Wintersowing / Milkjug Planting: Best seed starting method in harsh conditions, full tutorial

[@lindseymccolm]

New homestead looks like a straw bale! Beautiful. I’ve been doing milk jug winter sowing for a few years with great success; strangely carrots have been one of my faves to get that early start!

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

I love carrots done this way too! Such a great germination rate. Thanks for your comments about the new homestead. We love it

[@RockymountainRach]

I grow in Calgary and cranbrook! Very similar! You have a few more years experience than me - Excited to follow along and learn from you!

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

That is awesome!

[@KylieFickell]

Thank you for the video I’m now going to only do this 😊

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

I hope it works great for you. It’s been a game changer on my homestead

[@rebeccarigge20]

Hi Frankie Lou, thanks for the great video! I would of never thought to do something like this but it'd be a fun "experiment" for me and my kids! I started doing flower beds last year and would love to try zinnias and some other cut flowers this way, as sprinkling seeds has been a failure for me thus far. I am in zone 4 in Minnesota. We are having a strangle winter, with warmer temps above freezing every day. When do you recommend starting cut flowers and do you have a seed company you recommend?

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

I hope you have fun playing with the technique. I don’t do zinnias myself but many of my friends up here in Alberta do, usually planting them in the milk jugs throughout the month of March. I myself like to do calendula, corn flower and nasturtiums in April.

[@karigibb5450]

Just found your video today and can't wait to try this. Is it too late to start if the snow is all gone here?

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

Not at all. I’ve only just begun my hardy vegetables and will start my tender stuff in April. I hope you will give it a try. There’s still plenty of cold temperatures at night, even without snow

[@deekee1247]

Frankie Lou, have you started cosmos, aster, zinnia and the like in jugs and if so when would you start those ?

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

I don’t usually start those myself but many of my friends in zone three start them at the end of March, beginning of April.

[@kwood7856]

Hi, I'm in Winnipeg and normally snow cover isn't an issue but this year was very odd and there is little snow. In my yard there is none, my garden and lawn is fully clear of any snow. In your video you say you place your jugs in the snow. Can I just stick them outside on the ground or is this just going to cause mine to fail. I'd appreciate your advice.

[@kwood7856]

Found your video Milk Jug Planting 3 - Dealing with no snow so I have my answer thanks for these great videos.

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

I’m so glad you found it! Was just copying the link to send to you. I hope you give it a try!

[@belieftransformation]

Great refresh instructions for me; thanks for sharing! I had put out some Walla walla onion seeds in milk jugs a few days ago. I guess I was a bit too hasty, but we’ll see. Would herbs like parsley be too early to put out right now? 😊

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

It really depends on what the temperatures are like right now. Myself, I’m waiting for a few more weeks for my more tender herbs in both Golden and Springbank.

[@juliesimonds4772]

Do you attach the cap to your milk jug?

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

It’s really important to leave the cap off the milkjug. That allows for precipitation to get inside and some air flow

[@edenrockett8407]

I live in Canmore and it’s zone 2. Would the milk jug method work here? Would I just start a bit later, say end of March?

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

It should still work but I would definitely start with the hardy perennials. You are probably right to consider shifting the timing a bit. I’ve had lots of success starting as late as April even here in Soringbank.

[@susans8573]

Going to start this weekend:)

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

That’s awesome! I hope you have great success

[@tmscott6850]

Thank you for all the information on winter sowing. Would onion seeds work with the winter sow method? I have had great success with greens, herbs and some annuals and perennials. This will be my 3rd year using this method

[@frankie-lounelligan7050]

I’m so glad you’ve had such great success with this method. I have done onions with success and plan to do a whole lot of shallots this year too. I usually start them mid March.