Winter sowing is accessible and cost effective for a greater number of gardeners.

1.) WSing uses an "open air" method that allows wind, rain, snow etc. into the containers. Cold frames are essentially mini "greenhouses" that maintain a warm environment for seed starting and plant growing.
A) My cold frame allows for open air flow. It is open a few inches above the floor and the back has about a 3 inch gap. There is no insulation. Wind, rain and snow does get in there. So does an occasional leaf.
A jug is another mini-greenhouse.

2.) WSing allows for cold stratification while growing in a cold frame does not.
A) The temps in my cold frame are the same as my jugs, yes, my seeds do stratify.

3.) WSing requires less routine maintenance and care i.e. containers need moisture and ventilation, but not daily monitoring of temperatures and opening/closing like a coldframe does.
A) Again, the temps and moisture levels are the same. As temps go up, I poke holes in my lid and you should be poking holes in your jugs. I only open up my frame for adding or removing containers... well for viewing too! I don't have to peek through a hole!!

4.) WSing is more flexible physically and can accommodate a large number of seeds/plants vs. limited space in cold frames and their lack of portability/placement options.
A) Oh wow. Now that depends on how you plant/sow. I can get as many kinds of seeds as I like in my cold frame. I have 13 varieties in one lasagna pan. It really does depend on your system.

My cold frame is extremely portable, it's very light weight and just a few pieces of PVC and some chicken wire.

The greatest advantage is the flexibility in my choice of pots. I don't have to cover them individually, the cold frame is enough. I do have about a dozen milk jugs sown so far. I don't expect to care for them any differently than the containers in my cold frame.

Using a cold frame to sow seeds outdoors in winter IS winter sowing. The only difference is that I cover a whole bunch of containers at once.

If you took a water bottle, cut the top off, sowed seeds in it, and then put that water bottle in a gallon jug, you would get the same result.... AND it's called the same thing. Winter sowing! You would however, save big time on potting mix!! I used a 64 quart bag for well over 65 varieties with at least 18-25 seeds each. I used less than half of what I would have otherwise.

Seedmama, I paid less than $20.00 for my cold frame... most of the stuff I already had. I would have paid more than that if I had to buy a second or third bag of soil.

These responses are great--just what I was looking for. Can you tell I'm in my OCD state? Hahahaha.

Seedmama: Accessibility--hadn't thought about that.

Nancy: You obviously are a fan of both methods. How do you distinguish between those that you WS and those that you use the frame for?

I thought there were more than physical distinctions between the two methods, but on this forum most folks seem to follow Trudi's process or something similar. Sounds like the end result is the same.

Prof

Well. my cold frame is 3X5 feet. When I ran out of space in that, the rest went out in jugs. Now I'm about out of potting mix... although, if I play my cards right, I might end up with a bag for Valentines Day.... I know it's askin' a lot from the old guy, but it's also our Anniversary, so he might be good to me!

My response:
I can't get my husband to build me a cold frame, and I don't have the time to figure out how and do it on my own.

Thus:
I Winter Sow.

I still would like a cold frame, but I think I would have some other specific use for it...and I would still WS with my jugs. Now that I think of it, I probably wouldn't be able to get to a cold frame in the middle of winter in my yard. So a cold frame would definitely have an early spring or late fall purpose of use for me.

Linda

Linda, The last cold frame I had was made out of a large upside down, skid/pallet. I took 3 foot wide chicken wire and stapled one edge of it to the pallet. I put a couple of nails on the other side, I hooked the the other edge of the chicken wire to the nail to created an arched lid. I covered the chicken wire with clear plastic and poked holes in it. I was then able to use cups to sow in.

The only tools I used were tin snips for the chicken wire, a staple gun, and a hammer. I got the skids for free and the total cost less than $10.00.

It doesn't take up much room, I had 3 or 4 of these on my little patio that year, but when you sow in cups or 4 inch pots, you can fit a ton of plants in just one.

Prof,
You are on the right track and had all the answers correct,:)

Alberta

I could be wrong, but I think I remember that when Trudi first started talking about Winter Sowing here in GardenWeb, she was using cold frames. At least I seem to remember photos of her cold frames. With experimentation and members' limited resources, she's come up with cheaper ways to get the same result.

Toad,

I respectfully beg to differ. The costs are the same the first year for me using my cold frame. By being able to sow on a smaller scale, I spend far less on potting mix. I sowed 13 varieties in the space of a lasagna pan!! In the past, I would have filled 13 one gallon milk jugs to get the same results in my garden. That's quite a savings when you consider I have 65 varieties sown so far, and I have used exactly one 64 quart bag of Miracle Grow Potting Mix.

The parts I used for both my wooden cold frame and my PVC cold frame are mostly recycled parts. Much cheaper than a few more bags of potting mix. The PVC frame I use now cost about $20.00.

Whatever way is best for you, is exactly the way you should go about it. I have more time in the winter than some folks, I have no time in the spring. I do what's easiest and least expensive for me.

I think the two are very similar. I think the biggest advantage to winter sowing is the flexibility. This year, I am wintersowing a lot of perennials for a new flower garden in the front yard. Other years I may not need much. When I'm done with the jugs I can toss them in the recycle bin if I choose not to store them. I can pretty easily get them again next year.

