Linda, how are all those sprouts? Did you get the cold and snow that hit much of Texas?

Karen

Steven,

Tell me how you do your zip-lock bags. Do you put holes inthe top or bottom? What keeps them from cooking if the sun gets on them? This sounds like something I would like to try. Do you do annuals and perennials?

What temperatures should it be to put out annuals?
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Thanks for any help you can give me. Lou

Hi Lou! What I do is cut the bottom corners off the ziplock bag and make wide fringes across the bottom for extra drainage. Fill bag about half or a little more with soil, because it will compact with freeze/thaw cycles so adding a bit extra won't hurt.
And when you're ready to take it outside zip the bag almost shut to allow air flow. Once it starts getting warmer out you can zip the bag more and more open until you can just fold the bag open like a cuff. Perennial and hardy annulas you can do now. I'm not sure what zone you are so it's hard to say when you should sow the rest of your annuals.

Hope this helps!

Thanks! By "wide fringes" do you mean a crease? Is the soil moist when you put it outside, or do you water it by opening the zip top and hand watering? Lou

Yes, I cut the fringe along the crease. I drew a quick pic to show what the bag looks like when I'm done with it. If you want you can water it before you take it outside or if you have snow you can toss a couple handfuls in the bag when you put it outside and it will melt and water as the weather warms.

Steven: What a cool method of winter sowing. It's really hard for me to get milk jugs, but I have lots of ziploc bags. Thanks go much for sharing this. I will try this with the annuals I plan on sowing later.

I hope it works out for you Linda! Just be sure to use the large size ziplock bags, not the small sandwhich ones.

I'm thinking the large gallon freezer bags would be appropriate?

Yes, they would work well!

mom2goldens

When is the right time time to put out annuals here in Indiana? I have done perennials before and put them out when it is really cold. This year , I plant to do only annuals. Lou

I forgot to say a bigTHANK YOU to Steven for the drawing. I am a visual learner and that was just what I needed. Lou

You are most welcome Lou! Be sure to share pics of your annuals when they sprout!

Hi, Lou---no darned idea on when to start the annuals. I was going to ask you the same question LOL. This is my first time winter sowing. So far, the only things I've done are some perennials and plants the specifically state they have a long stratification period. I think we have to be quite a bit warmer before we start annuals....maybe in April? (just a guess). I've read the wintersown.org site, but still don't know for sure.

Steven--thank you for the excellent instructions. Can't wait to try the ziploc bag method for my annuals.

I start my ws about 1-1/2 months than before the date that I would normally start if direct sowing. So depending on what it is, the ws start date would be different.

I sow annuals in April, maybe late March if the weather is warm. Once it's warm, those annuals sprout fast. I've sown some things as late as early May.

Karen

Thank you, Karen and Joanna. I'll probably shoot for early April, depending upon the weather. Do you notice much difference in germination or hardiness vs. starting annuals under lights:

Karen--do you think we'll ever see spring? I'm guessing you are in for more snow tonight also. By the way--the photo of the coleus in the basket is beautiful.

Linda,

Mid March would be great for anything that is early direct sow normally. April, more for half hardy annuals. I found that the ws plants usually catch up to the early start ones by the end of June. The rudbeckias are about 2 week later bloom than early indoor start. And yes, there is no harding off, no worries of damp-off and low maintenance from sowing to transplanting.

Linda, it doesn't seem like spring will ever come. Another 5-9" due in this next snow storm.

Karen

I just heard some crazy robin is singing away. A little tease that it will be an early spring.

We've been seeing robins for several weeks. We have a small landscape pond in our yard, and they gather there in late afternoon/early evening for their bath. I also saw several in our crab apple tree scavanging whatever fruit was left. I hope this is a sign of spring (in spite of the 3-5" of snow we are supposed to get tomorrow).