowed Zinnia and Tomatoes in zone 6b in march and tomatoes came up nicely but the zinnias had a fairly low germination %. It does work though! (Sowed in shady position next to a north facing wall).

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Yeah, much better germination and fast growing with zinnias if they are sowed when it is much warmer. And the ones sown in warmer temps will fast outgrow the ones started earlier as a healthy start is important. No sense in wasting seed with winter sowing them when you can do much better later on. Winter sowing was created with cold weather, tough flowers and veggies in mind. My tomatoes that are sowed later also outperformed the ones winter sown. Winter sowing is usually done in January and February and folks start to get warm weather in March so it is considered more of a Spring sowing than winter. But do what works for you! There is no one size fits all in gardening. I try to preach that loud and clear.

[@cbak1819]

Ya, every seed needs a different temp to germinate.. the seeds can also become waterlogged and rot.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

@@cbak1819 Yes, that is so true. I hate to waste seeds and don't want anyone to be misled and not know that though winter sowing warmer weather flowers or veggies can produce some, you won't get as good a germination or healthy plant if they don't have the conditions they prefer.

[@susanbritton-giza5054]

Thank you ❤

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

You're welcome 😊

[@alysonriley3297]

I very much enjoyed this video, it's tenor and all the easy to understand information...thanks 😊

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@conniehu98]

Thank you! This is a very helpful video. Do you leave the lid of the jar open or close?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I don't remember a jar in this, can you please give me more details?

[@SDQuilter]

I did really enjoy this video! I have never seen it this way but I think I want to try. Thank you for always Putting Out Great content.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Glad you enjoyed it! I truly want to be of help to my fellow gardeners. Thank you.

[@julieballard8439]

Will the seeds germinate if you just sprinkle them in pots outside without a plastic cover, in NJ 6a? I sowed them last weekend and had 2" of snow that night "to water them in".

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

If they are the cold hardy flowers then yes that can work. Ones that do better with cold stratification. The containers act as small greenhouses that warm up quicker in the Spring but direct sowing into pots works as well, they just may germinate later but since you won't have to transplant them (if planning on keeping them in the original pots) they will quickly catch up by avoiding the transplant shock. Let me know how that works for you.

[@KlaireeBerry]

New sub! 👋

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Welcome, I hope you enjoy your time here and find somethings useful in your garden journey!

[@ArthurRussell-kb6wr]

You are a great educator, but. I have a question that I cant find an answer to, what to do with moss on top of growing medium. I grow seeds in pots that are on capillary matting on a bench in an open greenhouse, some are on it for more than a year so, moss can be a problem, and I dont know how to stop it.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Moss growing on top of seedlings is not usually harmful to the plants but to help, you can use a small fan to create air flow. If I feel it is creating an issue I do scrape away the top a bit to help get better gas exchange across the soil surface.

[@Sushilover01]

Some people sprinkle vermiculite on top of

[@thomasphillips6612]

My last frost date is February 1 South Texas zone 9 What is the fertilizer you used on seedlings?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I use the EcoOrganic at half strength. The link to their website is in the description box.

[@thomasphillips6612]

@@FlowerPatchFarmhouse Thank you I will look at it.

[@janetc3707]

Is the only difference between winter and spring sowing the type of plant seed you use?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

If using the containers, yes and time of year you put them out.

[@carolburnett8372]

I planted my seeds in jugs now almost 2 weeks ago and I noticed now for the last few days that lots of mine are molding........what can I do to save the seeds........usually the ground inside molds and usually there are 4 kinds of seeds in each jug.......and only 1-2 varieties have sprouted and around the base of those seedlings is a little white cloud of mold............what should I do........help please ???

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Oh dear, I have not had that issue. When I get mold on my plants in the greenhouse I put them outside to get sun and fresh air. So maybe opening the jugs and letting them air out would work.

[@conn4jesus]

Can you tell us what the name of the fertilizer you use is.

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

The link is in the description box: Organic Liquid Fertilizer. I hope this helps!

[@margaretlockwood9382]

Do you mix your own potting mix or is it a commercial.brand?

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I have done both. This year I am using potting mix, EB Stones Edna's Best is the quality brand I can get locally and it works very well for seed starting.

[@lesliebehrens7252]

Thank you for this clear concise approach. So helpful 🏆🌺

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

I did try to address many of the mistakes I have noted that ended up discouraging folks from giving winter sowing another try. Glad you found it helpful!

[@clarkl4177]

❤ Well done! Thanks for your casual, relaxed presentation that was also instructional 🌱

[@FlowerPatchFarmhouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!