Would this work?

16 years ago

This will be my first year wintersowing. I want to try maybe a dozen containers. What I have is a collection of large planting pots. The kind trees and shrubs come in from the nursery. They range from one gal (10" or so diameter) up to 20 gal (18" or so, maybe bigger). Can I fill them with compost/soil mix, sprinkle seeds, cover/tape 6ml clear plastic over the top, and set them out? Should I bury them partially in the ground? (I don't know why but that keeps coming to my mind as a good thing to do.) I wouldn't do this until Nov when it is too cold to germinate this year. I have the pots, the seeds, the plastic, and the compost/soil. I want to wintersow but I am having a hard time bringing myself to collect milk jugs, pop bottles, or takeout containers.

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Comments (6)

tomva
16 years ago
It will work,a couple of things to consider that come to mind would be head room for seedlings to grow so I wouldnt fill all the way up with soil and the need to remove the top on a warm winter day when u have seedlings,so they wont fry and then to cover them back up,and tape becomes like glue after a a month in the weather thats why I dont like it.I prefer 2 litre soda bottles with v's cut in the sides of the top which I can lower in the inside of the bottom part,also make sure to cut slits in the top of the plastic for water,another thing I dont like the small like pie containers and chinese containers,I had some of the plastic tops collapse under weight of snow and the depth wasnt good they heated up too much and dried out too quickly.. No need to dig a hole and put them in they sound like they will be heavy enough not to blow away...Dont forget to label,lol as I really had bad labeling my first year.Enjoy your 1st year wintersowing it is very rewarding...TomVa
gardenweed_z6a
16 years ago
It should work provided there's holes in the top plastic for ventilation & to let snow/rain get inside. Folks use all sorts of different containers--Token even hosted a contest last winter where you had to answer some WS questions and one of them was to name 10 different types of WS containers.

If you need seeds for your first attempt, let me know--I've been harvesting LOTS.
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momstar
Original Author
16 years ago
oh yes. I would make slits in the plastic. I had also thought of the head room and wondered if there would be enough. Maybe I should not fill the pots all the way.

Seeds would be great. i have some but would love a variety. I dont have much to swap though. chives is about it. and snap dragons.

Thanks for the recommendations. I can't wait to see how it works.
kqcrna
16 years ago
I'd rethink the compost/soil. It can hold an awful lot of water. Most of us use potting mix.

Karen
countrycarolyn
16 years ago
LOL, I am so cheap I even reuse my potting soil. Ok I am sure I will hear something on that one. I had a ficus tree that was poorly neglected then I tried to water it by over watering it, then I said I will put it outside for a few hours, bad mistake. Finally I gave up on it so I have been using that soil that my ficus was in. As trudi put on the faq's page the cold weather outside tends to kill anything that might still be in the soil that may harm the plants. Works for me!!

Oh and I ask my mom to save her water bottles, she drinks that sam's choice flavored water. They make great containers for me since I only need a few plants of each.
gardenweed_z6a
16 years ago
momstar - if you'd like some seeds, send me an email & I'll give you a list of what I've got plenty of. They're yours for a SASBE--I'm not looking to trade much this year since I harvested so many. My list of seeds to WS is growing very, very long again.