I use 4" pots all the time for WS, putting them in plastic bags (with slits/holes for ventilation and drainage). I use pieces of venetian blinds in the pots to keep the plastic off the soil and provide headroom for when the seeds begin to sprout. I then "corral" the pots in whatever's handy - window boxes, cardboard boxes, big planters, etc. Works fine!

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PV

I too will be using Ziplock and other clear produce bags from the grocerie store to sow in this year. I do not think I will be using pots though- just the bags with some holes punched in them. I too had thought I would use the mini blind supports- although I had thought to use a long one to span up both sides and across the top for head room support. I will place these into "disposable" metal banquet type pans and other large bowl containers.
My thoughts for doing this is less storage of containers while not in use. I spend much time cleaning and storing my many wintersow containers- and I think a quick rinse and line dry before storing flat will be a great change of pace.
I had used regular sandwich bags in larger WS containers this year, which really worked well! I left the baggies folded over on the top and used the containers cover for protection. I hate to admit it- but I still have a couple of baggies waiting to be planted out....
I do like to use clear square and rectangular cookie type containers like the ones from costco- as I can stack one on top of the other and make a tidy "wall" of containers till I see green in those containers. Then I spread them out so they all get their time in the sun. When you have many of one type of these containers, you can really save on space by stacking. I think I will miss that feature most of all by switching over to the bag method.
I have stopped the slugs getting into my containers and have eliminated the tape by using these flat lidded type containers. I use a drill with a small bit to make drain holes in the bottom- and drill a small hole on each of the 4 sides just below the top lip of the container for transpiration. The lid remains intact with no holes. I find with this technique, I do not need to water these containers till the tops come off. I also need to start to watch for slugs at that time too-
Maybe you would feel more comfortable about your containers out in the yard if you set up a little "staging" area. You could purchase a set of saw horses and a full size piece of some lattice (either vinyl or cedar)and 2 or 3 2x4s the same length of the lattice. Set up the nags- place the boards at either side, and maybe one in the middle, to support the lattice so it doesn't sag in the middle- and place the lattice on top. You can place your containers under the "table" out of direct viewing- and then use this set up as a potting table in the spring and summer.
I hope these ideas may help you-

Julie

Thank you so much for your comments. I think I'm going to try it for this year. Being in z9, I plan to start autumn sowing some seed very soon. I'll try the pot/baggie method out. I really wanted to buy a collection of large clear plastic storage bins to use but my goodness, the price of them! If I had a larger yard and felt I would be mass planting for years to come, I would make the investment.

Melanie

I did the same for some veggies and a few other annuals, except I was using 4 and 6 celled pony packs. I used a hole punch to make drainage at the bottoms and again at the top beneath the zipper about 1.5" (because they flop over) for vents.
Tomato...
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Mustard...AFTER coming out :D
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A picture showing a group of them up front in a nursery tray...
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...and here's just a whole bunch of everything...I guess I'm just opportunistic with my containers LOL!
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Does anyone have any input on using just baggies, without pots or containers? I understand the need for the mini-blinds to prop up the baggies but I'm not understanding the need for the pots.

I used baggies without pots or containers two years ago. Just put the potting soil in the bag and sow. They worked well and I am thinking of using some again this winter. They take up much less space than milk jugs both in usage and in storing. The freezer bags held up well and will be used again.

I used wooden kabob sticks to keep the tops from folding over. To make moving the baggies easier they were put in a large styrofoam fish box which had holes in the bottom for drainage. The kabob sticks went through the baggie and into the styrofoam. Having them in the box also made it easy to lift the whole batch to eye level to check for seedlings. As the weather warmed the ziplock was opened more for ventilation. I also cut a slice in the sides of the baggie for ventilation as shown on the ws.org site.

Bobbie

Hi there,
I am also from zone 9 sorta (Carmichael 1 step outta Sacto.) This last year was my first winter sowing experience..I had a combo of many, many, ziplock baggies (lots of them) and a few 2 litre bottles (for my tomatoe's thank you Trudi!!) Needless to say the $1 store was my best friend!! I think I had at least 65 zippie's total... (Yeah, I went hog wild, Thanks to all the kind people on this winter sowing forum! Yes they are an awesome group of people!! And as much potting soil that I could afford at the time!) Believe it or not I had an actual tomato in January, belive it or not!! Everything else I tried growing with the exception of Rudbeckia, and Purple coneflower germinated for me :( . One was I don't think I got the right seeds (purple coneflower) (I believe they were Zinnia's...cause lord knows they were not anywhere close to purple coneflowers!) and over all I did not scatter them on the surface,, I buried them a bit so they did not sprout (the black eyed suan's)... Oh well chalk it up to a 1st time experience..! Go figure the two flowers I wanted the most I failed at...but ya know winter sowing is right round the corner! So I am going to run out and splurge on some seeds ;)!! If you remember we had the really hard freeze this last year...Cross my fingers we won't have it again this year...! However, I just had to put in my 2 cents worth that though I was really, really, meager on funds for anything at that time ~ I will never regret trying sowing in ziplock baggies! $4.00 + 2 bags of super soil = approximately $16.00 and I was in business ;) I planted everything I could imagine!! Ya know what much to my surprise it all grew!(except the coneflowers&rudbeckia's)!! Now the lesson to be learned here is ~ where am I gonna put all of it???!