Ultimately, for the plants, I think it's the same process.

nancy_drew, I hope you don't think I was criticizing cold frames! I've just been too busy/lazy to build one (yet). And I'm not using jugs either, just flats with plastic tops because they're what I had.
I was only responding to the original question. I think Trudi's original GW photos were with cold frames. So the process is the same as with the jugs. She's just expanded the possibilities.

My cold frame is more of a mini greenhouse. It's built from a pressure treated frame, some rebar hammered in the ground, and pvc pipe shoved over the ends of the rebar. The plastic is your run of the mill 6mil contractor's plastic. I expect to get 2 years out of it. By late April, that frame will become a veggie plot. All the pipe, rebar, and plastic will be rolled up and stored in the basement.

I made sure during the coldest period to close it up tight so that the heat inside would warm the soil and keep my newly rooted cuttings alive. Now that it's getting warmer, I have to open and close it every day. I have wintersown some things in there though. All veggies. I'll also use it to start my annuals in another week or two. I'll use storage totes to put all the little cups in and bottom water as needed.

The wintersown containers I use are open to the elements and offer only a little protection. They don't need to be hardened off at all since I had them in the sun. I only needed to take the tops off a day or two before I planted them out. I don't think I'll be as lucky with the seedlings in the cold frame. They'll need to be given a little more care at night, but that could be the annuals talking.

Protected from the elements.
{{gwi:356749}} {{gwi:356750}}

These didn't get babied at all.
{{gwi:339864}}

For me, the difference is in cold hardiness.

A traditional cold frame would protect against cold and wind like token's. It would be free from air flow unless you open it. Some of the other things I have read about are like cages to contain the plants or containers, but I really wouldn't call that a cold frame in the normal sense of the term. They seem more like wintersowing except with a large cover. I don't intend to be diffult, but a cold frame is a different and would be perfect to use the way token is using his to add a little more protection to annuals, or to begin the harding off process of inside grown plants.

Folks: Thanks for all the responses and insights! You must know that, as retired teacher, I love the diversity of opinion! As a result of your feedback, I've gained more insight and understanding which is what I was after. I had some set thoughts about the coldframe, but now see that it really can be part of the WS experience. Thanks, all.

BTW, regardless of which approach we take, we all enjoy the experience. I"m loving this and having a grand time. Let's all hope for an early spring!

Prof

Right Prof,

I use the cold frame as a means of protection. I don't want my perennials to be coddled so they get put out in the containers at the end of the driveway. They both have their uses. And if I punched holes in my plastic sheeting, I could wintersow the entire thing with small cups.

toad: "nancy_drew, I hope you don't think I was criticizing cold frames! I've just been too busy/lazy to build one (yet). And I'm not using jugs either, just flats with plastic tops because they're what I had.
I was only responding to the original question. I think Trudi's original GW photos were with cold frames. So the process is the same as with the jugs. She's just expanded the possibilities."

No toad, I responding to what you said about cost. I didn't think you were dissing me or my cold frame! They can be very cost effective!

Here are my thoughts, as a newbie ! I just winter sowed my first stuff yesterday. My husband is GOING to build me a cold frame, but it hasn't happened yet. I am HOPING to harvest things to eat next January and February from the cold frame. ( after reading Elliot Coleman's book, Four Season Harvest). The plants winter over. You plant cold hardy crops in the late summer, they grow in the fall and you eat them while there is snow all around you. I live near Buffalo, so we'll see! I was thrilled to learn about winter sowing,in contrast, as a way to get extra hardy and earlier growing for the spring/summer crops.
Now I'm wondering if I will transplant my WS plants (greens to eat) into the cold frame when it's built. OR , just set my containers inside.. ? Or, keep them separate.Still trying to figure it all out. Louise

I, too, am wintersowing for the first time this year and, yes, it is accessible. I have considered setting up a cold frame, but that would have to be back in the garden or out somewhere in the lawn as there is no place up by the house. And with our deep snow and bitter winter (like this year), I would have no inclination to 'suit up' and traffic back and forth to a cold frame. But with the jugs and containers, I can WS right on the deck -- easy access. They are up from nosy critters, easy to monitor moisure and I'm encouraged to keep adding more jugs. And like nancy says, it's cheap. I've filled about 50 containers with 32 quarts of Miracle Gro (and that was a mark-down torn bag). And containers are free. My cost for first year WS is about $10.00 so far (of which $4.00 is for some commercial seeds). Can't beat that with a stick! :-)

Another bonus, visitors in winter would never see a cold frame, but "hey, what are all those jugs on your deck?" has given me a chance to wax enthusiastically about WS on several occasions already. woohoo
Kris

Kris, my cold frame is 3X5 feet. You could fit a small one on your deck, mine is on my patio right outside my door.

my cold frame built from used old glass door and leftovers of wood shaped into box after remodeling. Did not cost anything extra.
It is more a permanent structure than WS milk jugs though so placement should be considered.
I use cold frame for overwintering perennials which did not get planted last year. Am sure could use it as WS container but conditions will be slightly different as need for earlier watering possible?
anyway, I have unheated greenhouse, closed Florida porch, indoor set up, cold frame and still have containers, soil and other gardening tools spread all over the house....
yeah, sad life...